CardinalBags

They are honeywell cams. In any case, I've got 4 new cameras on order, turret ir domes with ir cut filter. These existing 4 cams are moving inside where I can take the domes off. I just recently upgraded the DVR unit so now I have 8 camera inputs, so they won't go to waste.

I am dissapointed with my current cameras not performing well in low light / dark. They are IR cameras, unfortunately I dont have the current model numbers for the cameras. They are dome style cameras. Fairly generic I am guessing. Whatever the security company had in stock or available on short notice from ADI. I am wondering if I would be better of with new cameras that are better quality and specifcally intended for low light or dark areas or if I should just add a bunch of IR light sources around the areas to be lit up. Problem with the latter option is not making the house look like one of the Borg. The frame rate differences are due to me making changes at the DVR (Digimerge DH200 touch)

Here are the next few photos.First Photo is before cleaning, second photo is after cleaning, third photo is with protective dome removed. The nighttime performance of the camera is quite good, poor design of IR LEDS inside the dome, and poor fit of rubber seal for camera lens to dome. I am going to fit some rubber shims between the existing rubber seal and the glass dome to see if that makes any improvement. If that does not work, then it will be some upgraded cameras (likely bullet cams as some of you have suggested, I just think they will look ghastly on the house whereas the dome cameras blend into the soffit well. Then again, visibility may make would-be thieves think twice.... that and the Rottweiller...lol). I will re-use these cameras inside the house without the dome covers in that event.

Well, I believe I have a lot more information now to address the issue. There was only a marginal improvement to the IR fog issue by cleaning the housings. Refer to the first two photos here. This photo is prior to cleaning. IR Fog obscures the entire image. After cleaning. The IR fog is reduced at the edges of the camera. IR fog is intense at center of the photo. I realized due to the angle of the camera, that some of the IR leds are covered by the housing. See next photo.This is causing a lot of reflection back into the lens. The cameras do have a rubber seal around the camera lens to protect against the IR reflection, but the fit and finish of it to the outside glass dome is poor. In the next posting (due to limitation on photos that can be attached, I will show another camera and my findings on it.

Another example from another cam.... This is the worst one... The glare coming off the inside of the dome reflecting back into the lens is awful.