IR Day/Night

IR Day/Night

IR Day & Night security cameras are Day/Night surveillance cameras with infrared LEDs included in one package for optimal no lux (light) surveillance. Most models of these CCTV security cameras are similar to bullet cameras in design but vary in size and ability, but they also come in dome configurations as well as PTZ applications.

Infrared cameras are a popular choice among installers because of the ease and flexibility with which they install in almost any environment.

Why, however, do some IR cameras perform better than others?

Infrared illumination, also known as IR illumination, is used to provide light to locations that would other wise be too dark for the standard CCTV security camera to pick up images that could be used for surveillance purposes. Of course the best results for seeing in the dark would be to provide sufficient white light, but this is not always physically possible. The human eye can see wavelengths of light between 380nm to 760nm approximately. As illustrated in the diagram below, the Infrared (IR) light used in the majority of CCTV security cameras can not be seen with the naked human eye.

How do CCTV cameras detect Infrared Light?

The image sensor in the Camera is called the CCD which is made of Silicon and Germanium. As you can see from the Diagram below the CCD responds differently to wavelengths of Light. Therefore, for CCTV applications, the material used in the CCD chip has a great bearing on the response to either visible or infrared light.

This does not mean all CCTV cameras are made to be sensitive to see with IR illumination. Color cameras are not suitable for IR illumination because of the color filter. Monochrome (Black and White) cameras will work with IR illumination because it does not have a filter that restricts infrared light from passing through the CCD chip. Color cameras with IR are considered day / night cameras and come equipped with an OLPF filter to allow both visible and infrared light to pass through it.

Does this mean IR sensitive Filter CCTV security cameras all perform in same manner?

The Answer is No.

Not all IR cameras are alike.

There are important factors to be considered like CCD type and size, Lens size and environmental Factors. Depending on the type of Lens and CCD sensor Size, Ex-view CCD performs far better than the standard Super HAD due to its high light sensitivity. The size of the CCD, whether it be, 1/2", 1/3", 1/4" will also directly effect the IR performance. The size of the CCD will determine the power output (Video Signal) level, so performance will change.

The Lens has a F number (Aperture) which restricts the Amount of light that can be passed through the sensor. As you can see from the chart below, the higher the F number, the lower the percentage of light that passes through the lens.

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The Environmental factors are important because the camera will only see the light energy reflected from an object. Regardless of how far the IR's are capable of stretching, if there is no object for the infrared to reflect off of, the infrared light is just swallowed up by the vast darkness and no image is produced.

Here are some typical values for reflectance given below.

Matt white test card 89%

Snowy scene 85%

Glass windows and walls 70%

White matt paint on concrete 60%

Unpainted concrete, car park 40%

Red bricks 35%

Open country, trees, grass 20% (This can be 60%-70% for I/R)

Empty asphalt area 5%

The above is a brief explanation of how infrared light works and how it interacts with the cameras. There are many issues to consider before purchasing IR cameras. It is not an all purpose camera and the performance correlates to the type of CCD used, the F-Stop of the lens and the environment it is installed in.

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Kt&C Usa Co - All in One Night Vision Bullet Security Camera	RSS-BS-BC6036HVA-12-24 4-9 mm Vari Focal Infrared Bullet Camera	NVC-IR024, Compact IR Camera with 24 LEDs
SKU: RSS-KC-KPC-N600H	SKU: RSS-BS-BC6036HVA-12-24	SKU: RSS-ABL-NVC-IR024


Our price: $240.00	Our price: $125.00 Market price: $275.00 save 55%	Our price: $85.00 Market price: $125.00 save 32%
Quantity	Quantity	Quantity


NVC-IR024A, IR Camera with Audio	NVC-IR024K, Economic IR Camera	NVC-IR045VA, IR Camera with 4~9mm Varifocal Lens
SKU: RSS-ABL-NVC-IR024A	SKU: RSS-ABL-NVC-IR024K	SKU: RSS-ABL-NVC-IR045VA


Our price: $95.00 Market price: $145.00 save 34%	Our price: $75.00 Market price: $100.00 save 25%	Our price: $150.00 Market price: $175.00 save 14%
Quantity	Quantity	Quantity