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PIR Security
Camera (Night vision)
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Infrared Security
Cameras: An infrared
security camera has infrared LED lighting (light
from a different region of the electromagnetic
spectrum than we normally use to see) installed
around the outside of the lens of the camera. This
lighting allows the camera to capture a good image
in no light at all. With a little bit of light
(called low light) the infrared camera can capture
a picture that looks just like daytime. People use
infrared security cameras for businesses that have
the lights out at night (in case of break-ins). Or
for outside, nighttime viewing. Keep in mind that
even at nightime there is a normally some light
from the moon, stars, or street lights.
Infrared cameras are often called "Night
Vision" cameras because they can "see" at night.
However, do not confuse "Night Vision" with "Day /
Night Cameras". Day / Night cameras do not have
infrared lights built in. More about those types
of cameras below.
Infrared security cameras will provide a
color picture while the light is good. When it
gets dark, the camera will switch to infrared mode
and illuminate it's built-in infrared LEDs. In
infrared mode the image is captured in black and
white - this is true of all infrared cameras. The
level of light required to capture a good picture
is referred to as a camera's lux, the lower the
lux the better the camera can see in low light.
For example a camera with 0.003 lux is better than
a camera with 0.2 lux. Infrared cameras are
considered to be 0.0 lux in infrared mode - in
other words they can 'see' with no light at all.
Infrared cameras are also compared by how
far they can see in total darkness. This is
generally a result of how many infrared LEDs are
built into the camera. Our Long
Range Infrared Varifocal Bullet
Camera can see up to 200ft. with no
light at all!
If you are going to use an infrared camera
outdoors, its best to use a outdoor weatherproof
bullet style camera. This is because if you use an
indoor infrared camera and need to put it in an
outdoor housing, sometimes the infrared light
reflects off the glass of the housing. Some people
get acceptable results if the camera is absolutely
flush up to the glass thereby reducing the glare.
An alternative solution is to use a day
/ night camera which has an extra sensitive
imaging chip that allows it to capture a good
picture in low light situations without using
infrared lighting. This works well for example if
there are street lights outside or an exterior
light that can be left on at night. Keep in mind
that cameras without infrared lighting will not
capture an image with zero light. The other issue
to consider is that infrared cameras require more
power (more amperage). The power requirements are
provided in the specs for each camera.
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