G3 ColorVu Cameras - First Impressions/Review

[JB1970]

Evening JB , wondering if you or anyone else for that matter could advise me on the best way to combat this problem is to have with my G3. Ive only noticed it these past few weeks with the dark nights rolling in now.

How would you best get around having a good picture with both my outside lights on and off, or is it going to be a case of you cant and have to manually change it every time?

Here is a picture of what it is like with my lights on , and off , Thanks.

It looks like your lights are causing glare. Is it an up and downlighter? It looks as though the light is shining directly on to the camera (or onto the upvc soffit and reflecting off that). You'd probably have to replace your lights to a different design to avoid it.

Edit: I can see it's an uplighter so 99% sure that's your issue. It's easy to prove what I've said above...just take out the upper lamp if it's a GU10. If it's an integrated LED your knackered.

 

[Smoggie89]

It looks like your lights are causing glare. Is it an up and downlighter? It looks as though the light is shining directly on to the camera (or onto the upvc soffit and reflecting off that). You'd probably have to replace your lights to a different design to avoid it.

Edit: I can see it's an uplighter so 99% sure that's your issue. It's easy to prove what I've said above...just take out the upper lamp if it's a GU10. If it's an integrated LED your knackered.

Hello mate, yeah up/down lights and GU10 (im guessing that's the standard screw in/out ones lol), is there no way that I could change any settings so it would be decent in both instances or not.

I normally leave the lights off during the night but when it gets dark early I tend to put them on in the evening until bed time but just a bit of a ball ache for seeing what's going on in that time frame. Cheers mate.

 

[JB1970]

Hello mate, yeah up/down lights and GU10 (im guessing that's the standard screw in/out ones lol), is there no way that I could change any settings so it would be decent in both instances or not.

I normally leave the lights off during the night but when it gets dark early I tend to put them on in the evening until bed time but just a bit of a ball ache for seeing what's going on in that time frame. Cheers mate.

The cameras can handle light just fine but it's the glare that those lights are causing. Floodlights, lanterns, downlights or anything that's diffused will be fine. There's nothing you can set on the camera that'll deal well with that.

 

[Smoggie89]

The cameras can handle light just fine but it's the glare that those lights are causing. Floodlights, lanterns, downlights or anything that's diffused will be fine. There's nothing you can set on the camera that'll deal well with that.

No problem mate, I'll just have to deal with it then haha, I might give it a go taking out the top bulb on that side , but might look a bit crap so will see what its like lol, thanks for the reply anyways mate

 

[sustainer1733]

Hi there,

What’s the verdict on the image noise in these cameras now they’ve been out in the wild a bit longer? I’m considering the 8MP but wondering if the safer bet is the 4MP given the same sensor sizes? It’s a 2.8mm so might benefit from the extra detail on smaller objects at 8MP in the distance but primarily low light performance is favoured.

I’m upgrading from an older Darkfighter 2346G1 with a 1/2.7” sensor so expecting the difference to be “night and day” regardless! ( That has significant noise during night mode at 1/50 )

Thanks!

 

[JB1970]

Hi there,

What’s the verdict on the image noise in these cameras now they’ve been out in the wild a bit longer? I’m considering the 8MP but wondering if the safer bet is the 4MP given the same sensor sizes? It’s a 2.8mm so might benefit from the extra detail on smaller objects at 8MP in the distance but primarily low light performance is favoured.

I’m upgrading from an older Darkfighter 2346G1 with a 1/2.7” sensor so expecting the difference to be “night and day” regardless! ( That has significant noise during night mode at 1/50 )

Thanks!

I've still not tried the 8MP version. The two models use different firmwares; H13 U for the 4MP and H13 I for the 8MP version. The 4MP was delivered with 5.8.10_241205 and has since been updated through three different build versions of 5.8.13. The 8MP is still on 5.8.10 albeit a newer build date of 250612.

I doubt that you will have any particular issues with noise. It's difficult to provide a good comparison between different models. Given the difference between the sensor sizes I'm sure you'll find it a big improvement but I keep mine at 1/50 for nighttime. The 8MP might be preferable but there will be a perceivable difference between it and the 4MP versions low light performance as they're sharing the same size image sensor and the data sheet shows 0.0001 minimum lux for the 4MP and 0.0005 minimum for the 8MP.

 

[kruja]

@JB1970
Can you write your impressions about the image quality in IR light mode, when it's night.
I am interested in whether this camera 2347G3 gives better quality images in IR mode compared to cameras that are not Color VU.

I want to try this camera 2347G3 but if I don't have enough light, I will have to use it in IR mode.

 

[JB1970]

@JB1970
Can you write your impressions about the image quality in IR light mode, when it's night.
I am interested in whether this camera 2347G3 gives better quality images in IR mode compared to cameras that are not Color VU.

I want to try this camera 2347G3 but if I don't have enough light, I will have to use it in IR mode.

Monochrome images with IR are very good.

It's a good question regarding pure Colour/Mono cameras vs ColorVu models. Currently for a 4 megapixel turret you would probably be choosing between the DS-2CD2347G3-LI2UY (3rd Gen ColorVu Hybrid Light) and the DS-2346G2H-IU (H usually stands for Hybrid meaning white and IR LED but the 2346 is IR only):

• DS-2CD2346G2H-IU - 1/3" sensor, F1.0 aperture, 0.001 lux minimum illumination (AGC on)
• DS-2347G3-LI2UY - 1/1.8" sensor, F1.0 aperture, 0.0001 lux minimum illumination (AGC on)

So the non ColorVu 2346 has the large F1.0 aperture but a much smaller image sensor. The 2347G3 with its 1/1.8" sensor should be far superior. I'm not quite sure why they've used that 1/3" sensor combined with F1.0 aperture (in the 'Darkfighter'); I'd rather have the larger sensor combined with a slightly smaller aperture for greater depth of field. It's a few years since I've installed anything with a 1/3" sensor.

The beauty of the G3 ColorVu hybrid is that you can easily switch the mode between standard colour/mono, 24/7 colour and smart directly in the Hik-Connect app without having to access the camera or NVR menu. That makes it very flexible.

 

[kruja]

It is difficult to estimate how much light is needed for the correct operation of the ColorVu camera. You need to have experience and then everything is easy. If the ColorVu camera does not meet my needs, I am also satisfied with the image in the IR mode. Provided that the image quality in the IR mode is good.
-- Is the bandwidth requirement (bit rate) lower when used at night in IR mode?
-- How important is the depth of the image and how does it affect the quality of the image?

 

[JB1970]

It is difficult to estimate how much light is needed for the correct operation of the ColorVu camera. You need to have experience and then everything is easy. If the ColorVu camera does not meet my needs, I am also satisfied with the image in the IR mode. Provided that the image quality in the IR mode is good.
Is the bandwidth requirement (bit rate) lower when used at night in IR mode?

You can run the camera in ColorVu mode without any light if you don't mind having the white LED light in use, or use a longer exposure time. I prefer to set a maximum exposure time of 1/50 sec to keep motion blur down. I'll set them in hybrid mode so that they switch into monochrome if theres insufficient light but human motion will bring the white LED on.

I don't use variable bit rate on mine, I've seen better image quality with CBR. I wouldn't expect a big difference when using IR mode at night unless the colour image was particularly noisy.

 

[sustainer1733]

I've still not tried the 8MP version. The two models use different firmwares; H13 U for the 4MP and H13 I for the 8MP version. The 4MP was delivered with 5.8.10_241205 and has since been updated through three different build versions of 5.8.13. The 8MP is still on 5.8.10 albeit a newer build date of 250612.

I doubt that you will have any particular issues with noise. It's difficult to provide a good comparison between different models. Given the difference between the sensor sizes I'm sure you'll find it a big improvement but I keep mine at 1/50 for nighttime. The 8MP might be preferable but there will be a perceivable difference between it and the 4MP versions low light performance as they're sharing the same size image sensor and the data sheet shows 0.0001 minimum lux for the 4MP and 0.0005 minimum for the 8MP.

I ended up going with the 4MP and a shout out to Kyle and the team here for their excellent customer service!

Installed the camera at the weekend and it’s absolutely “night and day” better than my old G1 dark fighter. I haven’t had a chance to change too many settings than the usual constant bitrate and shutter speeds. If there’s any tips on the AWB, gain etc. specific for this camera please let me know!

Also, confirmed the environmental noise option makes the audio absolutely useless!

 

[JB1970]

Also, confirmed the environmental noise option makes the audio absolutely useless!

I'm surprised this hasn't been resolved in a firmware update, I wonder if it's even fixable. More surprising is that the cameras ship with Environmental Noise Filter turned ON by default and I would have thought more people would've complained about the poor audio, particularly as one of the selling points of the new model is improved audio.

 

[kruja]

Big problem !!! There is a very small supply of 4mm lens models for the G3 series models.
There is no model (G3) with a 4 mm lens with the possibility of turning on the white light.
The only model I found is the 2687 G3T, varifocal.
Is the image quality good and evenly distributed, if the lens is set to approximately 2.8 / 4 mm.
Is there a loss of image quality towards the edges and ends of the image.
As we move away from the center of the lens, does the quality of the image decrease?

 

[JB1970]

Big problem !!! There is a very small supply of 4mm lens models for the G3 series models.

It depends what region you're in. The G3 models are readily available (in the UK) in both 2.8mm and 4mm fixed lens, with/without siren and strobe light. The only ones unavailable are the 4mm black versions.

There is no model (G3) with a 4 mm lens with the possibility of turning on the white light.

That feature isn't necessary. You can simply operate the standard camera in Smart mode. It will then be in monochrome and switch to colour with white light on alarm. Alternatively if you need the camera be in colour 24/7 with the light off and only coming on when there's an event, you would just buy the LIS2UY/SL model, configure your alarm to operate the flashing light but set the flashing frequency to 'normally on'

The only model I found is the 2687 G3T, varifocal.

I doubt that model works any differently

Is the image quality good and evenly distributed, if the lens is set to approximately 2.8 / 4 mm.
Is there a loss of image quality towards the edges and ends of the image.
As we move away from the center of the lens, does the quality of the image decrease?

I haven't used that varifocal bullet yet. The only way you're going to be able to evaluate the image is to try one yourself as peoples opinions on image quality and what is/isn't acceptable may differ from your own.

 

[kruja]

@JB1970

What is the difference between these two cameras.
-- DS-2CD2347G3-LIS2UY/SRB(4mm)
-- DS-2CD2347G3-LIS2UY/SL

I interpreted it to mean that the camera marked "SRB" does not have the possibility to turn on the white light when it registers crossing the line. It only turns on the flashing color light.

 

[JB1970]

@JB1970

What is the difference between these two cameras.
-- DS-2CD2347G3-LIS2UY/SRB(4mm)
-- DS-2CD2347G3-LIS2UY/SL

I interpreted it to mean that the camera marked "SRB" does not have the possibility to turn on the white light when it registers crossing the line. It only turns on the flashing color light.

We don't have the 'SRB' model in the UK and the data sheet for it doesn't detail the difference. However if the SRB has red blue strobe rather than the white light of the SL, you'd want the SL.

 

[kruja]

SRB model: Red and Blue Light
SL model: White Light
Maybe someone needs this and wants this way of working.

 

[kruja]

The camera has arrived Hikvision 2347G3.My impression is Vaauuuu.The night pictures are very good.
I am very happy.
The night pictures are excellent, and with the help of IR lights, the color pictures are excellent. This camera requires very little light to work in color mode.
It was installed and replaced the 3386G2-ISU camera.
I compared the image quality between these two cameras.

 

[kruja]

Now I can make another comparison.
The camera 2387G3 arrived. I installed it in the place where the 2347G3 was.It is now night with me and the first impression is:
-- Camera 2347G3 gives a better picture in low light when it is dark.
-- The 2387G3 camera gives a better image in the operating mode when using the IR light.
--During the day, the camera 2387G3 gives a better and more beautiful picture.

I read about it on the internet about the differences between 4mp cameras and 8mp cameras and now I checked it in real working conditions.
If images are needed, where the lighting is low, a 4 mp camera is a better choice.

 

[johnfitzy]

-- Camera 2347G3 gives a better picture in low light when it is dark.
-- The 2387G3 camera gives a better image in the operating mode when using the IR light.
--During the day, the camera 2387G3 gives a better and more beautiful picture.

Was wondering about this... thanks!