As the economy grows better, people now care not only about food, clothes, home & travel. Safety of life & money becomes more important. Video monitoring is picked first because it shows things clearly & keeps recording. Infrared night vision cameras work well at night with hidden use & sharp images, so they’re used widely in video systems AND outdoor trail cameras. This article looks into infrared night vision cameras in both tech & market ways. Also gives examples to explain real devices, so it’s more technical but also easier to get.

What Are Night Vision Security Cameras?

You might need a night vision security cam. These can spot motion & record video even in full dark or low light. So, you stay calm when asleep or not home.

Still, not every night vision cam works the same. The old black-white ones do work, but maybe not sharp enough to catch faces or help police. That’s where color night cams come in. These shoot HD images in color, even at night, giving you a better view of your area.

Now, with newer color tech, images look more detailed & cleaner. These cams got large aperture, better sensors & warm lights that adjust. So, while others miss, these keep showing bright, true-color views.

Technical Principle

Infrared night vision cameras help in full dark or near no light. They shine infrared light from a special sender to a thing. The light bounces back. The lens gets it, makes an image. It’s not what we see by eye, but made from infrared reflection. So, the cam can record what eyes can’t see in dark.
Light is a kind of wave. Its wave size goes from nanometers (1nm = 10-9m) up to 1 millimeter. The part we can see is called visible light. This is between 380 to 780nm. From long to short: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Shorter than violet is UV. Longer than red is infrared. Infrared splits into near, mid, far. Near is 0.75~3.0μm, mid is 3.0~20μm, far is 20~1000μm. Our eyes can’t see infrared, so we use LED lights that send it. These are small, hidden, good for secret night watch. Infrared lights come in power types & 715nm or 850nm. The wave length picks how far & how good it lights.

How Do Night Vision Security Cameras Work?

Night vision cams use IR light to look in the dark. Their LEDs send out invisible light that cams catch. So, even when dark, the camera still makes clear shots & keeps guard.

But cams don’t all work the same. Some use one tech, others use another. Goal is same though.

Example: IR cams often have lots of LEDs near lens. Others use a bright spotlight, which can help more. Some cams also got a special IR filter. It sees room light & changes camera settings. So, during daytime, picture gets brighter, colors show better.

Different Kinds of Night Vision: What They Are & How They Vary

There are three big kinds: IR night vision, starlight night vision & color night vision. Each one works in its own way. These use different tech tricks to give good pictures even when it’s dark or fully black.

1. Compare 3 kinds of night vision security cameras:

Feature	IR Night Vision	Starlight Night Vision	Color Night Vision
Extra Light	IR LEDs	No light	White light
Brightness	Low	Mid	High
Color	Black & white	Black & white or color	Full color

2. IR (Infrared) night vision

IR night vision cams use strong LEDs to send out light we can’t see. They pick up black-white images, even when no lights are around.

Though useful for home safety, how far & how well they see depends on how many IR LEDs they have. More LEDs often mean better view when it’s dark. Fewer ones? You get less range, blurrier image.

Also, how strong the IR light is matters too. Some can see up to 250ft. The light’s wave type also counts – from 850nm to 940nm. The 940nm ones? Hard to see with your eyes, but don’t light up space as well as 850nm ones.

3. Color night vision with spotlight

Spotlight color night cams shine white light up front. They show full-color pictures. Even when it’s pitch black, they still give bright views.

Now, there’s newer tech called AuroraLux True Color. It lights up places slowly, in a softer way. This kind doesn’t make sky glow bright, so no light pollution.

Starlight cams can cost much. But spotlight color night vision cams are cheaper. They help keep homes safe, even scare off people trying to break in.

4. Starlight night vision

Starlight cams work by pulling in light from moon, stars & other stuff in sky. They use sensors that boost weak light. These give very sharp views, even more than your eyes can see.

They also got tech to block image noise. With big sensors inside, they catch details like faces or car plates better than most.

Different from IR night cams, starlight ones can still show color in dark places. In very dark times, they may switch to black-white for best sharpness. New AuroraLux ones keep full color always – thanks to big 1/1.8” sensor & wide F1.0 lens hole.

Black and White VS. Color Night Vision, Which Is Better?

Choosing a night vision security cam ain’t always simple. Whether you want color or black & white footage—it’s tricky. Both choices got upsides & some drawbacks. Before you pick one, think about a few things below:

• Image quality: Most decent night vision cams shoot in both black & white or full color. People often go with color because it shows stuff like clothes color or car type. This helps a lot to spot bad guys.
• Storage capacity: Color videos hold more detail. That means bigger file size. If space on your drive matters, black & white could be a better bet.
• Long range night vision: Usually, black & white night vision sees further than color does. Still, some cams mix IR LEDs with spotlights for improved vision in dark spots.
• Price: Starlight cams often cost extra due to better tech. But IR night cams are common & budget-friendly. Some models also give color night footage without high cost.
• Installation scenarios: Sometimes, you gotta use color over black & white—like on entryways, driveways, or front/back yards. In such spots, clear color video gives real advantages.

Features to Consider When Choosing Night Vision Security Camera

Keep these camera traits in mind. They’ll help when you want to buy a good one:

• Super aperture: Bigger lens holes let more light in. That makes pics brighter, less blurry, & more true-to-life. Handy for seeing faces or car plates in the dark.
• High resolution: Clear footage needs sharp resolution. Go with something like 1080p or more. Higher resolution means better detail capture, especially for faces & license numbers.
• Long range: You want a cam that sees far—at least 30 ft. is good. Some top-tier cams can spot things beyond 100 ft. Good to protect a wider area.
• 3D DNR: This tech helps clean up noisy images. Fixes color mix-ups too. You get better pictures in poor light because of this.
• Wide field of view: A wide angle lens sees more space. That means fewer blind zones. You’ll know more of what’s going on outside.

Tips When Buying A Night Vision Security Camera

Getting a night vision cam is smart if you want to guard your place. But so many options out there make it confusing.

Before you buy, check these 5 tips. They’ll help you pick the best one:

• Check the specs—look at the features list. See if it’s got night vision, spotlights or IR LEDs. Count the IRs. Also, find out if they use 850nm or 940nm wavelength (invisible light).
• Ask the seller for video samples. That way, you know how good the camera works in the dark.
• Look at what other folks post—user videos show how the cam does in real-life places.
• Check out trusted sites like Amazon, Reddit, or PCMag for expert reviews on night vision cams.
• Do a fast search on Google for customer reviews about its night view. See what people say who already bought it.

Market Conditions And Pitfall Avoidance Guide

Looking at video surveillance now—still, IR night vision cameras take the lead where night view needed. That new thing, the “white light night vision cam,” yeah—it shines too much at night, causes light trouble & gets noticed easily. Probably won’t stay long. Why is that kind of weird product even out there? It’s due to how chaotic the IR cam market’s been. There’s lots of need for IR cams. They not hard to put together. Once cam parts started selling freely, people everywhere jumped into “making cams” from those parts. That made the competition nuts. As more sellers showed up, the prices went low. So many small “assemblers” started cutting corners to sell cheaper. That meant poor-quality IR night cams flooded the market. That kind of thing hurt how people see IR cams. Some “assemblers” wanted better pricing tricks. So came out stuff like “white light night cams”—products that don’t quite fit in.

A Guide to Troubleshooting Night Vision Security Cameras

Night vision cams—big part of home security setups. But yeah, stuff breaks sometimes. If your cam acting up, don’t panic. Try these simple fixes:

Problems with your night cam? Try these moves before giving up:

• Make sure cam has power. Check wires & plugs. For wireless ones, connection matters even more.
• Look at the lens. Dust? Dirt? Use soft cloth. Wipe clean. Lens should be clear, not blocked.
• Room too bright? Night vision won’t kick in unless it’s dark enough. Needs low light to turn on.
• See if IR sensor doing its job. Still no IR glow? Do a reset on the cam. Might help.
• Not working with the NVR? Change the port. Plug it into a different spot on the NVR unit.
• If nothing works after all that, don’t stress. Contact the shop where you bought it. Ask for help or warranty service—they owe you that much.

Why Is the Security Camera Blurry at Night?

Blurry pictures often bother security camera users. Here’s why your camera could look fuzzy at night, with ways to fix it:

1. Dust, Water, & Insects

Dust, moisture, & tiny bugs often cause blurry images. If your camera has weak seals, dirt or moisture can gather on the lens or sensor, leading to unclear footage. When it’s dark, the lens may also cause blur. Small insects might mess up the camera’s focus, making it hard to capture sharp images.

2. Reflective Objects & Light Sources

Bright or shiny things close to the camera, like walls or strong lights, can reflect too much light. This makes the footage too bright in some areas, leaving the rest dark & blurry. To avoid this, move the camera away from reflections or direct light sources.

3. No Infrared or White LED Fill Light

Without infrared or white LED fill light, your camera could produce unclear images at night. If it’s too dark, the camera won’t capture clear footage, leading to blurry visuals. Consider upgrading to a camera with infrared or white LED fill light for better nighttime footage.

4. Camera Algorithm

The camera’s software boosts the image sensor to improve low-light capture. This can increase noise, making the image unclear. Adjusting settings like aperture, exposure time, or sensor sensitivity can reduce the noise & gather more light. But these changes need to be balanced correctly.

5. Lens Flare & Ghosting

Lens flare happens when bright light hits the lens & reflects into the sensor. This can wash out or blur the image. Dome cameras are especially vulnerable due to their clear cover. To reduce flare, avoid placing cameras near bright lights or pick a camera with anti-flare coating.

Ghosting creates double images because the camera catches light bouncing off nearby surfaces. This can make footage hard to interpret & blurry. Keep your camera away from bright surfaces to reduce ghosting & improve sharpness.

6. Scratched Lens or Cover

Scratched lenses or covers harm image quality, especially at night. Choose a camera with scratch-resistant materials to avoid this problem. Inspect the lens for damage when it arrives, & go for a reliable brand known for using durable lens materials.

7. Camera Positioned Towards a Glass Window

Placing a camera with night vision behind glass creates glare & lighting issues, resulting in poor images. Avoid positioning cameras behind glass to keep footage clear & accurate.

Conclusion

Night vision cameras are an excellent option for protecting homes, businesses, or any property that needs security at all times. With a quality night vision camera, you’ll feel safe knowing your property is monitored day or night.

Don’t wait—protect your property today. Buy a top-rated night vision security camera now to keep an eye on your place, day & night.