Low Light Home Security Cameras

Selecting a home security camera can be challengingespecially when it comes to purchasing one that is going to be used for dark and low light environments. When faced with this task there are some very important aspects that need to be taken into consideration to ensure that the security camera you purchase is the right one for the application and location it will be placed in. Some of the aspects that need to be taken into consideration are the size, type, resolution rate and the most important specification that needs to be considered is the “minimum illumination” rating or “lux” rating.

The lux rating is the lumen per square meter and is measured by the intensity of light that passes or hits a surface of an object as it is perceived by the human eye. This illumination rating is important when looking to purchase a home security camera for low light environments and depending on the sensitivity level it will determine what level of darkness the camera can be used in. The lux rating can range depending on the type of camera although a lux rating that is closer to zero is more inclined to perform better in darker environments. Most types of night-vision surveillance cameras that are integrated with infrared beams usually feature an illumination of 0 which means that they are suitable for use in complete darkness without the assistance from any light source.

Another important feature to assess when looking to purchase a security camera system for darker or low light environments is whether it features optical image stabilization or OIS. Optical image stabilization is a technique that helps to reduce blurring that may result from the slightest movement of the camera when the image is being captured. This technology can be especially useful where a pan/tilt/zoom security camera is in use and helps to maintain stable and clear imagery that the camera is capturing during the low light periods of the day.

Another important thing that should be considered is the resolution rate the camera is rated with. The resolution rate of a security camera is usually seen as TV Lines or TVL. This resolution rate can vary from camera to camera, although when purchasing a low light security camera finding one that features a resolution rate between 400TVL to 600TVL can help to improve the clearness of the images to ensure that you are able to identify specific objects and individuals if required.

One more thing that should be looked into when choosing a low light home security camera is whether the camera is to be used only at night or during the day as well. Most types of black and white or monochrome home security cameras are designed with a lower illumination rate than that of color surveillance cameras, although with the recent color technology advancements, color home security cameras are able to perform at higher standards when exposed to low light conditions and these are classed as day/night security and surveillance cameras. These types of day and night cameras usually automatically switch from color to black and white at night and back to color when light levels are increased to enhanced the performance when used in low light and dark environments.

Another aspect to take into consideration is whether the camera is going to be used for outdoor or indoor operations. If the camera is to be used in outdoor environments where exposure to weather elements or vandalism may be present, it is important to ensure that the camera is protected with a weather resistant or vandal resistant exterior. This is extremely important to ensure the life of your security camera system over the years to come. Depending on the camera system some low light security cameras may be available with pressurized enclosures that allow for use in environments that may be exposed to dust, particles, sand or dirt in the air. The size of the low light camera can also be taken into consideration when purchasing one for your property or business. The size will greatly depend on the amount of room that you have to place the camera in or whether you require a low profile or discreet camera system.

Determining whether you will require a wired or wireless home security camera system can also be something to consider. Wired security systems are generally plugged into a main power source via power cables and wires leading to various other recording devices. Depending on the location of where it will be placed this can cause problems with the amount of wires that need to been hidden or hooked up causing a slower installation rate. A wireless low light security system is generally run on an internal battery power source and transmits all the necessary information over an invisible signal to the awaiting recording device. Although the wireless camera system may be easier to install against the wired system it may have to be monitored more frequently to ensure the battery is well charged at all times.

Overall when looking to purchase a low light home security system it is important to ensure that it features a low illumination ratio, a good resolution rate, and it is the right size for the area where it will be placed to ensure it promotes full coverage for optimal monitoring of the area.