What Is 3K CCTV? HiLook 3K ColorVu Cameras & DVRs: UK Installer Guide

3K CCTV is the resolution step UK installers keep getting asked about on analogue quotes — and it deserves a clear answer. 3K records at 2960×1665 pixels, a native 16:9 picture of roughly 4.9 megapixels, delivered over ordinary coax by Hikvision's Turbo HD platform. This guide explains what 3K actually is, how it compares with 1080p, 4MP, classic 5MP and 4K, which HiLook 3K ColorVu cameras Netview stocks, and — the part most often missed — which HiLook DVRs record full 3K rather than a compressed "3K Lite" stream. Everything featured is stocked in Leicester for same-day dispatch from netviewcctv.co.uk.

At a glance

3K = 2960×1665 — about 4.9MP in a native 16:9 aspect, so it fills a monitor without the letterboxing of classic 4:3 5MP (2560×1944).
It runs on existing coax: HD-TVI video, audio (AoC) and even the OSD menu all travel down the one RG59 cable.
Netview stocks two 3K ColorVu turrets: the THC-T159-MS (20 m white light) and THC-T259-MS (40 m white light) — both F1.0, 24/7 colour, built-in mic.
DVR choice matters: U-series DVRs like the DVR-208U-M1(C) record full 3K@20 fps; Q-series "Lite" DVRs record 3K Lite@12 fps.
3K@20 fps is the format's ceiling — quote 20 fps, not 25 fps, at full resolution.

What is 3K CCTV?

3K CCTV is a Turbo HD (HD-TVI analogue) video format that records 2960×1665 pixels — roughly 4.9 megapixels in a native 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. The name follows the same convention as 4K: it refers to the horizontal pixel count (2960 ≈ 3,000, hence "3K"). Hikvision introduced the format across its HiLook ColorVu turret range, where cameras such as the THC-T259-MS output TVI at 3K@20 fps, with 4MP@25/30 fps and 1080p@25/30 fps switchable modes (Hikvision THC-T259-MS specification). For the customer, the practical translation is simple: noticeably more detail than 4MP, delivered over the coax cable that is already in the wall.

3K vs 1080p, 4MP, 5MP and 4K: the numbers

3K sits between 4MP and 8MP (4K) on detail, but its 16:9 aspect is what separates it from the classic 5MP format. Traditional 5MP analogue records 2560×1944 — a squarer 4:3 frame that letterboxes on a 16:9 monitor and spends pixels on sky and foreground. 3K's 2960×1665 frame is wider than it is tall in the same proportion as the screen it will be viewed on, so the extra resolution lands where the action is.

Format	Pixels	Megapixels	Aspect	Max fps (TVI)
1080p	1920×1080	2.1MP	16:9	25/30
4MP	2560×1440	3.7MP	16:9	25/30
5MP (classic)	2560×1944	5.0MP	4:3	20
3K	2960×1665	4.9MP	16:9	20
4K / 8MP	3840×2160	8.3MP	16:9	12-15

Two practical notes. First, 3K carries 33% more pixels than 4MP for very little extra cost — which is why it has become the default "step up" on analogue quotes. Second, like classic 5MP, full-resolution 3K runs at 20 fps rather than 25 fps; that is a property of the TVI format, not a fault, and it is smooth enough for virtually every domestic and commercial scene.

Which HiLook 3K ColorVu cameras does Netview stock?

Netview stocks the two 3K ColorVu audio turrets in white as standard: the THC-T159-MS and THC-T259-MS, both with a 2.8 mm lens. Both are 24/7 full-colour ColorVu cameras with an F1.0 aperture, 0.001 lux minimum illumination, a built-in microphone with Audio over Coax, switchable TVI/AHD/CVI/CVBS output and IP66 weatherproofing. The difference is the white-light package: the THC-T159-MS is the compact 243 g model with up to 20 m of white light at 2.9 W (Hikvision THC-T159-MS specification), while the THC-T259-MS is the full-size 480 g turret with up to 40 m of white light at 4.2 W (Hikvision THC-T259-MS specification). If the job only needs 1080p, the same family continues down to the 2MP THC-T229-MS and THC-T129-MS — useful for mixing resolutions across one site on one DVR.

THC-T159-MS vs THC-T259-MS: which one to fit?

Fit the THC-T159-MS on domestic and close-range work, and the THC-T259-MS where you need colour at longer throw — driveways, yards and car parks. Both produce the same 3K image through the same F1.0 lens; you are choosing the illumination range, not the picture.

Spec	THC-T159-MS(2.8mm)	THC-T259-MS(2.8mm)
Resolution	3K (2960×1665) @ 20 fps	3K (2960×1665) @ 20 fps
White light range	Up to 20 m	Up to 40 m
Aperture / min illumination	F1.0 / 0.001 lux	F1.0 / 0.001 lux
Field of view (2.8 mm)	113° horizontal	113° horizontal
Audio	Built-in mic, AoC	Built-in mic, AoC
Power / weight	12 VDC, max 2.9 W / 243 g	12 VDC, max 4.2 W / 480 g
Rating	IP66	IP66

Positioning tip: ColorVu white light is visible by design — it is a deterrent as much as an illuminator. On the 40 m THC-T259-MS especially, angle the camera so the light works for you without washing out nearby walls or annoying a neighbour's bedroom window.

HiLook 3K ColorVu camera and DVR pairing: full 3K U-series vs 3K Lite Q-series — Three ways to run 3K: full-3K U-series DVRs, value Q-series at 3K Lite, and mixed-resolution estates.

Pairing the right DVR: full 3K vs 3K Lite

The single most important spec check on a 3K job is the recorder: HiLook U-series DVRs record the full 3K (2960×1665) stream at 20 fps, while the value Q-series records a compressed "3K Lite" stream at 12 fps. The U-series — the 4-channel DVR-204U-M1(E), 8-channel DVR-208U-M1(C) and 16-channel DVR-216U-M2(C) — supports 3K@20 fps encoding with H.265 Pro+ compression and AcuSense Motion Detection 2.0, which classifies human and vehicle targets to cut false alarms (Hikvision DVR-208U-M1 specification). The Q-series — such as the 8-channel DVR-208Q-M1(E) (with 4- and 16-channel DVR-204Q-M1(E) and DVR-216Q-M1/T siblings also stocked) — accepts the 3K camera happily but encodes 3K Lite at 12 fps (Hikvision DVR-204Q-M1 specification).

DVR	Channels	3K recording	Best for
DVR-204U-M1(E)	4	Full 3K @ 20 fps	Domestic full-3K systems
DVR-208U-M1(C)	8	Full 3K @ 20 fps	Small commercial, the default pick
DVR-216U-M2(C)	16	Full 3K @ 20 fps	Larger sites, 2 HDD bays
DVR-208Q-M1(E)	8	3K Lite @ 12 fps	Price-led jobs, 1080p estates

The rule of thumb: if the customer is paying for 3K cameras, fit a U-series DVR so the recording matches what the camera can produce. Reserve the Q-series for jobs where most channels are 1080p and a 3K camera is only covering one key view.

Audio comes down the same cable

Every HiLook "-MS" 3K ColorVu turret has a built-in microphone, and Audio over Coax (AoC) carries that sound down the existing RG59 — no separate audio cable, no extra power. Both the THC-T159-MS and THC-T259-MS list high-quality audio over coaxial cable as standard (Hikvision spec), and the M-series DVRs above decode it natively. Remember the UK compliance point: the ICO treats audio recording as more intrusive than video, so leave audio off by default and enable it only where the customer has a justified need — our HiLook audio cameras guide covers the law and setup in detail.

Storage and bandwidth: H.265 Pro+ keeps 3K affordable

A 3K stream carries a third more pixels than 4MP, but H.265 Pro+ compression on the U-series DVRs keeps disk requirements close to what installers already budget for 4MP systems. Hikvision quotes typical storage savings of around 50% for H.265+ against standard H.265 encoding on these recorders (Hikvision DVR-208U-M1 specification). In practice a 4-camera full-3K system recording on motion with AcuSense classification sits comfortably on a single 4TB surveillance drive for 30 days' retention on most domestic scenes. The single-bay U-series DVRs accept up to 10TB of SATA storage; the 16-channel DVR-216U-M2(C) adds a second bay for long-retention commercial work.

Why 3K instead of switching to IP?

3K exists for one reason: it lets you deliver a genuinely sharper, full-colour, audio-equipped system without re-cabling an analogue site. If the RG59 in the wall is sound, a 3K ColorVu swap is a same-day upgrade — camera off, camera on, DVR swap, done. An IP refit delivers more headroom (8MP+, smart analytics at the edge, PoE) but costs cable runs, containment and switch hardware. Our HiLook IP vs Turbo HD guide walks the decision in full, and the HiLook Turbo HD DVR & camera guide covers the wider coax line-up. Once recording, remote viewing works exactly as on IP jobs — enrol the DVR in the app using our Hik-Connect setup and handover guide.

Four-step workflow for upgrading an analogue CCTV system to HiLook 3K ColorVu — The four-step 3K upgrade: survey the coax, swap the cameras, fit a full-3K DVR, hand over on Hik-Connect.

Installer tips for 3K ColorVu jobs

Three details make the difference between a good 3K install and a great one. First, set the camera output deliberately: the -MS turrets are 4-in-1 (TVI/AHD/CVI/CVBS) and full 3K resolution is a TVI mode — leave them on TVI for HiLook/Hikvision DVRs. Second, budget power properly: both turrets are 12 VDC±25%, so on long shared PSU runs check voltage at the camera end — white-light LEDs draw the peak (4.2 W on the THC-T259-MS). Third, mind the 20 fps ceiling at full resolution: for a till point or fast gate where motion smoothness matters more than pixel count, dropping that channel to 4MP@25 fps is a legitimate choice the same camera supports.

FAQ: 3K CCTV questions installers ask

Is 3K the same as 5MP?
Nearly — 3K is about 4.9MP, but in a 16:9 aspect (2960×1665) instead of classic 5MP's 4:3 (2560×1944). On a widescreen monitor 3K uses every pixel on scene width, which is usually what the customer cares about.

Do I need a new DVR for 3K cameras?
You need a current HiLook/Hikvision M-series DVR. For full 3K@20 fps recording choose a U-series model such as the DVR-208U-M1(C); Q-series recorders capture 3K Lite at 12 fps. Older non-3K DVRs will only see the camera in its 4MP or 1080p fallback modes.

What frame rate do 3K cameras record at?
20 fps at full 3K resolution — a property of the TVI format at this pixel count. The same cameras switch to 4MP or 1080p at 25/30 fps if a channel needs smoother motion.

Does 3K work over existing RG59 coax?
Yes — that is the point of the format. Video, audio (AoC) and OSD control all travel down the existing coax; on good-quality RG59 the signal is rated for hundreds of metres, far beyond a typical domestic or small-commercial run.

Can I mix 3K and 1080p cameras on the same DVR?
Yes. Each channel negotiates its own resolution, so a THC-T259-MS on the drive can sit alongside 2MP THC-T229-MS or THC-T129-MS turrets on the same recorder — a common way to put the resolution where it earns its money.

Is 3K better than upgrading to IP?
It is better value on an existing coax site in good condition. Where the customer wants 8MP detail, edge analytics or PoE convenience — or the cabling needs replacing anyway — quote IP instead. See our IP vs Turbo HD guide.

Buy 3K CCTV at trade prices

Netview is a Hikvision and HiLook UK authorised wholesaler, and we hold the 3K ColorVu turrets and matching U-series and Q-series DVRs in stock in Leicester for same-day dispatch. Trade customers get account pricing on the full HiLook range at netviewcctv.co.uk — order online or collect from the Leicester trade counter. If you are speccing a mixed estate or a larger coax refresh, our team can put a bill of materials together around the cameras and recorders above.

July 14, 2026 | View: 12 | By: netviewcctv.co.uk