IR Surveillance Camera Guide

Published Feb 06, 2020 15:11 PM

Integrated infrared (IR) cameras are everywhere, but not all IR is created equal, with many differences in coverage, overexposure, underexposure, handling moving objects, and more.

IPVM Image

In this guide, we examine these elements in detail to help users better understand IR in surveillance, including:

  • Infrared Basics
  • 850nm Most Common
  • 940nm Rare, But Increasing
  • True Day / Night Cameras Required
  • Integrated IR Usage Statistics
  • IR LED Comparisons
  • Warning: No Illumination Standards
  • Compare IR Illumination On Moving Subjects
  • Differences Adjusting To Moving Objects
  • Long Image Adjustment Times
  • IR Coverage Patterns Often Poor
  • Smart Vs. Adaptive IR
  • Manufacturer Terminology
  • Why Range Specs Alone Cannot Be Used
  • Beware Low PPF At Max IR Range
  • IR Impact On Bandwidth Spikes
  • IR vs. White Light Illuminator Cameras

Infrared ******

** ** ***** **** ******* *** 'see' *** ****** ******. ****** *** in *** *** ** ***** ***** spectrum, ******** ** ** '*******' *****. However, ************ ******* *** ********* '***' visible ***** ** **** ** ***** that ***** **** ** ************ ********* at ***** ** *****, *********** ** the ***** *****.

IPVM Image

850nm **** ******

**** ******** ************ **** ** ************ use *** ******* ***** **********. *** LEDs **** *** ***** ************ *** easily ******* ** *** ***** ***, emitting * *******/******* ****, ***** *****. Note **** ****** ******** **** ** more ***, ***** ******* **** ** digital ******* (*** **** ***** *******) see ** ****** ** ****/****** ***** here.

IPVM Image

940nm *** ****** ********** ************ ****

***** ************ *** *** ****** **** by *** ***** *** *** **** give *** * ****** **** **** close ** *** ******, ****** **** more ******** *** ****** ************ **********. However, **** *** **** ********* ** produce **** ***** ************ *** ** not ******* ** **** ********* ***** due ** *** ***** *********** ** camera ******* ** *** ****** ********** of "*********" ************.

******* ** ***** *******, ***** ** used *** **** **** *****, ******* to ********* ******* **** ******** ***** ****** ******** *** ***************** *** ********* *********** ********* ****** ********* ** a *********** ********. *******, **** ****/*** models **** ***** ** *** ***** as ****, ** *** *** **** of ******* *** ** ************* ** a **** ******* (***** * *********** ****** ****, ******* *** ** ******).

**** **** **** ****** ********** ************ (1030nm *** *****) *** *********, ***** are ********** ********* ** *** ***** eye. *******, ***** *********** *** ***** the ******** **** ******* *** '***', and ***** *** **** ****** **** 940nm, ****** **** **** ****** **** in **********.

True *** ***** ********

**** ***/***** ************* **** **** ***** ******** ************, as ***** **** ****** (****** *** rare) ******* * ***** ** *** filter, ******** *** ******** *****. *** majority ** ************ ******* *** ** cut ******* ***** **** * ****** in ***** ** *** ******'* ****** during *** ***, *** ****** ** at ***** (*** ****** / ***** ****** ********).

IPVM Image

*** *** ****** ** ********* ****** the *** ** ****** ** *****, as ** *** ********** *****/***** ******* ******, **** ** *** ******* **** trees *** ************ **** ** *** image *****:

IPVM Image

** *****, *** ****** ** ******* to ***** ** ************ ** ******* IR ***** ** ***** *** ******, producing ******** ******.

Majority ** ******* ******* ********** **

***** ** *** **** **********, **** **% ** ******* ******** include ********** **. *********** ********* **** survey **** ******** **** **** ******* simply ******* **** **, **** ***-** models ********.

IPVM Image

External ** ****

** *** ****, **** ********** ** cameras **** ********, ******** ***** ** added *** ********** ************ ***** **** mounted **** *** ******.

IPVM Image

*******, ***** ******* **** ** ** integrated **** ******* ** **** **/*** when ** ******** **** *** ** night *** ********* ****** ** *********** adjusted **** ********** **, ***** *** camera ******** ************ ***** ** ******* for ******* ** *** *****. ************, they *** ******** **** *** *** illuminator, *** **** ***** ******** *** cabling.

**** ********** ** *** ****** **********, external ** ** ********* *** ****, limited **** ** **** ********** ************ where ***** **** ***** ** ********.** *** **** **********, ******** ** *** **** **** than **% ** *** ****, *** this ** ****** ** **** ********* as ********** ** *********.

IR *** ***********

**** ****** ************* **** *** ****** of ** **** ** ** ********* of ***** ***********, **** ** '** camera *** ** **** *** ** competitor **** *** *, ***.', *** in *******, ******* ** **** *** quantity ** **** *** ****** ****** on **** ***** ***********, ** ***** are **** ********* *****/****** ** ** LED.

***** *** *** ***** ********** ** IR **** ** ************, ****** ***** and *****:

  • *******, ***** *****:**** ********** ** ******* *** **** low **** ********** ** ************ *** a ****** ******** ** ******* **** to *** ** ** ******* *****. These **** *** ******* (*** *** always) **** *********, ***** ** *** they *** ********* ******** ** *** cost ******.
  • ******, ****** *****:**** ***** ** ******* *** **** IR ************ *** * ******* ******** of ******, **** ******** ****, **** as *** ****** ** *** *****, below, ***** **** **** *** ***.

IPVM Image

**** **** ****** **** ** *** past **** ********* ********** ****** *******, and ******** **** **** ******** *** longer *****. *******, *** ***** (************* ** ******** ****) **** ***** **** **** ** not ****** *** ****, **** **** top-performing ** ******* ***** ***** ****, and **** ***** ****** ****. ****** field ******* ** *** **** ******** way ** ********* ** ************ *******.

Illumination ******

*****, ** ****** *** ****** ********* integrated ** ****** ********* *** ***********, including:

  • ** ************ *********
  • ***** ** ***** ** ****** ********
  • ** ******** ******** ***** ****
  • ********* ********/** ** ****** *******
  • **** ***** ********** *****
  • ***** *** ******** **
  • ************ ***********
  • *** ***** ***** ****** *** ** trusted

*** **** ******* *** ******** ** all ** ***** ****** ** **** world *****, *** ************* ** ****** ******** ****.

No ************ *********

***** ***** *** ** ******** ************** for *** ** ** ******, ************* may ****** ***** *** ***** ** which***** ************ ******* *** ******, ******* of********. **** ***** **** *** ****** of ***** ** *** ********* ******* range *** ** **** ****** ** get **** * ***** ******* ** a ******, ** ****. ***** *** can **************** *** ****** ** ** ************, **** ************* ********* ** *** minimum ******** ****** ****** ****** *** is ********* *** *********.

Judge ** ***** ** ****** ********

*** ******* *********** ** ** *********** may **** ** **** **** ******* at ******* ** ******. **** ******* may ******* ****** ******* ** ***** images, *** **** **** ** ********** subjects ** *** ****.

*** *******, **** *** ********, *** camera ** *** **** ***** ***** strong ******* ** *** ******* ** she *****, **** ****** ************ ****** features, **** ******* ********* ** *** move ** *** *****, **** ****, overexposure, ** **** ******** *******.

IPVM Image

***** *** ******* ******* **** *** occur, **** ** ****** ************ ** slow ********** (********* *****) ** **** levels ********* ***** *********** *********** ******.

IR ******** ******** ***** ****

**** ******* ****** **** ****** ************, with * ****** ******* ***/** **** edges, ********* ************ ** ******** ** the ****** ** ************* ** *** edges ** *** ***** ** ****.

*** *******, ******* ** *** *** cameras *****, *** ****** ** *** left ***** ****** ******* ** *** edges ** *** ***, *** ******* details *** ***** ******* *******, *** he ** ******** ******* ** *** center. *** ********, *** ****** ** the ***** **** *** ******** ********** the ******* ** *** **** ** the *** *** *********** *** ** the ******, ****** ** ********* ** discern ****** ********.

IPVM Image

Ambient ***** ***** ************

****** ************ ** ***** ** ***** with ** ******* ********, ** *** illuminator's **** *** *** **** ***** source. ** ****** **** **** *** level ********, ~* *** *** *****, dark ***** *** ** **** ****** illuminated *** ****** ******** ******* ****** so ** *** ** ********** ********.

*** *******, *** ****** ***** *** one ** *** ***** ********** ** our** ****** ************ ****** ******* ** ~* *** scenes, *** ******** ** * ******* lot **** ******* *****, ***** *** better *********** *** *** ****** ** the **** ** *** ***********.

IPVM Image

**** **** ** **** **** *********** cameras, ** ************ *** ****** **** in *** ***** *** ******* ********** with ******* *****.

Moving ****** **********

**** ******** ** ** ****** *********** is *** *** ****** ******* ** objects ******** *** ******* *** *****. Some ****** ******** ******** ** ******** expose *** ******* ** **** **** through *** *****, ***** ****** ** not ****** ****** ** ******* ******, overexposing *** *******. *******, **** ** our ***** ******** ****** *** *******, but ********** ******* *** **********, *********** going ****.

IPVM Image

**** ********** ** ******** *** **** for ****** ******* ** *** ****/********** subject, *** ** **** ******, ********** subjects *** ** ****** ** ******* do *** ****** ****** ********.

Beware ******** ******

*******, **** ******* **** ****** **** others *** *** ***** ** ****** to **** ********** ***** ********* ** power ***/** ****/********. ** ******* ********, this *** ****** ** ******** ***** missed ** **** ****** **** ****** a ****** ****** ****** ******* *** foreground.

*** *******, *** ****** ***** ***** 10-15 ******* *** *** ***** ** return ** **** **********. ****** **** period, *** ***** ** **** ****, with **** *** **** ********** ******* and *** ********** ****** ******* ********.

***** *** ** ****** ********** ******* this ***** *** ** ***** ********** or **** *******. ** *** ******** on ******** ****** ** *** *****, both **** ***** ** *** *******.

Smart **. ******** **

**** ********** ** ****** ****** **** introduced "********" ** "*****" ******** ******** to ****** *** *** ***** ***/** reduce ************. *** *** ******** ** clarity ** **** ***** *** *** reporting, ** ****** ***** ******** ** follows:

  • ***** **:************* ******* ** ***** ********* ** objects ** *** *****, ******* ** prevent ************ ** **** ******* *** returning ** **** ***** *** ***** further ****. *** ***** ***** ***** the ******* ** **** ** *****, with *** ***** ******* ** ********** for *** ******* ** *** **** field.

  • ******** **:*** ****** ******* ** *** ***** and/or **** ******** **** ** **** in ***** ** ****** ************ ***** to *** *** ***** ** **** and **** ****** ***** *** **** scene. **** ** ****** ** **** fixed ******* *** ****, ***** *****:

Manufacturer ***********

**** ***** ** *****, ***** ** no ******** ** ** **** ***** terms **** *** ***** *** ** confused ** ******* ************ ***********. *** example, ******** **** ** ***** "******** IR":

IPVM Image

***** **** ***** *** ** ************ features ** ***** ****-*** ****** "***********":

**** *** ***** ** **** ** adjusted ** *** ************ ** ** Axis ****** **** ****** **** *** OptmizedIR, *** ***** ** ************ ************* adapts ** *** **** *****. *** illumination ***** ******* *** ******’* **** movements ** ****** ******* *** ******* amount ** ***** ** *** *****.

******* ********** ********* ** ****’ *********** technology ** ******* **** *** ******* is *** **** **** *** ****** and *** ***** **** ** ***********. When *** ******* ** *********** *** camera, *** ******** ** ********. **** the ******* ** ** *** ******, it ** *********** *** *** ***********.

*******, **** *************, **** ** *****, Hikvision, *** *-*** ****** **** ***** integrated ** ******** "*****." *************, ***** is ** *** ** **** **** each ************ ***** ** ***** ***** without ** ***** ******** **** ****** and/or *******.

"Smart **" *** *** ****** ** ***** ** ***

********** *********, **** *************' "*****" ** features ** *** ******** ****** ** power. *******, *** ****** ******* **** and/or ******** ** ********** *** *******(*) in *** *****. **** ** ***** on ********'* ** ***** *****. *** camera's **** ** *** ***, *** its *** ********* ***** **** ****** as *** ******* ****** *** *****.

** *** *****, ** **** *** seen *********** ********** ** ***** ******* which ****** ** ***** **** ***** which ** ***, **** ****/******** ********** often ** ********* ** ** ***** adjustment. *** *******, ** *** ***** below, ** **** *** **** ****** in *** **** ***** **** ***** IR ******* ** *** **** *** disabled ** *** *****. ***** ******* produced ***** **** ******** *** *******, regardless ** ******* ** ***** ** only ******** * *** ********.

IPVM Image

*********** ******* ***** ******(*) * ***** camera **** ** *********, *** ********* requires ********* ** *****, ** **** manufacturers ** *** ******** *** ***** smart ** *****.

**** **** ***** ******** ********* **** to ** ***** **** *** ****** and *** *** ********** **** ******** IR ************, ** *** ********** ******** to ****** ** ****** *** ****** as ********* ** ********* **********.

Do *** **** ** ***** *****

* *** ***** ***, **** ********** IR ****** **** *** **** ******, manufacturers ********** ********** ***** ******'* ** range ************, ***** ** ** **** as **-**%. **** ***** *** ********, with **** ******* "********" ***** ********* range, **** ** *** ****** ***** (though **** **** ******* *** ***** weak, ********* *****):

IPVM Image

**** ***** ****, ********** ****** *** still *** ******** ** ****. *** example, *** ****** ***** *** * specified ** ***** ** ***/~***', *** an ****** ***** ****** ** ~***', with *** ******* ***** **** ***** illuminated.

IPVM Image

PPF ***** **** *** ** *** *****

**** ** * ****** ******* *** maximum ********* *****, ***** ****** ****** of *** ****** ** **** ********. In *** *****, ***** ****** ***** deliver **-** *** ** **** ** max *****. **** *** **** ***, detection ** ********* *** ** *** relative **** ** ********, ********* ******* noise, ********* ********, ***.

*** *******, *** ***** ***** ***** top **********, *******, *** ***** ******* models ** ******* ********** ** ********, **** **** *** **** ********* no ******* *** ** *** *** PPF ***** (**-** ***).**.

IPVM Image

**** ***** ** ********** ******* ** range ****** **** ********* ** ********, as **** ***** ** **** *****, especially ** *****-**** ***** **** ****** which *** ********** **** **** ***° or ***** ******. ***** ****** ****** of **** ***** *** ******** ***** (narrower) **** ******* ***** ********.

IR ******* ********* ******

***** ** *** ***** (************ ** *** ***** ********), ** *******' ********* ****** **** less **** ***-** ****** *** ** relatively ***** **** *** ***** ****** (see****** *** (******* ***** *********) *****). ** *******, ********** ** ****** in *** ******* ******** ***** * 1.5x ******** ** *****, ***** ***-** models ****** ***********, **** ~** ** 20x.

*******, **** ****** ** ********** * guideline, *** * ****, ** *** introduction ******* ********* **** ** **** ********* ** predict *** ******** ******* **** ******* in * ******** *****. **** ***** low ***** ***-** ****** *** ****** compress *** ***** ****** **** ***-***** IR ******.

White *****/******* ***** ************

** *** **** *** *****, **** manufacturers **** ********** ****** **** ********** white ***** ************ ******* ** ** (see ******** ***** ****** ********), **** *** ********* ** ********* color ****** ** ***** ******* ** monochrome ******** ** **.

***** ****** ******* ***** ** *** scene **** ******* ***-***** ******, *********, IR *** **** ******* *** ******** reasons:

  • **** **********:***** ***** ***** ******* * ********** effect ****** *** **** ** ******, IR ** ****** *********** (*****) ** not *********** ** *** (*****) ** the ***** ***. **** ***** **** camera ********* *** **** **** ******* at *****, ****** **** **** ********* for ********* ** ****** *** ******.
  • **** ***** *********:************, ******** **** *** ********** ** light ********* ****** ** ***** *****. Many ************** ******** *** ******** ******** lights *** **, *** **** **** be *****/********, ***.
  • ****** **********:*******, ********** *** ******** ********* *** prefer **** ** ** ****, ** they *** ****** **** ** ******* the ******** ****** ** * ********.

IR ** *** **** ****** **********

******* ****** *************** *** ******'* ** ***** ** top ** * *** **** * red ****, ** *** *** *** how *** *** ** ** ********* to *****, ************ *****:

**********, ** *** ****** ** **** closer **** *** ******'* ******* ** range, ** ****** ****** ** ************ issues ** ********* ***** ********/***** ** features.*** **** ******** ** *** ********** here.

[****: **** ******** *** ********** ******* in **** *** ************* ******* **** 2017-2022 ** ******* ******* **** ******* and ************ ** ********** **.]

Comments (12)
Avatar
Brandon Knutson
Feb 05, 2020
IPVMU Certified

***/****** ******: ********** ** ******* *** attract ******* ** *******, ***** ****/***** close ** ** **** *** **** of *** ******, ********* *** ***** of ****. **** ***** **** ******** remedying **** ***** ** ***** ******** IR.

** *** ** ********** ** ** external ******* *** **** ******. ** use ********** ** ** ******** ******* only.

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Feb 05, 2021

*** *** ******* *'** **** **** many ***** **** ********** ** ******* are ****** ****. **** ** ************ true **** *** ****** ******* **** have * "****" **** *** **** as ** **** *** ******* * working ********.

**** ******* *** **** **** **** the *** ** *** ***, ******* turret **** *******. * ****** ***** see * ****** *** ******* **** the ***-*****, **-** ******. **** ****. . .

(1)
U
Undisclosed #1
Feb 05, 2020
IPVMU Certified

***** ******!

*** ******* ***** ****:

*******, ***** ** **** ******, ********* only ***** **** *** ******** ** 850nm ***** ***** *** **** *****, and **** ********* ** ***********.

**** ********* *** ** ********** ***** 940nm *****'* ******** '******' **** *** than ***** ** *** **** *****.

******, *** ******* *********** ** ***** is *** ** *** **** *** in ****** *********** ** **** **********, as ********* ** **** *****.

****, ********* ******* **** *********** *********** in ******** ** ***** ****** ***** makes *** ************** ******.

(1)
(2)
Avatar
Ethan Ace
Feb 05, 2020

****'* * **** *****. **'* **** reworded **:

...******* **** ********* ****** ********, ** camera ***** ******* *** **** ********* to *** ****** ********** ** "*********" illuminators.

**'* **** **** ******** ** ********* between *******, ** ****, *** ** can ****** ****** ** **** **** cameras **************** ********* ** ***** *** **.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Feb 05, 2020

* ***** **** ** *** **** important *********** ********** ******** *** ********.

***** ******** *****, ******** *** ******** (e.g. *********, ****, ***.) *** ** either ********** ** **********. **** *** the *********** ****** ** ****** ******** that ***** ****** ** *** ***** to *** ***** ***, ****** ************* different ***** ** *****.

********* ** *** ****** ** *** either ****** ** ***** ** ******* it. ********** ******* **** ****** **** under ** *****, *** ********** ******* appear ***** ***** ** *****, ********** of ***** ****** *****. *** *******, a ******* ** ***** ***** *** appear ** ** ******* * ***** shirt, **** *****, *** **** ********, however ** ** ***** **** *** appear ** ** ******* ***-***** *** to *** ******* ****** ********** *********.

**** *** ********** ****** * ******** to * ****** ** * ******* may ** ********** ********* ** ******* bright-colored ******** **** ** **** **** are ***. ** ** ********* ********* to ******* ******* ** **-******** **** cameras **** ********** ***** ******** ***** should *** ** **** **** ******* subjects ***** ** *****.

* **** ******* *** ** ********:

****** *** *** ***** ** ***** with ***** ********* ***** ******* *****, but ***** ** ***** *** ****** appears ********. ** * ****** **** to ****** ******** ** ****** ********** that *** ******* *** ******* * white *****, **** ******* *** ******* in ****** **** *** *** ********* by ********** ** *** ******** *** description *****.

********** *** *********** ****** ** ***** of **** **** ********** ** ******* for ********* **** *** ******* **** positive ************** ** ******** ** **** areas. ** *** ***** ** ******** details *** ********* **** ** *****-*** light ***** ****** ***** ** * better ******** **** *** **** ********** IR.

(8)
U
Undisclosed #1
Feb 07, 2020
IPVMU Certified

**** *** ********** ****** * ******** to * ****** ** * ******* may ** ********** ********* ** ******* bright-colored ******** **** ** **** **** are ***.

***********. ** * *******, ** *** were ** ********, *** ***** ************* design * ***** ****** **** ******* completely ********* ***** ** *****.

**** ***** * ******** ****** **** big *******/**** **** ******* ***** **.

** **** **********, * ****** ******* that ***** **** ******* ******* ** visible *****. ****** **** ** ******* of ***.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Feb 08, 2020

* ******* ** ****** ***, ******** IR *****'* **** ********** *********** ***** together ******* ************ ** **********. *** would ********* ** **** ** **** out ****** **** *** ***** ** a ******** ***** ** ****** ********, unless *** ******* *** *** ****** away **** **** ******* *****'* ***********. Unless ********** ** *** ****** *** precisely *** **** **********/********** ****** ** everything **** ***'* ****** ********* *** off.

*** ******** *** **** ****** ********* research **** **** ***** *** ******* reasons. *** **** **** **** *** modern ******** ********, *** ****, *** other **** *********** *** ********** ** absorptive ** ** ** ******** ********* under ** *****. ** *** ****** wanted ** ** ********* ** ******'* take **** ** *** * ***** IR ****** *** **** *** ******* until *** ********* ** ****** **** was ********** ********** *** ******* *** to ***** **** *** ******* **** easily.

U
Undisclosed #1
Feb 08, 2020
IPVMU Certified

*** ***** ********* ** **** ** make *** ****** **** *** ***** of * ******** ***** ** ****** printing...

*'* *****, "*********". *** * *** speaking ************ ***** ********* ******* *********/******** which **** ***** ******* *****, *** reflect *** **** ***** **.

*** ********, ***'* *** ***** **** the **** ***** ** ******** ** blend ** **** *** *****?

*** ***?

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Feb 08, 2020

* ***'* **** ****** ***** **** and ******** ** ******* ***************, *** I ******* **** **** ***** *** have ********* *** **** ************ ******. If ***'** ******* ** ****** ****** to ** ********* **** ****, ***'** probably ************* ****** ** **** **** around *** ******* ********.

MW
Mike Weymer
Mar 19, 2020
IPVMU Certified

********** ** **** ****** ***** ***** to ******* *** ****/***** ** *** dome **** *** ******.

(1)
Avatar
Ethan Ace
Mar 19, 2020

***'** *** *****, ** **** * test ** **** *****:***** **** ****** ****.

*** *** ***** ***** **** **** shows *** *********** ******* ***** ** various ****** ** ********* ** **********.

(1)
AS
Amitkumar Sirjusingh
Jan 24, 2021

**** ** **** **** **** ** a ********** **** **** *** *** appropriate **** ********* ** * ******?