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Recording in Color at Night
Color Night Vision™, Lightfinder™, Darkfighter™, and other similar terms are trademarks not technologies.
All SCW cameras can be put in "color" mode at night.
But, trademarks don't make something good. There's a much better way to get color photos at night.
Nearly every professional IP camera has a setting to force color mode at night and disable infrared night vision, but that doesn't mean you should use it.
Color Night Vision is not a Unique "Feature"
Here are the feature settings one of the company with one of these trademarks:
Here are some more companies without the trademark:
As you can see, the option to turn off infrared night vision is pretty ubiquitous across the industry. One of these is even made in the same factory and uses a highly similar codebase and components as the trademark holder.
Almost Every Camera can be Forced into Color Mode at Night
Here's an example of some footage from about 9 PM at night, but this isn't the whole story.
This video only looks great because nothing is happening.
If Almost Every Camera can do this, why do brands have specific lines that use these trademarks?
Usually brands want to differentiate their lines based on lux rating. Lux is the measurement of incident light, or the light that is falling on the object, but lux is a subjective measurement that can't be compared across brands for many, many reasons.
Twilight is about 3.4 lux. A full moon is somewhere between 0.05 and 0.36 lux. A moonless night is somewhere around 0.001 to 0.002 depending on cloud cover.
With "Night" in the name, one would think that it would be rated to work from between 0.001 to 0.36 lux - the lux ratings of nighttime. It really isn't surprising, then, that it is rather easy to find complaints online about how the color night views are "worthless." They claim that "If the lighting conditions ever drop below 1 lux (which they call "total darkness" but is really about late sunset), the full-color video will typically switch to black-and-white infrared night vision to ensure optimal low-light image quality."
So, usually the trademarked line will have a lower lux rating than their regular lineup, non-trademarked counterparts. However some trademarked products range from 1 lux (not even fully dark at night) to .001 lux, so there's no industry consistency about what a low light / color night mode camera even means.
"Color Night Vision" causes motion blur.
Simply put, it isn't any good or useful in most surveillance environments, where intrusion or theft are the primary concerns. It can be useful for nocturnal animal research or other similar use cases.
Shutter Speed and the Absorption of Light
Every camera (including security, movie, and regular cameras) operates the same way: a shutter opens which allows light to be absorbed by the image sensor. Then the shutter closes allowing it to take the next picture. When recording video, these pictures are taken so quickly that your brain perceives them as fluid, but a movie camera, camcorder, or security camera are all just taking rapid pictures.
The shutter in a camera controls how long the camera takes to take a picture, but faster doesn't mean better. The faster that a camera shutter opens and closes, the more likely that you will get a clear, blur-free image. The longer that the shutter is open, the more light you let in, and the better your image will be in low light. Shutters that are open for an extremely long time allow you to take color pictures at night/twilight without having to switch to infrared mode, but will cause motion blur for moving objects.
The most effective way that cameras have to get better low light imagery, which is letting more light in by leaving the shutter open longer, can cause motion blur.
As you can see in this image, (which is taken from the marketing video from Axis' Lightfinder line), even the smallest movement of shifting in a chair can create significant motion blur while in color night mode. This image is nearly unusable in terms of identifying the woman.
What about in a real surveillance environment?
The scene and setting in the image above is very far removed from a real surveillance environment where (1) there's almost always some ambient light (street lights, light pollution, security lighting) and (2) people are moving much more rapidly.
Here's an example of a camera with a 0.02 lux rating that is being forced into color mode at night during a simulated break in.
You can see very clearly in this video how the shutter speed and frame rate has been slowed to allow enough light to enter the lens, resulting in motion blur.
Image Sensor Pixel Size and the Absorption of Light
When the shutter opens, the light is absorbed by the image sensor. Resolution aside, the larger the image sensor size, the more light that can be absorbed by the sensor. In other words, with everything else being equal (resolution, shutter speed, aperture), a one-inch image sensor is going to let in WAY more light than a smaller half-inch image sensor.
The total image size also isn't as important as the image sensor size to pixel ratio. In other words, if you have a 4K image sensor that is 4 inches wide (not a real size), it is absorbing the same amount of light as a one-inch 1080P sensor, since 4K has roughly 4x the number of pixels as 1080P. Now, a four-inch image sensor doesn't yet exist, which is why all cameras that specialize in low light imagery have lower resolutions.
There's really only one drawback with a larger sensor size: price. Sensors are typically the most expensive part of a camera to manufacture, and the larger you go the pricier the camera gets.
You get what you pay for. We have all our image sensor sizes listed on our website and we're happy that we tend to have larger sensors than our competitors (at similar levels of product).
Here's a video of an IP camera with a porch light mounted behind it
This video is taken without forcing color mode at night at all. The camera just recognizes that it has sufficient lighting to record in color. The average porch light projects around 300-800 lumens of light (1 lux equals 1 Lumen divided by the distance from the light source in meters and then squared: lux=lumens/meters^2). So, at ten feet from the light, you are talking about 3-8 lux and at about fifteen feet, 1.5-3.5 lux. As the subject moves further away from the light, the lux rating decreases all the way to 1 lux (there's a sight light on the road adding some lighting in this scene).
Don't call it "Color Night Vision"™ and also give it a 1.0 Lux Rating
Lux is a pretty bad stat to use to judge cameras, to be totally honest. Because there's no industry standard way to measure what constitutes a "good enough" image, manufacturers tend to overestimate how low their lux ratings are. We cover this problem in-depth in this article: Don't choose a camera just on the lux rating, but the bottom line is that lux ratings just tells you the subjective opinion of what the manufacturer thinks is an acceptable image.
Even acknowledging that there's some inconsistency in comparing these numbers across different manufacturers, especially on the more extreme low light claims, this company is expressing tremendously low confidence in the quality of their image sensor.
Even without taking into account that manufacturers tend to overestimate how low their lux ratings are, a 1 lux camera is trash tier quality. Most lux ratings for professional camera manufacturers are in the 0.1 to 0.001 range. SCW's cheapest camera has a lux rating of 0.02.
To make a claim that your color night camera works well up to 1 lux is as incoherent as saying your sports car is the fastest - in the "under 25 miles an hour" category.
In Short, Magic Terminology Hurts the Industry
The surveillance camera industry is harmed by these sort of over-promises.
In our technical analysis, we believe there is no way that this product can live up to the misleading expectations created by its name. We predict that this is going to result in is a bunch of unhappy consumers looking to return products and shoppers who have unrealistic expectations about what the product does.
But, what if I want color video at night?
You have three solutions.
1. You can force color night vision with nearly any brand camera, but you will probably be disappointed in the results
Although comparing lux ratings from brand to brand can be pretty useless as there is no consistent method of measuring success, most manufacturers do tend to be consistent within their own brands. You can generally trust that a manufacturer's product A with a lower lux rating performs better in low light than their model B with a worse rating.
Let's look at that camera with the 0.02 lux rating that is being forced into color mode at night, again
Allowing the camera to switch to infrared video would actually have made a better video:
2. Install a porch light behind the camera
For the best results, you should make sure that the camera is just in front of the porch light (never face the light toward the camera). For more tips and tricks on recording video at night, please see our Buying Guide and Best Practices: Surveillance Footage at Night article.
3. Buy a camera with an integrated white, natural light
Many cameras in our lineup have white, natural, full-spectrum motion-triggered or schedule-triggered lights. This will guarantee that you get a full-color photo with optimal lighting, but won't require you to install separate outdoor lighting that is on all the time.
Jump to:
Cameras with White, Natural Lights
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The Paladin 8.0 - 26BF8M-L-A - 8MP (4x1080P)
In stock$325.00The Paladin 8.0 is a bullet camera with a unique feature set. The Paladin features a 2.8mm wide angle lens, a built in microphone and speaker, and active deterrence white light feature. The Paladin is a great choice for situations where you want a bullet, but want that giant wide angle view. Use the Paladin at gates to use two way audio through the SCW Go app with it's built in microphone and speaker. The Paladin also acts as a great restricted area camera thanks to the VCA activated white light feature with audio warnings.
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Do you need to keep an eye on something?
The Lookout Mini 5.0 is the perfect surveillance camera for any covert operation. It’s small enough to be hidden in plain sight, but powerful enough to get up close with a 4x zoom capability and see what’s going on from afar without being seen. This version has also been fitted with a white LED light as well as a red/white “siren style” light when day changes to night. Stealthy at 10FT and quick enough to catch thieves when they are completely unaware (at 30FT) The lookout name says it all.
You can use your finger or mouse wheel to control the PTZ remotely, so you never have to leave your desk or stop working while keeping an eye on things. With our free app available for both iOS and Android devices, you can watch live video feeds from anywhere in the world! And if that wasn't cool enough already, we offer lifetime customer service through email and phone call - just in case anything goes wrong with your device!
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The Warrior is our most popular camera model. It is tied with the Deputy in terms of how easy it is to install and position since neither camera requires you to remove any part of the camera to screw it into the wall/ceiling/soffit. This makes it ideal for outdoor use as you don't have a tendency to trap moisture in the lens, as is common with dome cameras, where you have to remove the outer glass dome to mount them. The 86.5-degree lens with 4K resolution is a great balance between covering a large area and identifying faces and license plates. Although you can use this camera inside or out, the most common use of the Warrior models (the camera comes in 2MP, 4MP, or 8MP) is to cover the side of buildings or large sections of yards.
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The Deputy is our second most popular camera model. It is tied with the Warrior in terms of how easy it is to install and position since neither camera requires you to remove any part of the camera to screw it into the wall/ceiling/soffit. This makes it ideal for outdoor use as you don't have a tendency to trap moisture in the lens, as is common with dome cameras, where you have to remove the outer glass dome to mount them. The 110 or 118-degree lens is best used to cover an entire room at once (by installing it in a corner) or to cover a wide area of a smaller yard, as wider lenses always decrease how far away you can identify a person or license plate. Although you can use this camera inside or out, the most common uses of the Deputy models (the camera comes in 2MP, 4MP, or 4K variants) are to install the camera in the corner of a room or to cover front doors and porches outdoors. Two Deputies are often installed back-to-back to make a 220-236 degree view, such as in the middle of a wall. (This two-camera solution has less of that dizzying "fisheye" look that is common with 180-degree cameras and is also usually cheaper.)
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The Watchkeeper Dual Vision 4.0 PTZ + Fixed Lens Camera
In stock$1,200.00At SCW we've often stressed the importance of having wide angle coverage when using a PTZ. Now we've got a PTZ where the wide angle coverage is built right in! See both the wide and details with the Watchkeeper 4.0 Dual Vision PTZ!
This camera uses two streams on your NVR, and gives you both a 4MP 95° wide angle fixed lens camera and a 25x 4MP 30FPS PTZ camera! All with just one cable run!
It also has a white light on the fixed lens camera - so the white light is on during night time constantly.
0.001 lux
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The Lookout 2.0 v2 is the perfect PTZ for when you need to cover a wider area than just 100 feet away, like areas with wide-open spaces and heavy traffic. It's multi-directional viewing ability that can easily view up to sixteen preset locations in one go, this camera supports external mics as well. Panning movements across 360 degrees quickly with smooth transitions between each location.
This device is perfect for any business that needs to monitor their warehouse or store from a distance without having to worry about missing anything important happening on the ground level. It's also great if you want an easy way to keep tabs on your employees while they're working remotely at different sites around town. You'll be able to see what they're doing and hear what they say all at once!
With features like these, it's no wonder why so many businesses are turning towards The Lookout 2.0 today! If you have any questions about how this product could work best for your company then please contact us by phone or email anytime - we’re always happy to help our customers find the right solution for them!
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In stock$1,400.00The Sharpshooter is a 4MP super long range, low light bullet camera with motorized zoom and focus. It's used in situations where there is extreme distance (250-600 feet) between the mounting location and a stationary point of interest. This is the ultimate camera for collecting video evidence and seeing what's happening at a distance in complete darkness. It's ideal for securing large areas and is perfect for low light environments like warehouses, parking lots, construction sites and more!
This camera features Extreme Cold Temperature rated from -40°F to 140 °F, 650 foot IR illuminator, Infrared night vision up to 500 FT and full protection from dust, rain, snow, dew, frost and sprinklers. With an oversized image sensor to allow in more light and a super-long range lens, this unit can even take photos down to 0.001 Lux – which is like looking through smoke!
It features ultra low ambient light capability and the latest PoE compatibility allowing easy installation without needing separate power cables.
0.003 lux
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In stock$525.00The Viking 8.0 is a popular choice for high-quality video surveillance. This Multi-Purpose Bullet camera is perfect for your home or business if you need to secure a long and narrow area such as roads, driveways, warehouse aisles and more.
This 8MP (4x1080P) bullet camera suits a variety of uses and features a motorized varifocal lens that allows you to optically zoom in to see a distant area more clearly. You can adjust the angle of view with our apps, over the web, or via your SCW NVR. This camera is also frequently used in corporate environments and just like with a point-and-shoot camera or a pair of binoculars, when you narrow the field-of-view, you zoom in on an area to see more detail in that area.
With its high resolution image sensor and wide dynamic range capability, The Viking provides clear images day or night while able to identify someone up to 125 feet. This plug & play bullet camera is built tough enough to handle any weather condition and ready to take on any job thrown its way.
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In stock$525.00The Detective has a motorized varifocal lens that allows you to optically zoom in to see a distant area more clearly. You can adjust the angle of view with our apps, over the web, or via your SCW NVR. Just like with a point-and-shoot camera or a pair of binoculars, when you narrow the field-of-view, you zoom in on an area and you can see more detail in that area. Although the Detective is a very popular camera for homes that have a mid-range (35-100 foot) points of concern like gates, roads or driveways, this camera is also frequently used is corporate environment such as long and narrow warehouse aisles.
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The Informant 4.0 v2 - 26DF4M-A - Mini Dome Camera with Microphone
In stock$325.00The Informant 4.0 v2 is a mini dome that also has an integrated microphone for audio surveillance It should be able to pick up a normal speaking voice at 15 feet. It has an 1K10 vandal proof glass dome surrounding the lens. Glass domes are iconic and what people usually think of with a security camera, but the glass has benefits and drawbacks. Despite our logo being a glass dome camera shape, most of our models don't have them anymore because they aren't that DIY friendly. To install most glass dome cameras, you have to remove the outer dome to reveal the mounting screws and then screw the dome back on after mounting the camera. In more humid areas, this can trap moisture inside the camera; for this reason, most glass dome cameras are installed indoors. The Informant comes with some silicon moisture absorbing beads to help combat this issue (please don't remove them). Glass domes are sometimes used outdoors especially in situations like college campuses or apartment complexes where "non-destructive vandalism," such as turning the camera away from its intended target, is common. Glass domes do not hide which way the camera is pointed. 1K10 is the highest measurement rating for protection from physical damage for security camera products, so it should protect against some destructive vandalism as well. Unlike recording video, recording audio is heavily regulated. It is very important when recording audio to follow the rules and regulations set out in the Federal Wiretap Act; because of this law, the microphone's default setting is "off." If you want to turn the microphone on, we will gladly help you, but you should make sure you are complying with the law before doing so.
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Do you need to keep an eye on something?
The Lookout Mini 5.0 is the perfect surveillance camera for any covert operation. It’s small enough to be hidden in plain sight, but powerful enough to get up close with a 4x zoom capability and see what’s going on from afar without being seen. This version has also been fitted with a white LED light as well as a red/white “siren style” light when day changes to night. Stealthy at 10FT and quick enough to catch thieves when they are completely unaware (at 30FT) The lookout name says it all.
You can use your finger or mouse wheel to control the PTZ remotely, so you never have to leave your desk or stop working while keeping an eye on things. With our free app available for both iOS and Android devices, you can watch live video feeds from anywhere in the world! And if that wasn't cool enough already, we offer lifetime customer service through email and phone call - just in case anything goes wrong with your device!
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The Beacon 8.0 has a range of up to 2 miles and features high resolution, wide angle coverage that creates a fuller picture of the scene than any other camera, IR LEDs for nighttime visibility at distances up to 820 feet and weatherproofing so you can utilize this powerhouse wherever you need it most.
With its powerful infrared night vision capabilities, you'll be able to monitor large spaces with ease no matter what time of day or night it is! This product will give your business all the tools it needs to succeed in today's competitive market. You won't regret investing in this long-range commercial-grade PTZ camera!
The Beacon's 58.4-2.08 degree viewing angle let's you see more field of view than that offered by competitors while its automatic motion detection feature monitors boarder crossing without constant feed monitoring – just set your parameters and walk away!
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The Garrison 5.0 - Mini Indoor Wifi PTZ with 4x zoom
In stock$575.00The Garrison is an indoor only mini PTZ with both Wi-Fi and POE ethernet connections. It is extremely lightweight (for a PTZ) and can be ceiling mounted without a bracket.
Although, we would never recommend doing an entire system based on WiFi cameras, sometimes running a cable is impossible for a single camera.
It is best used in places where running cables may be extremely difficult, such as lobbies, convenience stores, churches and cathedrals, car dealerships, bank vaults, and elevators.
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The Watchkeeper Dual Vision 4.0 PTZ + Fixed Lens Camera
In stock$1,200.00At SCW we've often stressed the importance of having wide angle coverage when using a PTZ. Now we've got a PTZ where the wide angle coverage is built right in! See both the wide and details with the Watchkeeper 4.0 Dual Vision PTZ!
This camera uses two streams on your NVR, and gives you both a 4MP 95° wide angle fixed lens camera and a 25x 4MP 30FPS PTZ camera! All with just one cable run!
It also has a white light on the fixed lens camera - so the white light is on during night time constantly.
Below are our cameras with full spectrum motion lights or oversized image sensors and very low lux rating
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