Description
5MP Full-Colour Surveillance with a 4mm Lens — Balanced Range & Detail for Commercial Installations
The TP-Link VIGI C250 (4mm) is a professional-grade 5MP full-colour dome IP camera designed for installers and businesses that need clear, detailed footage at medium range — day and night. The 4mm fixed focal length delivers a narrower field of view than the 2.8mm variant, making it the preferred choice for monitoring corridors, building entrances, car park lanes, and perimeter fencing where you need to identify faces and number plates at greater distances. With 24/7 full-colour night vision, AI human and vehicle detection, IK10 vandal-proof housing, and IP67 weatherproofing, it’s built for demanding Australian commercial environments.
4mm vs 2.8mm — Which Lens Do I Need?
| Feature |
2.8mm Lens |
4mm Lens (This Model) |
| Field of View |
Wider — suits large open areas |
Narrower — suits corridors & entrances |
| Effective Range |
Shorter — best within ~8m |
Longer — effective to ~12m+ |
| Best For |
Retail floors, reception, warehouses |
Corridors, entrances, car parks, perimeters |
Key Features
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5MP Super-High Definition — Captures fine detail — faces, number plates, and signage — with over 5 megapixels of resolution for clear, evidential-quality footage.
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4mm Fixed Focal Length — Provides a balanced field of view suited to corridors, building entrances, car park lanes, and perimeter monitoring where subject distance is greater than typical wide-angle deployments.
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24/7 Full-Colour Night Vision — Large-aperture lens, high-sensitivity image sensor, and built-in supplemental lights deliver full-colour video in complete darkness — not black-and-white IR footage.
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AI Human & Vehicle Classification — On-board AI distinguishes people and vehicles from other motion triggers, dramatically reducing false alarms from animals, foliage, or lighting changes.
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Smart Detection — Area Intrusion & Line Crossing — Define virtual zones and tripwires; receive instant alerts when a person or vehicle crosses them.
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People & Vehicle Analytics — Search recorded footage by attributes such as gender, clothing colour, hair length, vehicle type, and vehicle colour to quickly locate events of interest.
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Built-In Microphone — Records audio within approximately 4.5m of the camera for more complete situational awareness.
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IK10 Vandal-Proof & IP67 Weatherproof — Rugged dome housing withstands deliberate impact and is fully sealed against dust and rain — suitable for exposed outdoor locations.
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H.265+ Compression — Reduces storage and bandwidth requirements by up to 50% compared to H.264 without sacrificing image quality.
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Smart Video Enhancement — True WDR, 3D DNR, Smart IR, and Night Vision processing ensure clear footage in high-contrast and low-light scenes.
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PoE or 12V DC Power — Run a single Cat5e/6 cable for data and power via PoE, or use a 12V DC adaptor where PoE is not available.
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Local SD Card Storage — Onboard microSD slot supports up to 256GB for standalone recording without an NVR.
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Flexible Management — Manage via the VIGI app (iOS/Android), VIGI Security Manager (PC), web browser UI, or any compatible VIGI NVR.
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Flexible Cable Routing — Route cable through the ceiling or via the side outlet for clean, low-profile installations.
Use Cases
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Building Entrances & Lobbies — The 4mm lens captures clear facial detail at entry distances typical of doorways and reception areas, improving identification capability.
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Corridors & Hallways — Narrower field of view covers the length of a corridor effectively, reducing the number of cameras required per run.
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Car Parks & Driveways — Effective number plate capture at greater distances compared to a 2.8mm lens. Vehicle analytics and line-crossing detection provide automated alerts for unauthorised access.
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Perimeter & Fence Lines — Monitor boundary lines and gates where subjects are further from the camera mounting point.
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Retail & Warehouses — Suitable for aisle monitoring and loading dock coverage where a longer effective range is needed.
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Schools & Commercial Properties — People analytics and area intrusion detection support duty-of-care and after-hours security monitoring.
Technical Specifications
| Specification |
Detail |
| Model |
VIGI C250 (4mm) |
| Resolution |
5MP (2880 × 1620) |
| Lens |
4mm fixed focal length |
| Night Vision |
24/7 Full-Colour (supplemental white light) |
| AI Detection |
Human & Vehicle Classification, Area Intrusion, Line Crossing |
| Analytics |
People & Vehicle Attribute Search |
| Audio |
Built-in microphone (~4.5m range) |
| Video Compression |
H.265+ / H.265 / H.264+ / H.264 |
| Smart Video |
True WDR, 3D DNR, Smart IR, Night Vision |
| Power Supply |
PoE (802.3af) or 12V DC |
| Local Storage |
microSD slot, up to 256GB (card sold separately) |
| Ingress Protection |
IP67 (weatherproof) / IK10 (vandal-proof) |
| Form Factor |
Dome (indoor/outdoor) |
| Management |
VIGI App, VIGI Security Manager, Web UI, VIGI NVR |
| Weight |
380g |
| Vendor |
TP-Link |
Downloads
📄 Download VIGI C250 Datasheet (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the practical difference between the 2.8mm and 4mm lens versions?
The 2.8mm lens has a wider field of view, making it ideal for monitoring large open areas like retail floors, reception areas, and warehouses at close to medium range. The 4mm lens has a narrower field of view with a longer effective range, making it better suited for corridors, building entrances, car park lanes, and perimeter fencing where subjects are further from the camera. If you’re unsure, the 4mm is generally the safer choice for outdoor and entrance monitoring.
Does the VIGI C250 work without an NVR?
Yes. The camera can operate as a standalone unit, recording directly to a microSD card (up to 256GB, sold separately) and managed via the VIGI app or web browser. For multi-camera deployments, pairing with a VIGI NVR provides centralised recording, playback, and AI event management.
What PoE standard does this camera require?
The VIGI C250 is powered by IEEE 802.3af PoE, which is the standard supported by most PoE switches and NVRs. It also accepts 12V DC power if PoE is not available at the installation point.
How does AI human and vehicle detection reduce false alarms?
The on-board AI chip analyses motion events in real time and classifies them as human, vehicle, or other. Only human and vehicle events trigger push notifications, so you won’t receive alerts for a cat walking past, a tree branch moving, or a change in lighting — significantly reducing alarm fatigue on busy sites.
Can I integrate the VIGI C250 with third-party NVRs or VMS platforms?
The VIGI C250 is an ONVIF-compatible IP camera, which means it can be integrated with most third-party NVRs and video management systems that support the ONVIF protocol. Full AI features (smart detection, analytics) are only available when used within the VIGI ecosystem.
Is this camera suitable for number plate capture in a car park?
The 4mm lens is better suited to number plate capture than the 2.8mm variant due to its longer effective range and narrower field of view. For dedicated licence plate recognition (LPR) applications, a varifocal or purpose-built LPR camera is recommended. The VIGI C250 (4mm) provides good general-purpose car park coverage with vehicle analytics for identifying vehicle type and colour.
