Invisible IR Camera Tested (Vivotek)

By Ethan Ace, Published Jan 30, 2017, 08:58am EST

Integrated IR is everywhere in surveillance, from high-end long range cameras to even the lowest cost models. But this IR usually comes with a distinct red glow from its 850nm illuminators, giving away the camera's position at night.

Now, Vivotek has released the FD8166 microdome, a compact camera with invisible 940nm IR illuminators for discreet surveillance.

We bought and tested this new model to see how it stacks up against Axis and Hikvision minidomes and whether this new addition is marketing hype or useful in real world scenarios.

*******

*** ******* ******'* *** of ********* ***** ** is * ******** *******, and ******** **** *** size, ***** *** ****** more ********* ** **** than ***** ** ***** in *** ***** ******.

***** ********* **** ********** and ******** ************ *** **** these ******** **********, ********** at * ********** *** price.

*******, *** ****** ** illumination *** *********** *********** can ** ***********.

*******

*** *******-* ***** *** about $*** *** ******. This ** ********** ** other ***** *********, **** as*********'* **-**********-*, *** ******** **** expensive **** ******, **** as****' *****-* (~$*** ******).

**** **** *** ******* FD8166 ** *** ** few ********* ** *** ***** IR, ******* ** *** more ******* ***** ****.******'* ** **** ******* **** **** ********* 940nm, *** **** ********** is ********* ***** **** in **** *** ******* and/or ******** ************.

Size **********

*** ******* ****** ** about *** **** **** as ***** ******* *****, shown ****:

*** ******'* ************ ** notably ********* **** **** compact *****, ** *** gimbal ** **** ******* (though, *********, ***** ******) and ** **** *** placed ** *** **** of *** ******, ******* of *********** *** ****, both ******** *****.

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

*** ****** ****** *** IR **** ** *** body ** *** ****** instead ** *********** *** lens ** ** ******* of ** *****. **** means **** *** **** do *** ****** ****** of *** ******.

** *** *****, *** LEDs ******** ******* *** sufficiently **** ****** ** illuminate ******** **** ** the ******** ** **/**** tilt, ******* *** ********* the ******'* *****.

Invisible **

*** ***** **** **** in *** ******* ****** are ********* ** *** human *** *** **** digital ******* (**** ** the ****** **** ** take *** ***** *****). In * **** **** (~0.5lx), *** ****** ** barely *******, ****** ** much **** ********* ** spot, ***** *** ********* IR ****'* **** *** be **** **** ****** the ****.

Bright *** ****** *****

**** **** ****** *** camera's ** **** *** invisible ** *** ***** eye, ** ***** **** a **** ****** ****** LED *******, ***** ** visible ******* *** ******'* clear **** *** **** through *** ******* **** housing, ****** **** *** location. This *** *** ** turned *** *** *** web *********, *** **** installers *** *** **** realize **** ******* ** installs *** ********* **** lights **.

One-Axis ******

*** ****** ** *********** adjustable **** ** *** axis: **/**** ****. ***** is ** *** ** rotate *** ****** ****** or ***** *** ******, which *** ** * problem ** ****** ********.

******** ** ******** ** a ***** **** ** the ******, ***** *****:

*** ****** *** ** rotated ***** **-**° ** ********* mounting ****** *** ******** the ****** **** ***** slotted ******** *****, *** there ** ** ***** rotation.

Low ***** ***********

******* ********* **** *** small ** **** **** a **** ***** ** 6M (~**'), ** *** tests *** ****** *********** a ***** **** ******, but ******. ************ *** strong ****** ** ****** detect ******** ********** *** room.

************ *** ******* ** the ********* **** ** dome, ***** ***** *** comparison.

****** ********* *** *****, details ** ~** *** / **' ***** **** weak, **** **** ***** text ****** *******, *** no ****** ******* *********. However, ***** ******* ****** did *** ******* **** better, **** *** ********* 2522 ******* *** ***** test ***** **** *******, but ** ****** *******, and *** ***-** **** M3045-V ********** ******* ** neither ***** *** *******.

Full ***** ***********

** **** *****, *** cameras *** ********* *********, with **** ******* ** ~3/4 ** *** *******, and ****** ******* *******.

Versions ******

*** ********* ******** ******** were **** ** **** test:

******* *******-*: *****
**** *****-*: *.**.*
********* **-*******: *.*.*

Comments (4)

Itamar Kerbel

01/31/17 06:49am

I get a lot of requests for 940nm IR but when customers realize that they lose a lot of IR distance they usually go for regular IR.

Scott Bradford

IPVMU Certified | 01/31/17 07:04pm

I've done a fair amount of work with 940nm for Police work. You lose IR range, but if you're doing work in the woods, it's pretty important. For building/indoor/resi work, I don't really see the point

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Scott Bradford | 01/31/17 08:37pm

If I were a comedian, I'd make a joke about not really seeing the point. Invisible IR humor!

But that is actually the point. If you want to better mask where your cameras are located/aimed in the dark, 940nm helps. I think that applies to most any application.

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ethan Ace | 01/31/17 08:38pm

If I were a comedian, I'd make a joke about not really seeing the point. Invisible IR humor!

pun score: 2/10

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