The DS-2CD2142FWD-IS Hikvision 4MP IP Dome Camera features a progressive scan CMOS sensor and 2.8mm/4mm/6mm fixed lens to capture images at a resolution of up to 4MP at 30 fps. The first version of Hikvision DS-2CD2142FWD-IS was released for the first time in 2015. Since then Hikvision has released a number of minor hardware revisions and lens variants. The model reviewed on this article features a wide angled 2.8mm lens, 4MP resolution, audio and alarm I/O and manufactured date January 2017. The firmware version was 5.4.1 build 160525 out of the box. There’s a new version of the firmware available (check Downloads sections).
The dome camera housing is metal, it feels sturdy and slightly heavy (1.1 lbs / 0.5 kg). It comes in two colors: white and black. For special purposes it can be painted with other colors. There are inputs and outputs for audio components as well as an alarm system, and an RJ45 port provides Ethernet connectivity. With an IP66 and IK10-rated vandal-resistant housing, this camera is suitable for outdoor applications.
Installation
This Hikvision DS-2CD2142FWD-IS camera can be powered in two ways: via Power-Over -Ethernet (PoE) with a suitable PoE switch like this TPLINK PoE switch, or it can be connected on a regular switch/router and get power separately (12V and at least 600mA).
Installation is more fiddly than a bullet camera, but if you can drill a hole and crimp and RJ45 cable, it’s a DIY job. The camera comes with waterproofing shield that you add before crimping, and this seals (waterproofing) your Ethernet connection to the PoE pigtail. Since this dome IP camera only has 3-axis pivoting, positioning is not that difficult. There are brackets available separately that can help (check below). That said, it’s not difficult to install.
You can stream the camera feed to a NAS or Hivksion NVR. The camera supports ONVIF protocol, so it’s supposed to work with third-party recorders or softwares, however sometimes the motion detection won’t work properly. It’s recommended to use a Hivision NVR to get a reliable surveillance system. The NVR models that work good with this camera: 4 channel / 8 channel / 16 channel. This camera supports Micro SD card up to 128GB (the footage can be accessed via web browser/CMS software or phone/tablet).
Configuration
After the camera is connected to the network (in our case via PoE) we need to configure the camera, activating and setting the correct IP address. Hikvsion provides a configuration tool called SADP. You can find the software on the CD that comes with the camera, or it can be downloaded from the Hikvision official website, or on our Downloads section. Run the SADP and the camera will show up there. The default IP will be 192.168.1.64. Note the security status inactive, this means that the camera has no password and it needs to be activated. Set a password for the camera and assign an IP matching your own network (or set the camera on DHCP mode, this way an IP will be assigned automatically to the camera). However it’s recommended for the camera to be on static IP (not on DHCP).
You can access the camera directly via web browser (Internet Explorer or Firefox ERS). Type the camera’s IP on the url bar and login using your password. Install the plugin the camera requires.
The next screen will bring the live view. This camera supports two streams: Mainstream (the highest resolution and quality) and Substream (lower resolution when the camera is accessed remotely). You can switch the stream type on the button as shown on the picture.
On the Configuration tab, on the Video&Audio section you can check and modify the video settings. The resolution can be downgraded, however you can get the max of this camera if you use the 2688×1520 resolution. The max frame rate on 4MP resolution is 20 fps, if the camera is set on 3MP it can deliver 30fps. Nevertheless, 20fps will output a normal and smooth picture on the playback. The bitrate can be set to 5120 Kbps or 4096Kbps. The higher the bitrate is the more space the footage with take on the harddrive. For 4MP resolution 4-6 Mbps bitrate is enough.
If you did hook up an external Mic on the camera’s pigtail, you need to set the Video Type to Vide&Audio (on both Mainstream and Substream). The audio quality depends on your mic’s performance and the way it is positioned. A good mic should filter out the noises and it should be mounted in an interference-free spot.
This camera supports Micro-SD card up to 128 GB. This means, this camera can function as a standalone and all the footage will be stored on the SD card. Power off the camera and psychically install the SD card. Bring the camera online and format the SD card on the Storage section (if unformatted, the camera will not record). The footage can be reviewed via web browser, Hikvision CMS (iVMS-4200), or via phone/tablet (app: IVMS-4500). However, if your surveillance system will have more than one camera, it’s recommended to use a NVR.
Daytime and Nighttime picture quality.
First of all we took a snapshot using the camera. The 2688×1520 pixels snap shows a beautifully detailed image. The picture looks colorful and pretty sharp.
As seen below the picture during the daytime is great, colorful and sharp. Both cameras below are wide-angle 2.8 mm. We definitely love the picture quality on this camera.
With a built-in IR cut filter and integrated IR LEDs, this camera can capture images in complete darkness at a distance up to 98 feet (29 meters). A Wide Dynamic Range of up to 120 dB allows the camera to capture images under varied lighting conditions, including backlight and low light.
Night time performance depends on different factors, the more city lights on the area the better the picture will be. It’s recommended to angle the camera a bit down in order for IR lights to hit an obstacle and bounce back. For a certain setups, you may need to add an external IR block.
The picture quality turns the Hikvision DS-2CD2142FWD-IS camera into a powerful surveillance solution. Many lower-end CCTV cameras do a great job at monitoring, but are let down if you need to identify a suspect from footage – the quality isn’t good enough. The sharpness of the Hikvision stills, even at range and in low light, is just great. And the firmware lets you tweak exposures and numerous other settings to let you grab quality native pictures suited to the lighting of the environment you want to watch. We definitely recommend this camera for your surveillance projects.
