Zohan, malbers, the cameras you link to do exactly what I proposed, but I did not think that was practical to implement in a camera that would be outdoors year round. These look like they're from the same company, or they are a very standard technology, as the images of the filter system appear to be identical. And for what it's worth, the camera bodies make these look like obsolete models, especially with the huge range of smaller dome cameras that is available now.

I suspect the dome cameras don't have such an actual mechanism. I've watched the images as they switch from day to night and back, and there's no hint of anything mechanical; also, the mechanism would have to be tiny, but yeah, it could be made to fit in there.

I dont know what to tell you Ernie. I dont have a compulsive need to know exactly how every thing works. I have way too many things on my brain and some things have to take a back seat.
I only care that it works as its supposed to and works flawlessly with other equipment I use.

At this point you will probably come back and say something like I need to understand the product to determine if it works with other equipment I use......

I dont. I care that it does its job, not how it gets there, I have no time for that.

Absolutely.....good point.
If you have a camera 60' from the area you're trying to see at night you can put an illuminator somewhere in between pointed towards what you want to see.

On the same note, you have to be careful with higher powered infrared cameras as the ir will bounce back off whatever is close and reflect hot spot into the lens....anything like pavement, cars, trees ets...

Thanks All! here is the link to the camera im thinking about getting [Link: g4direct.app.box.com]

It shows day/night but i think im going to call them to make sure.

In the specs it lists lux down to .005 b/w, which could mean its a low light camera (non ir).
I then read further and it does say day/night and lists ICR, which is another way of saying ir cut filter....so it appears it is ir capable, but doesnt have ir built in....
Id call geniv just to confirm the specs are correct.

Nice camera, the only thing I noticed is that it looks like it has a heater, not sure it you'll use it but the does raise the POE power level required, just a FYI in case you didn't notice that. (One of those real cheap POE units probably won't handle it.)