Re: Will IR Illuminator work with any CCD Camera?

[Tom Matigan <Matigan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:28:31 -0800, wdoe999 wrote:

> I want to setup some night surveillance cameras.  I notice that some CCD
> night cameras have the IR LEDS right on the camera.  Do these cameras
> have anything special about them that makes them work well with IR
> illumination (do they have circuitry to switch to B/W etc).  The reason
> I ask is that I would prefer to use standard CCD cameras and a separate
> IR illuminator, and am wondering if they will work together properly.
> Thanks.



B+W surveillance cameras generally see very well with infrared.  I use
Sony SSC M383's and am pretty impressed with their IR performance.

The one thing you will find is that many people who sell IR illuminators
tend to flat-out lie about their performance (think used car salesmen).
For example, they will tell you that illuminator X has a range of 50 feet.
When you plug it in, you find the useable range is less than 15 feet.

Before buying, get *written* performance info so that you are on the same
page as the salesman.  If they say the range is 50 feet, force them to
tell you exactly what the exact performance is at that range.

My best performer is a forced air-cooled 500 watt flood with an opaque IR
filter.