Hikvision DS-2DE3A400BW-DE ColorVu 4MP Outdoor Pan & Tilt Network Dome Camera

Model: DS-2DE3A400BW-DE

Who This Is For

When covering a wide outdoor area from a single camera position is the priority, the Hikvision DS-2DE3A400BW-DE delivers both the optical reach and the low-light performance to make it work. This is a 4MP pan and tilt dome camera with a motorised varifocal lens spanning 4 mm to 12 mm, giving installers the flexibility to dial in coverage from a broader scene overview right down to a more focused approach angle - all without repositioning the mount. The ColorVu technology means the camera produces full-colour images even in near-darkness, down to 0.0005 Lux, backed by a white light illuminator with an IR fallback reaching 30 m. AcuSense human and vehicle classification reduces nuisance alerts. IP67 housing handles genuine outdoor exposure. This model suits installers and property managers who need adjustable coverage, colour night imaging, and smart detection at an entry-to-mid PTZ price point - particularly for driveways, car parks, yards, and open commercial perimeters.

What This Camera Actually Does

Who Buys This Model

• Car park and yard managers: Need adjustable pan and tilt coverage plus colour night imaging to capture vehicle colours and plates at entry and exit points in low ambient light.
• Small commercial property owners: Want a single camera that covers a wide perimeter zone with AcuSense filtering so mobile app alerts only trigger on genuine human or vehicle activity - not every cat or branch movement.
• Installers commissioning post-mount: The motorised varifocal lens means zoom and focus are adjusted remotely via the NVR or browser interface after the camera is fixed in place - no ladder return required to fine-tune the angle.
• Sites with high-contrast lighting: Loading areas, roller door entries, and gated driveways where headlights, streetlights, and deep shadows coexist benefit from the 120 dB true WDR keeping detail across the full scene.

Honest Assessment

The DS-2DE3A400BW-DE does several things well in a single housing: full-colour low-light imaging via ColorVu, remote lens adjustment through the motorised varifocal, AcuSense-filtered smart detection, and genuine IP67 outdoor weatherproofing. The 4MP resolution gives enough detail for identification at moderate distances, and H.265+ compression keeps storage requirements manageable. PoE 802.3af compatibility means a single Cat5e or Cat6 cable handles both power and data.

What this camera will not do: it does not carry audio output, so two-way audio is not available on this model. The white light illuminator will be visible at night, which is useful for deterrence but not appropriate for covert monitoring. If your requirement is long-range IR coverage beyond 30 m, or continuous full-PTZ auto-tracking across a large open area, a dedicated PTZ model available through Security Australia would be a better fit.

Before You Buy

Quick Fit Check

• Good match if: You need full-colour night footage from an outdoor position and want the flexibility to adjust zoom and direction after installation without remounting - the motorised varifocal and pan and tilt mechanism handle both.
• Good match if: Your site produces frequent motion alerts from non-human sources and you want smart filtering - AcuSense human and vehicle classification reduces false notifications from animals, wind-driven objects, and lighting changes.
• You may need a different model if: Your application requires continuous auto-tracking of moving subjects across a large open space, or optical zoom beyond 3x - a full PTZ camera with higher zoom ratio and auto-tracking capability would be the more appropriate product type.

Key Features & Technical Specifications

Real-World Scenarios

How It Compares

• Choose this if: You want full-colour night imaging combined with remote zoom adjustment and pan and tilt repositioning in a compact IP67 dome housing - particularly where a single fixed camera cannot adequately cover the scene from a set lens position.
• You may need a different model if: Your site requires continuous auto-tracking of moving subjects across a large open area, or optical zoom greater than 3x - a full-speed PTZ camera with higher zoom ratio and dedicated auto-tracking would be the more appropriate product type for those requirements.
• Pairs well with: A Hikvision PoE NVR with AcuSense-compatible firmware, which allows the human and vehicle event filters from this camera to be used for smart search, event playback, and push notification filtering directly from the recorder.

Common Questions

1. Does this camera produce colour footage at night or does it switch to black and white?

   It produces colour footage at night. The ColorVu technology uses a large 1/1.8" sensor combined with a white light illuminator to capture colour images down to 0.0005 Lux. Rather than switching to black and white IR mode in low light, the camera maintains colour rendition so clothing colours, vehicle colours, and skin tones remain visible in the recorded footage.

2. Will this camera work with a standard PoE switch?

   Yes. The DS-2DE3A400BW-DE supports IEEE 802.3af PoE, which is the standard 15.4W PoE profile supported by most managed and unmanaged PoE switches. A single Cat5e or Cat6 cable carries both power and data. No separate power supply is required, though a 12 VDC adapter can be used as an alternative if PoE is not available at the installation point.

3. Does this camera support two-way audio?

   No. This model has a built-in microphone for one-way audio recording but does not include a built-in speaker. Two-way audio - where the operator can speak back through the camera - is not supported on this model. If two-way communication is a requirement, a camera with both a built-in microphone and built-in speaker is needed.

4. How does AcuSense reduce false alerts compared to standard motion detection?

   AcuSense uses deep learning to classify detected motion as human or vehicle rather than triggering on any movement. Standard pixel-based motion detection fires on anything that moves - animals, blowing leaves, shadows, rain. AcuSense filters those out and only sends a notification when the classification engine confirms a person or vehicle is in the frame. This makes push notifications via Hik-Connect far more actionable, particularly overnight when environmental movement is common.

5. What is the optical zoom range on the motorised varifocal lens, and can I adjust it after installation?

   The motorised varifocal lens covers 4 mm to 12 mm, providing a 3x optical zoom ratio. Yes - it can be adjusted remotely after the camera is mounted. Zoom and focus are controlled through the camera's web interface, a compatible Hikvision NVR, or iVMS-4200 software. This means the field of view can be fine-tuned from the control point without physically accessing the camera - useful when the camera is mounted at height or in a difficult position. This is confirmed as a motorised adjustment, not a manual ring lens.

6. Is the pan and tilt on this camera operator-controlled or does it auto-track moving objects?

   The pan and tilt on this model is operator-controlled or position-preset - it is not an auto-tracking PTZ. The mechanism allows the camera's viewing angle to be directed to a chosen position, either manually by an operator or set to a fixed preset. It does not independently follow a moving subject across the scene. For sites where continuous automated subject tracking is required, a full-speed PTZ camera with auto-tracking functionality is the appropriate product type. The DS-2DE3A400BW-DE is available through Security Australia alongside the broader Hikvision PTZ range for comparison.

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