An 8 camera Hikvision kit is a recorder, eight cameras and a hard drive in one box, and the choices that matter are the recorder type, how many channels it has, the camera resolution and the drive size. We list 19 of them, and they come down to four groups. Work out which group fits your cabling first, then compare the resolution and drive within it.
The four groups of 8 camera kits
| Recorder | Kits | Camera resolution as listed | Hard drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-channel Turbo HD DVR (coax) | 8 | 3K, 5MP, 8MP 4K | 2TB (7 kits) or 4TB (1 kit) |
| 16-channel Turbo HD DVR (coax) | 5 | 3K, 5MP, 8MP 4K | 4TB or 6TB |
| 8-channel PoE NVR | 4 | 4MP, 5MP, 8MP | 2TB or 4TB |
| 16-channel PoE NVR | 2 | 8MP 4K | 2TB or 4TB |
Everything is in our 8 camera kits category, and the PoE sets are also grouped under IP (PoE) kits.
Coax or PoE comes first
A coax kit sends the picture down BNC cable, and each camera has its own power lead; the coax kits include a 12V power supply with an eight-way splitter and eight 20m BNC and power leads. A PoE kit has network cameras that take power and carry the picture over one Cat6 cable each, and the PoE kits include eight 20m Cat6 leads. The two are not interchangeable, so pick by the cable you already have or are happy to run. Our guide to PoE or coax Hikvision kits covers the difference in more detail.
Channels, resolution and drive
The 8-channel recorders use every channel on eight cameras, so a ninth camera means another recorder. The 16-channel recorders in eight camera kits leave eight channels free, which is the easier route if you expect to add cameras. Resolution is stated in each kit title, for example 4MP, 5MP or 8MP, and the listing says whether the cameras have audio or a microphone, so check that if you want sound. A larger drive keeps more days of recordings, so it is worth a look when all eight cameras record.
When a spot is missing
If eight cameras still leave a spot uncovered, you have three options. On a 16-channel recorder, add a camera of the same type: a Turbo HD camera for a coax kit, or an IP camera from our IP cameras for a PoE kit. If the recorder has no free channel, a second recorder is needed. If a PoE recorder has no free PoE socket for the new camera, a PoE switch can supply it; our 8 port PoE switches are one place to start. Ask us before ordering if you are unsure what your recorder can take.