Day and Night Network Cameras

Regular, color network cameras are available which delivers color images during the day. But when daylight fades, cameras sense the lower light levels. There are a variety of techniques to improve image quality in condition of poor light.

Camera with IR filter

In this camera, the end user can see picture in total darkness at the distance of infrared emission produced by LEDs. A day and night camera can have infrared LEDs mounted surrounding the lens. These LEDs can emit their own light anywhere from 20 meters all the way up to 70 meters and beyond.

During day time, when the filter is put in place, it filters the wavelengths, improving the quality of the image by showing only the “visible” light, removing the “infrared” light from the spectrum.

When the camera is in night mode (light diminishes below a certain level), the IR-cut filter is removed by a small motor, allowing the camera’s light sensitivity to reach down to 0.001 lux or lower. In this mode, the camera starts recording in black and white.

Remember that a camera’s infrared capabilities are, for the great majority of applications, be used for less than half the day.

Digital day/night cameras

Digital day/night cameras (or electronic day/night cameras) are also available, which electronically adjust colors during the day, instead of using an infrared filter. Once it becomes dark, the camera digitally switches to black and white. Checking the LUX rating is the best way to see how digital day/night cameras are performed.  Without the need for a physical filter, digital day/night technology can also be leveraged for smaller form factors. Day/Night recording is available on dome, fixed dome, bullet, box, and PTZ security cameras.

Almost every IP camera on the market now has some form of day/night feature, from basic image optimization technologies such as the Panasonic BL-C101 and the Sony SNC-CH110, to advanced, day/night functionality in models like the Axis P1347, the RedLeaf RLC-DF2035 and the RedLeaf RLC-BF2422.