Infrared Outdoor Cameras

Tips for Choosing the Right Infrared Security Cameras

When shopping for IR security cameras or night vision cameras as they are sometime called things you want to consider are the resolution of the camera sensor, size of lens (e.g. 6mm, 8mm) provided and the infrared distance. Obviously the higher the resolution of the camera the better the image quality but that should not be your only consideration. The size of the lens will determine your field of view or viewing angle. While the number and size of the LEDs along with the lens will determine how far you can see in complete darkness.

• IR (infrared) distance ratings are the maximum distance an object can be illuminated, but as with any light source the closer you get to its maximum range the less light will reach the object. So if you want to be able to see someone 50 feet away you'll be better off selecting a camera with an infrared rating of 65 feet or more.
   
• Not all outdoor security cameras are equal when it comes to weatherproofing. The IP Code (or International Protection Rating) is a rating of how well a device is protected from the elements. Not all cameras state their IP rating but IP65 is considered good for most outdoor weather conditions. If your camera will be exposed to some severe weather conditions you should probably choose a camera with an IP66 rating or higher.
   
• Generally for cameras with 2MP/1080p resolution a 2.8mm or 3.6mm lens is adequate for wide area coverage with good recognition out to 30 ft and facial identification up to 15 ft. With higher megapixel cameras such as 5MP and 8MP/4K a 2.8mm lens can provide an even wider field of view and increase recognition to 60 ft and facial identification out to 28 ft. This doesn't mean that beyond 60 feet you can't see people or objects, they'll still be clear and focused, just appear smaller making them harder to identify. If you need to see facial detail at a further distance you will probably want to go with a varifocal lens which allows the user to choose the lens size from wide angle to telephoto. With the 2.8~12mm lens and 8MP resolution you can extend recognition range to 120 ft and the facial identification to around 60 ft when set to 12mm. Keep in mind that the larger the lens size setting for any given distance the more detail you will see but your field of view will be smaller.
   
• Use our Lens Field of View calculator for help on determining the size lens you need.