Criminals do not work a 9 to 5 job, many seek the cover of darkness to conceal their illicit activities, they target locations with high value items, low human activity and areas isolated from prying eyes. This is when the Night Vision Security Camera earns its stripes. Night vision cameras are an excellent tool for viewing areas in the dark without a normal light source. Most CCTV cameras can operate in both daylight and at night with the aid of an infrared light source. There is an increase in use of these low light cameras for more pleasurable activity such as filming night creatures without disturbing them with bright lights.
There are basically three types of night vision security cameras, infrared, thermal infrared and passive night vision.
Infrared
Infrared security cameras comes in two variations with the most common commercial type being the low light camera with infrared bulbs attached or in a separate housing. These night vision cameras will operate in total darkness and have sharp clear vision although in black and white. They are available in many formats, wireless or with coax cable to the IP version using CAT5 cable. Their cost is now more affordable to the house user.
Thermal infrared
Thermal Infrared imaging systems have come down in cost over the past few years to the point where they are affordable to just about any company out there. In days gone by Infrared camera systems were expensive items that required cryogenic cooling with liquid nitrogen of the detector in order to operate. Thermal infrared imaging systems now are self contained and require minimal maintenance to operate efficiently. But are mostly for commercial use as the costs are still prohibitive for most household users.
Night Vision Passive Night Vision
Passive night vision devices are light gathering and amplification devices (called tubes) that are attached to the lens of Night Vision Security Cameras. They are powered by the camera power source or by battries. They require no light except what ambient light there is as per star light, hence the name starlight scopes. They produce an eerie green image; in the older generation the image was also grainy, but with 3rd generation scopes the image is quite clear. They are more for specialized use, usually by government agencies and now by commercial and private boat captains that find them highly useful at sea.
Of the three, the infrared camera is the one that is mostly used as a Night Vision Security Camera as they are the most affordable, the easiest to setup and maintain and comes in many varieties, styles and format. With wireless and IP capable systems, a net work of cameras could be set up around a house and be hooked up to your computer in less time than it takes to roast a chicken. Not only will you now be able to see the night creatures prowling around your house and turning over your garbage can, but also if you left the sprinkler on in the back yard.
