normal IP camera with InfraRed Illuminator? does it work?

[hendrik]

Hi all,

I've recently set up zoneminder with a "Orite IP-Cam IC-301".
This is all working fine but I'm desperate to have night view.

Had a look on ebay and found some really cheap Illuminators:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

Could I use my camera (or any other normal non IR ip camera) combined with a InfraRed Illuminator?

Can these camera's see InfraRed light at all?

Have had a search on google and I found this :

http://www.securityideas.com/frasquoninil.html

CAN INFRARED ILLUMINATORS WORK WITH COLOR CAMERAS?
Infrared illuminators CAN NOT work with color cameras. Normal artificial light (e.g. sodium light) does not produce accurate colour, causing picture quality problems. They will work with most of the newer day/night cameras as they have a mechanically removable IR Cut filter, which allows the B&W (Night) portion of the camera to be sensitive to infrared light.

Does anybody have any experience with this? I could really do with some advice.

Thanks.

[cordel]

Color cameras have an IR cut filter. This filter blocks all IR light from entering the sensor. Using a color camera to achieve realistic colors in white light requires an IR-cut filter. The color spectrum seen by the human eye is quite limited compared to the spectrum seen by a CCD camera. Especially, in the near infrared region of the spectrum the difference in sensitivity is significant. This is important to know since many light sources, including the sun, emit infrared light. A CCD color camera in daylight without an IR-cut filter will therefore see a significant amount of infrared light resulting in strange colors.

It may be possible to remove or break out the IR cut filter to allow IR light to the sensor but might also render the camera useless during the day assuming you don't break the camera in the process.

Day/night cams have this filter motorized so that in low light it moves the filter out of the optics path, giving them the ability to perform with IR light which also contributes to the significant cost increase.

Black and White cams usually do not have a IR cut filter installed. If the filter is not installed, then they see IR fine and perform fine both day and night.

So I am assuming that you have a color camera though you don't really specify.
Color cams do not see IR due to the cut filter either on the lens or built onto the sensor.

[hendrik]

Thanks Cordel,
It is a normal colour camera indeed. I do not really want to open it up to be honest. Instead I will start looking to get a infrared camera.