Adding a PTZ camera to the side of the house where we have an unruly neighbor that likes to chuck stuff over the fence at night. Last night he damaged our rotor tiller by chucking a rock, unfortunately we don't have proof of this :-(

The camera that fits (genIV) conspicuously doesnt have an IR array to help see at night (when he does it) Is there an auxillery IR panel i can add to "flood" the side of the house so we can see clearly at night?

TIA

Dude, if that particular camera has no IR built in, make sure it is possible for it to even see IR if you add an external IR illuminator. Some cameras do not have that capability, some do.

Yeah, check it out some night using a remote control.

I suggest putting a light up above the camera, with a PIR sensor. He'll know when the light comes on, won't he? Then again, if he's bent on terror, he'll just do it where the light, and the camera, won't be aimed.

You leave the rototiller out at night? Is it bone dry there so rust isn't a problem?

How about one of those wildlife cameras with motion detection? Would a cold moving rock turn those on, or does it have to be warm bodies. Rephrased, would a nighttime wildlife camera catch a cold-blooded beast like a gator?

good point, anyway to know?

Cameras arent my strong suite

Id first check the specs and see if it is listed as day/night.
You can also call geniv

It's called an IR cut filter. If the camera has it, it can't see IR light.
The GENIV stuff might not list it however or they might call it by another name. A phone call to tech support is needed then, and pray you can get a straight & correct answer. This is where the cheaper product dims (opposite of shines). Probably have to test yourself to see (pun intended).

Not correct.
An ir cut filter will block infrared light during the daytime because it distorts the color picture. At nighttime the filter is removed to allow infrared through so the camera can see. The ir wavelength, depending on which wavelength it is is near or completely invisible to the human eye but will illuminate the area for the camera to work in darkness.

But that is only if it's a Day/Night camera, as you said in the earlier post. Many cameras that are not Day/Night, have the IR filter all the time - hence can't see IR light.
And I have seen a Speco camera once (years ago) that was called Day/Night and it didn't respond to IR light. And it wasn't the Intensifier series.

Sounds like it might be true, but my cameras and cell phone all see IR and there's no way to remove that filter during the daytime. I agree that IR, which is detected as white, should make daylight images overly bright, but somehow things don't look wrong. Anybody know any more about this?


? How is the IR filter removed? I assume by "filter" you mean a piece of material that does not let IR through. How would a camera remove that?

Ok, I see what you meant now.

I simply was saying what it is, I didnt feel the need to explain how it works. But, I did a quick search and this might explain better

[Link: axis.com]

Brendon, I bought this and tested this with good results: [Link: amazon.com]
No, it will not illuminate 300-400 feet, but you already knew that.

I also bought this based on reviews and a video somewhere, and as expected, it sucked: [Link: amazon.com]

You have many options, here is a bunch: [Link: amazon.com]

If you don't want them to see the IRs (the typical red-ish color) you'll need to pick something with 940nm wavelength. The typical 850nm can be seen at night.

You can also place the illuminator near what you want to see..it doesnt always have to go near the camera and throw 50'-100'

Just be careful not to point the illuminator into the camera or you'll have a hell of a hotspot and might make the whole image unusable

The IP cameras with IR filters, at least the ones I know about, the filter is actually physically moved in front of the sensor mechanically, it slides in and out in a frame, the firmware triggers it. It's easier to add a picture than try to explain it, LOL!

[Link: google.com]