Q: How do Night Vision cameras work? Do they use Image Enhancement or Thermal Imaging? What's the difference?
A: When light strikes an object, its atoms react and emit a very low frequency infrared wavelength, more similar to heat than to visible light. Night Vision Security Cameras are extremely sensitive to these thermal-infrared emissions and amplify them, converting the measurement of the invisible wavelength into an image on your monitor. This type of Night Vision is known as Thermal Imaging. While Thermal Imaging is great for detecting people or motion in near absolute darkness, most of the cameras sold here use a more practical kind of Night Vision known as Image Enhancement or Image Intensification. These devices contain a lens that senses light at a slightly higher frequency than thermal-infrared, anywhere from the more reflective infrared wavelengths to the barely visible red wavelengths. The light's photons are converted to electrons and amplified through a component called the photocathode. The electrons are then converted back into photons to produce a strong visible image on your camera's phosphor screen.
Q: What good is Infrared Illumination, infrared LEDs? What does it do?
A: By saturating an area with reflective infrared light, your
Night Vision Security Cameras draw an image with far greater detail. Just as shining a spotlight on something makes it easier to see with your eyes, lighting up an area with invisible infrared light greatly improves Image Enhancement Night Vision.
Q: How much detail can Night Vision cameras pick up? Won't the recordings come out blurry, or as heat signatures like in the movie Predator?
A: Any of our high-quality cameras will give you a clear image at night or in low-light situations. The only compromise is color, an aspect of visible light. Cameras with Infrared Image Enhancement will send their video output to your monitor in shades of green. A Night Vision Phosphor Screen is purposefully colored green because the human eye can differentiate more shades of green than other phosphor colors.
Q: What do I need to know when selecting a Night Vision Security Camera?
What does Lux Rating refer to?
What does "Generation" mean in this context?
A: A Night Vision Security Camera's Lux Rating refers to the minimum illumination in which the camera can pick up an image. The closer the Lux rating is to 0, the better the camera's performance in nighttime or low-light situations. All of our night vision security cameras are aided by infrared LEDs, and have a Lux or minimum illumination rating of 0, meaning the security camera can see in complete darkness with no light required. Color day/night cameras will automatically switch to black and white or green phosphor shades at night for optimum performance in a low light situation and switch back to color once the light level is adequate.
Night Vision Technology has been around for a long time, and has advanced gradually since its inception. About fifty years ago, the earliest Night Vision devices, Generation 0, consisted of nothing more than an Infrared Spotlight and photosensitive receiver to pick up its reflected beams. This wasn't very effective, so Generation 1 enhanced reception of passive IR emissions. Generation 2 saw the addition of a micro channel plate, which multiplied the efficiency of the electron-photon conversion, yet another advancement in Night Vision technology. Generation 3 is what is currently being used by the U.S. Military; in addition to better resolution and sensitivity, these devices have an extraordinarily long life. There is also a class of Generation 4 devices, which are quite expensive, but are the best and most powerful to date.
Generation determines quality. Devices of all generations are still being manufactured and sold.
Note: all this generation stuff is pointless unless I can say that all cameras offered by BrickHouse Security are Gen 2, 3 or 4. Don't buy cheap Russian Gen 1 cameras!
Q: What sort of range do Night Vision Security Cameras have?
A: A Night Vision Security Camera's range is limited by the amount of reflected IR light it can detect. If it's geared toward thermal imaging, low-wavelength infrared passive reception capability, then it will pick up motion and heat at a much greater distance than static objects. In optimal conditions Night Vision Security Cameras will view anywhere from a distance of 30 to 300 meters. Weather conditions will affect the range as well. You can increase your camera's range by saturating an area with extra infrared illumination.
Q: What power source or other cables do I need to provide my Night Vision Security Camera with upon installation?
A: Our Night Vision Security Cameras are generally equipped with adapters to be plugged into a wall socket. Some models may incorporate a battery option for greater mobility. Video and Audio cables from the camera will need to be fed into your monitoring device, so we are happy to offer you on-site installation assistance.
Wireless Models transmit at a 2.4 GHz Frequency to a receiver unit, which then feeds cables into your monitor system. These cameras will require external power.
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