Infrared security cameras are cutting edge surveillance solutions that can record high definition video recordings even in low lighting. The infrared camera technology uses heat maps to capture images in low light. The solution of low light image capture is really simple and infrared camera technology is the best option for improved low light recording performance. Here is how infrared camera works:

Working of Infrared Camera

Infrared camera, also known as thermal imaging camera, is a device that uses infrared radiation to form an image of whatever is in front of it. During daytime, when the light is at its peak, it works as a normal camera, capturing whatever is visible in front of it. All security camera companies manufacture IR cameras and they work with DVR or NVR from Hikvision or any other brand without security risks like a back door.

Infrared is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that constitutes all kinds of radiation like radio waves, microwaves, terahertz waves, visible light, ultraviolet rays, x-rays and gamma rays. All these have different wavelengths. Each and every object emits a certain level of blackbody radiation as some sort of function of their temperatures.

The higher the temperatures, the more is the infrared radiation emitted as the object’s black body radiation. IR cameras detect this radiation and work in complete darkness as well. Visible light has nothing to do with IR camera’s function as they only need to read the infrared radiation or temperature of the object.

Infrared Camera Challenges

Reflective surfaces like glass hide the infrared radiations of objects behind them. Therefore, the infrared camera is useless if you want to see something behind a glass. This is one of the major challenges faced by infrared cameras.

As glass is a problem, the lenses of the camera also can’t be made of glass. They have to be made of Sapphire or Germanium crystals. This makes the cameras a little more costly as compared to normal cameras.

Infrared cameras are the most sophisticated surveillance equipment. They can spot even the slightest difference in temperature. Therefore, you can view almost anything in front of the camera. As all the objects have a different level of temperature, each and everything is distinctly visible in front of the Infrared cameras. Further, if someone moves, the temperature changes and this is quickly noted on the heat map image. Therefore, surveillance becomes really easy in low light or no light situations.