The 2016 PSI Premier Awards recognise the very best security products and distributors from the previous 12 months. Organised by PSI magazine, the journal for professional security installers, the winners are chosen by the industry professionals that read the magazine.

The PSI Premier Awards are a chance to highlight the fresh thinking and innovative technology that is driving the industry forward. One of the key awards is for ‘CCTV Product of the Year’, and this year it was won by Hikvision for its range of Darkfighter PTZ cameras.

Unbeatable cameras that leave the competition in the dark

Headquartered in China, Hikvision is the world’s leading supplier of video surveillance products and solutions. With its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and a determined commitment to R&D, it is no surprise that Hikvision’s Darkfighter PTZ cameras were considered leaders in their field.

These cameras function with amazing clarity in ultra-low-light conditions that would be too dark for conventional low-light models: 0.002 lux in colour, 0.0002 lux in black & white, and 0 lux using IR.

Speaking on behalf of the company, Keen Yao, Hikvision’s International Marketing Director, said he was “thrilled to receive the award from the readers of such a well-respected publication.”

Unrivalled performance in real-life situations

The Darkfighter PTZ range features:

• Up to 36x optical zoom large 1/1.9’’ progressive scan CMOS chip with 2MP full HD resolution
• Integration of up to 200m IR for true darkness vision with EIS (Electronic Image Stabilisation), 120dB WDR, 3D DNR, and IP66 environmental protection.
• Smart Detection and Smart Tracking technologies
• Streaming of full HD 1920 x 1080 video at full frame rate.

These impressive specifications were music to the ears of Salford City Council whose CCTV personnel had previously struggled to operate their 24-hour monitoring service due to low-quality images in low-light conditions. As soon as Hikvision’s Darkfighter PTZs were installed in Eccles Town Centre, they were able to view and record high resolution colour images even in the dark of night.  As an “astonished” David Lancaster, Salford’s Deputy City Mayor commented: “They really do turn night into day and give us pin sharp images.”