Gary Williams, Director of Global Application at GJD, examines recent advancements in security camera technology, with a focus on illuminators.
In the past few years, two emerging technologies have revolutionised and promoted, the security camera market: AI analytics and 24/7 colour imaging.
While these innovations are fantastic, how well do they perform in the real world, particularly in low-light conditions?
Security cameras have existed since the 1940s, but recent years have seen a surge in excitement thanks to AI integration.
Today’s cameras feature high-resolution video, motion detection and night vision, but it’s the AI-powered cameras that have captured the industry’s attention.
AI cameras leverage machine learning algorithms to analyse video footage, leading to several key benefits:
While the benefits of AI are evident, its performance still depends on the quality of the footage.
For instance, most cameras only provide good visibility at night up to 30 meters.
Regardless of how sophisticated the AI is, it can’t compensate for poor image quality beyond the camera’s limited range.
Thus, while AI improves the system’s overall effectiveness, it still requires the support of other technologies, such as illuminators, to function optimally.
Another exciting development is 24/7 colour imaging, which allows cameras to capture colour footage even in low-light conditions.
Brands like Hikvision’s ColorVu and OwlView have pioneered this technology, which uses advanced sensors, large apertures and supplemental lighting to produce colour images even in near darkness.
While this technology works well for domestic settings where cameras operate at short range, its effectiveness diminishes in commercial environments where longer-range performance is required.
To achieve colour imaging in low light, the camera’s gain is increased and the shutter speed is reduced.
While this results in colour footage, it can also cause motion blur, particularly with moving objects at a distance.
Moreover, ambient light sources, such as streetlights, can cause overexposure, making it difficult to discern details.
Many modern cameras come with in-built infrared (IR) capabilities, eliminating the need for external illuminators.
This can simplify installation and reduce costs. However, in-built IR systems come with their own set of challenges:
An external IR illuminator can help resolve these issues, offering clearer images and more consistent performance in the dark.
The primary advantage of using an external IR illuminator is the broader coverage it provides compared to in-built systems.
In-built IR typically has a range of about 30 meters and the narrow beam only covers the area directly in front of the camera.
This means that areas outside the camera’s field of view may be missed.
Another advantage is that you can install them away from the cameras.
This eradicates glare and reflection problems which are common with domed cameras.
The camera’s infrared light bounces off the inside of the dome or any light-coloured objects, causing a “white out.”
The only other way to reduce this problem is by turning the camera’s infrared off or down, which means even less range for the camera analytics to work with.
In rural locations or colder climates, insects and spiders are drawn to the heat generated by a camera’s infrared.
They simply land on the camera and walk over the lens, triggering an alarm via the analytics.
If you are unfortunate, a spider will make a web over the lens, severely restricting the view of the camera.
Using a separate infrared illuminator allows you to turn the camera’s infrared off, meaning that insects are more likely to nest on the illuminator and not on the camera.
You can use a single illuminator to service multiple cameras.
This approach works particularly well for large areas like car parks or pedestrian pathways, where several cameras may need coverage.
The illuminator floods the area with infrared light, ensuring optimal image clarity for all cameras.
Budgets continue to be stretched. It therefore means that neither consumers or businesses, want to pay for something that isn’t going to add value to them.
Here are a few scenarios where you might not need a dedicated illuminator:
White-light LED illuminators are usually the preferred choice when visibility is important.
They provide both ambient lighting for passersby and sufficient light for CCTV cameras to function effectively.
These illuminators emit light across the full spectrum (400nm to 700nm), making them ideal for areas that require visible deterrence and better image quality.
Infrared LED illuminators are the preferred choice when you want to observe an area without adding visible light pollution at night.
Infrared light is invisible to the naked eye, making these illuminators perfect for discreet security applications. They come in two main types:
When using infrared illuminators, the CCTV images will always be monochrome, as infrared light doesn’t reveal colour.
Hybrid illuminators combine the benefits of both white light and infrared.
The photocell activates the infrared light at night and when a potential threat is detected, the white light comes on as a deterrent.
After the threat is gone, the white light turns off and the infrared resumes, making it a cost-effective solution.
External illuminators, whether infrared, white light or hybrid, enhance camera performance by increasing coverage, improving image quality and reducing nuisance alarms.
They should be seen not as an optional extra but as an essential component of any professional security setup, especially in environments with minimal ambient light.
In the end, illuminators don’t just help your cameras see more, they make your entire security system smarter, more accurate and more reliable when it matters most: in the dark.
This article was originally published in the November edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.
