Security cameras are a good way to protect your possessions and increase your home's security by recording suspicious activities clearly and monitoring your property around the clock. But when a burglary occurs at night, can security cameras see in the dark? How far can security cameras see at night? On average, night vision security cameras can see in a range between 100 to 200ft at night.
Yet, exact viewing ranges vary depending on a variety of factors like lighting conditions and lens aperture. Also, types of night vision capabilities can affect their range. Read on to figure out how these factors affect the visual range night security cameras can see.
Different Ways Security Cameras Can See At Night
Not all security cameras have night vision capabilities. Regular security cameras only capture blurry or flickering images at night. Whereas professional night vision cameras can record sharp, clear, and even color images. Night vision capabilities depend on technology and design. In general, night security cameras use the following three technologies and each of them works in different ways to capture images at night.
Infrared LED Lighting
Infrared security cameras are equipped with infrared LED lights. This allows these surveillance devices to receive infrared radiation from the objects and capture clear white and black images at night, which makes them suitable for surveillance in low-light conditions. Meanwhile, infrared night security cameras are imperceptible and infrared waves are invisible to humans, intruders or anyone else can hardly notice they're being watched.
Thermal Imaging
Security cameras can make use of thermal imaging to detect heat signals. With a thermal imaging system, they trace the outline of the object by detecting waves of heat emitted by moving objects. The cooler parts are displayed as blue and the hotter parts as red. For example, when the human body gives off energy at night, the surroundings are cooler. Therefore, thermal security cameras can capture the variation in temperature of objects and distinguish humans from the environment even when someone hides in the bushes.
Security cameras with thermal imaging are perfect for long-range nighttime surveillance regardless of lighting conditions. They can see from around 100-150 feet, making it perfect for monitoring your yards or streets in the neighborhoods at night.
Low-light Night Vision
Low-light night vision security cameras excel in capturing high-quality photos and videos even in extremely dark conditions thanks to their sensitive starlight sensors and very wide apertures. Usually, the cameras are also equipped with features like motion sensors, infrared night vision, and long battery life. These useful technologies make them suitable for specialized applications like astrophotography and wildlife observation.
What Affects How Far Night Vision Security Cameras See?
Camera range distance for night vision is influenced by various factors. Environmental conditions and design play a significant role in determining how far night vision security cameras can see at night. Here, we present 6 major factors that impact image clarity and sharpness during nighttime surveillance.
Focal Length
Focal length is the distance between the camera lens and the sensor or film. It affects how much of the scene the security camera can capture and how big objects appear in the photo. The longer the focal length, the narrower the field of view, the area that can be observed by the security camera is smaller. Yet the camera range distance is longer.
Generally, focal length can be divided into two types: variable focal length and fixed focal length. For night vision applications, fixed focal length lenses are often utilized by security cameras with wider angles, such as 2.8mm or 4mm. These lenses offer a broader field of view, allowing the camera to cover larger areas and capture more details in low-light conditions.
Some night vision security cameras also incorporate variable focal length lenses, like 5-100mm or 8-80mm, which provide the flexibility to adjust the focal length and zoom in on specific targets. These cameras are well-suited for long-range surveillance or scenarios where capturing fine details is critical.
Resolution
Resolution determines how clear and detailed the image can be. It refers to the number of pixels in the image, such as 1080P and 2K. The higher the resolution is, the more clarity and detail the image has. Security cameras can offer different resolutions, including 720p, 1080p, 4MP, 5MP, and even 8MP(4K).
High-resolution night vision security cameras can produce clearer images in spite of low light conditions, nighttime scenarios, or long distances. For most households, a 720p camera is sufficient for most purposes.
Lighting Conditions
Lighting conditions can have an impact on your night security camera's visibility. In low-light conditions, the night vision security camera might find it too blurry or dark to capture any details. The camera's range of view can also be reduced. But with adequate lighting, night vision cameras can identify more details.
Make sure not to install night vision cameras at places where there is too much direct and strong light as they can blind the lens and result in a washout.
Lens Aperture
Lens aperture affects the night vision camera's performance. The aperture is the opening of a lens that allows light to get in. Its size determines the amount of light that can enter the camera to lighten the photo. A larger lens aperture allows more light to pass through so that the images will be clearer.
Image Sensor
Image sensors are another important factor that affects the clarity of images from night security cameras. Image sensors are electronic devices placed inside a security camera. They can receive light and convert it into electrical signals which generate an image.
Sensor size controls how much light can be gathered. Larger sensors can gather more amount of light so that security cameras can capture brighter images with higher clarity and more details, especially in low-light conditions at night.
Location
The location of the night vision camera is another factor that affects the camera's range of view in the dark. Specifically, where the camera is placed, how height it is mounted, and the angle all have impacts.
To deter crime and prevent vandalism, night security cameras should be placed near entry of points like side and front doors, and yards. The height also matters. If cameras are mounted higher up on walls, they can provide a wider angle than those mounted at lower heights. However, if the cameras are placed too high, the camera might only capture fuzzy images at night. Plus, make sure that no potential obstructions (like trees and walls) block the camera's line of sight.
Best Security Camera that Can Spot at a Far Distance: Our Top Pick
With the above considerations, we believe the best night security camera should capture images of great sharpness and clarity at a distance in no-light or low-light conditions. That's why we select S330 eufyCam as our top pick. We love its color night vision, super high resolution, and forever power. With these 3 features, it can maintain 24-hour security surveillance.
Designed with reliable color night vision and a built-in spotlight, S330 eufyCam lets you see things in clearer detail, colors and all. The camera offers 4K resolution. This means you can even zoom in on the image to get a clearer picture. No more fuzzy images. You can also use its built-in spotlight to illuminate the low-light area.
If you prefer placing it outside, the S330 eufyCam is designed with water-resistant and wireless features, making it perfect for outdoor surveillance. When the camera monitors your home and surroundings, you can decide the area you want to monitor and use its intelligent alerts to let the camera notify you of any suspicious activities.
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