[hornychz]

If anyone finds a remote pan and tilt camera without an IR filter, 720p upwards, please let me know.

Hi uncle_bob,

these cameras are a little more expensive. I use one as security, but I bought it from local dealer.
(It is not easy for the camera to cooperate with the recording equipment ... I bought both of them
- recorder and camera - at one time, but the camera was soon exchanged for another because it did
not work together.)

Mine cost was about USD 450. It is something like this:
Cantonk PT4EM10XH200
This one costs at us USD 435, but you can buy it direct from China - FOB is about USD 110.
Cantonk PT4EM10XH200 from Made-in-China.com
(The cameras like these are really great, I can recommend.)

[hornychz]

without an IR filter

What does that mean? Is that an IR "cut" filter, an IR "pass" filter, or neither?

I think, this is this property:

"When this camera senses there is low light it turns on the infrared LEDs, engages the IR cut filter
and switches to black and white. When there is enough light again, the camera automatically disengages
the IRs and switches back to color day time mode."

[werk_ag]

Nowadays almost all cameras have automatic IR cut filter. Despite being in black and white, the night vision is fantastic, very important for surveilance cameras.
For me, the automatic IR cut filter is a requirement for all my IP cameras.

[hornychz]

... Despite being in black and white, the night vision is fantastic, very important for surveilance cameras.
For me, the automatic IR cut filter is a requirement for all my IP cameras.

Yes, exactly. You are right.

[AllyCat]

"When this camera senses there is low light it turns on the infrared LEDs, engages the IR cut filter
and switches to black and white....."

Is that the correct way around?  I thought the idea is that when the light level is high enough to operate in colour, then the IR cut (blocking) is engaged to give better colour accuracy (i.e. to block any "false" Red).

Strangely, for me, the automatic IRLEDs are a real nuisance but I can't find any way to turn them off.  My street lights are (almost) bright enough to maintain a good colour image, but the "backscatter" of the IR light from close objects, such as spiders' webs, ruins the picture.  I wonder if the spiders seek out the heat from the LEDs?

Cheers,  Alan.

[hornychz]

"When this camera senses there is low light it turns on the infrared LEDs, engages the IR cut filter
and switches to black and white....."

Is that the correct way around?  I thought the idea is that when the light level is high enough to operate in colour, then the IR cut (blocking) is engaged to give better colour accuracy (i.e. to block any "false" Red).

Strangely, for me, the automatic IRLEDs are a real nuisance but I can't find any way to turn them off.  My street lights are (almost) bright enough to maintain a good colour image, but the "backscatter" of the IR light from close objects, such as spiders' webs, ruins the picture.  I wonder if the spiders seek out the heat from the LEDs?

Cheers,  Alan.

Hi Alan,

Good cameras allow the IR LED to turn off. And set the IRcut level ... 

[AllyCat]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.  Unfortunately, mine is not a "good" camera (it was bundled with the video recorder) and has only a BNC (CVBS) and power connectors on a long cable.  The User Interface offers only CVBS controls (brightness, contrast, colour, tint) and a crude digital zoom.

I'd be happy to "open it up" and disconnect the LEDs (or modify the relay), but I can't find any screws to turn. I even made a large "washer" to block the IR, but the heat and scatter upset the picture quality (and of course couldn't save any power).  

Cheers,  Alan.

[hornychz]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.  Unfortunately, mine is not a "good" camera (it was bundled with the video recorder) and has only a BNC (CVBS) and power connectors on a long cable.  The User Interface offers only CVBS controls (brightness, contrast, colour, tint) and a crude digital zoom.

I'd be happy to "open it up" and disconnect the LEDs (or modify the relay), but I can't find any screws to turn. I even made a large "washer" to block the IR, but the heat and scatter upset the picture quality (and of course couldn't save any power).    

Cheers,  Alan.

Hi,

I'm afraid that lightning control is only possible with IP cameras. Cheap CCTV security cameras probably do not.
I think it would be possible to buy a camera without an IR LED.

But it is also the case that the typical security cameras are still slightly different from the weather cameras.
At least the weather camera is heading to the sky, motion detection is undesirable, recording is useless, and
IR LEDs are useless. They also do not have any security against the attack. On the other hand, it should
have an FTP protocol (therefore it should be digital = IP). But otherwise the technique is almost the same ...

[hornychz]

Hi,

The sky is today so beautiful, I have to publish it ... 

[hornychz]

The new one I order is NEO Coolcam NIP-56FX 720p HD, but it hasn't arrived to me
yet. It costs only USD 36. They promised me the camera has true FTP ...
NEO Coolcam NIP-56FX
It is WiFi/Ethernet, IP, Outdoor, IP56 and it is mini - only 100 mm long.

Excellent! I look forward to hearing your experiences with it!

Hi danner,

It is a great disappointment. The camera does not have FTP again ... 
It's probably better to buy from a local merchant than China, even though the price is multiplied ...
(This is the 3rd camera I bought and claimed to have FTP).