Pelco Day/Night Camera

[FireRanger]

First, I am not sure if this belongs here or the tech corner, mods please feel free to move it, if it belongs in the tech corner.

I have Pelco Spectra III PTZ cameras at my site and they go from color to Black/White during lowlight conditions (at night). I was told by my vendor that this is considered a Day/Night camera, does anyone know what if Pelco makes fixed cameras that do the same thing, and if so what model number are they?

[CameraMan]

Any camera designated D/N (day/night) will go from color to black and white under low light conditions. The short explanation is that there is a filter called an IR cut-filter that goes over the image sensor, which allows as much light as possible to reach the sensor (with the trade-off that everything is in black and white, because seeing colors requires much more light).

Basically, what the camera is doing is enhancing available light. It will not see anything at all in complete darkeness.

How do you know how much light you will need? Look at the lux rating. Here's a handy little chart (all mesurements approximate):


Full Sunlight 107,52 lux
Overcast Day 1,075 lux
Twilight 10 lux
Full Moon 0.1 lux
Quarter Moon 0.01 lux
Starlight 0.001 lux
Overcast Night 0.0001 lux

So if the camera has a rating of, say, 0.1 lux, that means that it needs at least as much light as you'd get in the woods at night with a full moon and no other source of illumination.

Pelco has a series of high resolution D/N cameras called the C10DN, with a lux rating of 0.3 lux in color (meaning before the IR cut-filter engages) and 0.07 lux in black and light, meaning after the IR cut-filter engages. A little pricey, but then so is everything Pelco makes.

Let me know if you have any further questions, or drop me a line if you need pricing.

[FireRanger]

That helps a lot, thank you cameraman. I am looking into Pelco, only because that is what historically my client has gone with. I know Pelco is a bit pricey, however I do love their customer service when I have to call them. Anyways, I am pretty sure a Day/Night unit will work because our PTZ's cover the same type of lighting at night as our fixed cameras do. I think the biggest problem is where the light fixtures are in relationship to the cameras. I doubt relocating the cameras will work based on the needs of the site, so replacing a camera seems to be at least in the long run cheaper then installing new light fixtures.

[CameraMan]

I doubt relocating the cameras will work based on the needs of the site, so replacing a camera seems to be at least in the long run cheaper then installing new light fixtures.

Like I tell my customers, first replace the lens, then replace the camera, then replace the DVR. You'd be shocked at how much difference a good lens makes, and even a $75 lens is cheaper than a $400 camera.

[Bill Warnock]

Like I tell my customers, first replace the lens, then replace the camera, then replace the DVR. You'd be shocked at how much difference a good lens makes, and even a $75 lens is cheaper than a $400 camera.
Here, Here! A methodical approach to problem solving.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[stevedh]

Pelco has several types of day and night cameras. In the fixed style there is the CH10DN-6 and the CCC1390H-2 for the american market



First, I am not sure if this belongs here or the tech corner, mods please feel free to move it, if it belongs in the tech corner.

I have Pelco Spectra III PTZ cameras at my site and they go from color to Black/White during lowlight conditions (at night). I was told by my vendor that this is considered a Day/Night camera, does anyone know what if Pelco makes fixed cameras that do the same thing, and if so what model number are they?