CCTV Night Vision Problems: IR Reflection, Blur and Dark Areas

Diagnose IR reflection, overexposure, motion blur, insufficient lighting and dirty lenses in CCTV installations.

IR reflection

Glass, nearby walls and dirty domes can reflect infrared light back into the lens. Change geometry, clean the cover or use suitable external illumination.

Motion blur

Long exposure can brighten a dark scene but blur moving subjects. Better lighting or a camera designed for low-light scenes may provide better evidence.

Dark areas

Wide scenes can contain very different brightness levels. Test WDR and exposure settings while considering whether the scene has enough illumination.

Clean the optics

Dust, insects, fingerprints and moisture scatter light and reduce contrast. Inspect and clean the optical surface appropriately.

Test after dark

Walk through the scene at the distances that matter and judge actual identification detail rather than only overall brightness.