Hikvision DS-2CD2187G3-LIS2UY-BLK 8MP ColorVu 3.0 Gen 3 Hybrid Dome Camera (BLACK)

Model: DS-2CD2187G3-LI-S2UY-BLK

Who This Is For

For installers and security specifiers who need full-colour 4K coverage around the clock without compromising on AI classification accuracy, the DS-2CD2187G3-LI in black is a purpose-built solution. This is a third-generation ColorVu 3.0 hybrid dome camera that combines 8MP resolution with Hikvision's AcuSense human and vehicle detection and a dual-light system that switches between supplemental white light and infrared depending on the scene and alert mode. The black housing makes it the right choice where a discreet or design-conscious finish matters - think commercial retail fitouts, hospitality venues, corporate lobbies, and multi-unit residential common areas where a standard white dome would be visually inconsistent with the fit-out. It suits sites where night-time footage quality and false alarm reduction are both non-negotiable, and where the recorder or NVR in use supports 4K and AcuSense event filtering.

What This Camera Actually Does

Who Buys This Model

• Commercial Retail Installers: Specifying 4K coverage over sales floors, fitting rooms, and cash areas where clothing colour and facial detail in footage are operationally important, and where a white dome would clash with a black-ceiling fitout.
• Hospitality and Venue Security Managers: Installing cameras in bars, function rooms, and hotel lobbies where design consistency matters and the camera needs to perform in mixed ambient lighting without switching to a grey-scale night mode.
• Multi-Residential Property Developers: Deploying cameras in underground carparks and common area corridors where full-colour footage at night is required for incident investigation and where AcuSense reduces monitoring fatigue on property management teams.
• Corporate and Education Security Teams: Upgrading legacy 2MP or 4MP systems to 4K with AI event filtering, using AcuSense-compatible NVRs to manage after-hours access events without high false-positive rates from standard motion detection.
• Security Integrators on Tender Projects: Where project specifications call for Hikvision Gen 3 ColorVu, AcuSense classification, and a black housing finish as a specified deliverable - this is the exact model that satisfies all three requirements.

Honest Assessment

This camera does a genuine job of combining high resolution with after-dark colour performance. The ColorVu 3.0 sensor and hybrid illuminator mean footage collected at night is actually usable for identification purposes - not just a record that something happened. AcuSense classification adds real operational value by keeping alert volumes manageable. The black finish solves a specific specifying problem without any trade-off in performance. Where it has limits: 8MP streams demand adequate NVR processing headroom and storage planning - a budget NVR managing multiple 4K channels simultaneously may struggle. This is also a fixed-lens dome, so if the priority is wide-area coverage from a single point, a fisheye or multi-sensor camera available through Security Australia will cover more ground. And for sites where audio verification is part of the monitoring brief, confirm whether the specific variant includes built-in two-way audio before ordering.

Before You Buy

Quick Fit Check

• Good match if: You need 4K dome coverage in a commercial space with a black ceiling or design-led interior, and full-colour footage at night is a firm requirement rather than optional - ColorVu 3.0 and the black housing address both needs in a single unit.
• Good match if: The site uses an AcuSense-compatible Hikvision NVR and the monitoring team is dealing with high false-alarm volume from standard motion detection - AcuSense human and vehicle classification at the camera edge directly reduces that noise.
• You may need a different model if: The coverage requirement is a wide open area like a carpark or large yard from a single mounting point - a fisheye or multi-sensor panoramic camera will cover more ground per install position and may be a more efficient solution for that scenario.

Key Features & Technical Specifications

Real-World Scenarios

How It Compares

• Choose this if: Full-colour night footage, 4K resolution, AcuSense classification, and a black housing finish are all required together - this model delivers all four in a single IK10-rated dome.
• You may need a different model if: The site requires coverage of a wide open area from a single mounting point - a fisheye or multi-sensor panoramic camera type is engineered for that scenario and will provide better coverage per install position.
• Pairs well with: An AcuSense-compatible Hikvision NVR with 4K decoding capacity - the camera's AI event filtering and smart white light trigger are fully realised only when the recorder supports AcuSense event management.

Common Questions

1. Does this camera actually record in colour at night, or does it switch to black and white?

   Yes. ColorVu 3.0 produces full-colour footage in low-light and dark conditions without switching to greyscale. The combination of a large-aperture low-light sensor and the supplemental white light illuminator means colour information is captured in the image even when ambient lighting is minimal. This is distinct from standard IR night vision cameras, which output black and white footage once light levels drop below a threshold.

2. Will this camera work with a non-Hikvision NVR?

   Yes, with limitations. The DS-2CD2187G3-LI streams via standard RTSP and supports ONVIF, so it will record on most IP NVR platforms. However, AcuSense event filtering, smart white light trigger on human detection, and deep AI integration are only fully functional on compatible Hikvision NVRs. On a third-party recorder, you retain 4K video but lose the smart alarm management that makes this model worth specifying.

3. What is the difference between the black variant and the standard white model?

   The finish only. The DS-2CD2187G3-LI-S2UY-BLK is mechanically, optically, and electronically identical to the white housing version. The black finish is specified purely for aesthetic or environmental reasons - dark ceiling installations, design-led commercial interiors, or situations where a white dome would be visually prominent. Performance, resolution, IR range, and AI capability are unchanged between variants.

4. Does the white light stay on all night, or can it be configured to only activate on an alert?

   It can be configured for alert-triggered activation. The hybrid light system supports a deterrence mode where the IR illuminator handles passive overnight monitoring and the white light activates only when AcuSense detects a human or vehicle. This prevents continuous white light in environments where constant illumination would be intrusive or unwanted, while still providing a visible deterrent at the moment an event occurs.

5. How much storage will 8MP / 4K footage use on the NVR?

   Considerably more than 2MP or 4MP streams - but H.265+ compression reduces the bitrate significantly. A single 4K channel recording continuously at typical H.265+ bitrates will use substantially more storage per day than a 4MP channel. For multi-camera 4K deployments, storage planning is essential before specifying NVR drive capacity. The NVR's storage calculator tool, or the team at Security Australia, can assist with estimating drive requirements based on channel count, bitrate, and retention period.

6. Is this camera weatherproof for outdoor installation?

   Yes. The DS-2CD2187G3-LI carries an IP67 ingress protection rating, meaning it is fully dust-tight and protected against water immersion up to 1 metre depth. It is suitable for outdoor mounting on eaves, soffits, and covered external walls. The IK10 vandal resistance rating additionally means the dome housing is rated to withstand a 20-joule impact - appropriate for publicly accessible areas where physical interference is a risk.

7. Does this camera support PoE, and does it require PoE+?

   Yes, it supports PoE. The camera operates on standard PoE (IEEE 802.3af) or the higher-output 802.3at standard depending on the exact power draw configuration - confirm whether the hybrid light system in active deterrence mode requires 802.3at PoE+ from your switch or injector. A standard 802.3af PoE port at 15.4W may be sufficient for IR-only mode, but white light active configurations may draw more. Check the datasheet power specification and match your PoE switch port rating accordingly before finalising cabling.

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