vibe 0 Posted May 18, 2011 A few years ago I bought a cheap "board" camera but apparently got lucky with a really good lens. The picture and color quality was quite acceptable. So last week I ordered a few more board cameras (different sources to sample) and when they came in, same board but they've all got different lenses with IR filters on them (not IR cut). I really want the daytime colors, at night the area is lit well enough to work at the minimum end of the camera's range without IR. After asking a dozen ebay vendors, they all only have IR filter, only found one in Miami supposedly with IR cut and have a sample coming in to be certain. What's interesting about these cameras from different sources - ALL their IR filtered lenses are DIFFERENT ! They are all 3.6mm but they have different levels of IR filtering, so there are slightly more colors (saturation) in one lens than another. One is horrible and everything is nearly pure black and white during the daytime (hence my other confused thread) but another one is slightly better, you can definitely spot reds and browns, another actually shows blues properly and the grass has a slight green to it, but the whole picture has a hue to it like you are looking through sunglasses (it definitely still has IR because at night the grass is white). Can I somehow make my own filters on the cheap to experiment (something like exposed film, I dunno?) or is this implausible? I think I am also going to try to buy 2.8mm to see even more - but I am sure I will have the same IR problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nimrod 0 Posted May 18, 2011 KT&C has board cameras with true day night ir cut filters but i think they are all varafocal. http://www.ktnc.co.kr/english/viewforum.php?f=88 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vibe 0 Posted May 18, 2011 Wow those are some really nice board cameras. I bet they cost several times more than what mine did though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vibe 0 Posted May 18, 2011 So is there such a thing as a clear gel IR-blocking filter? That you get in sheets and cut down? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SEANHAWG 1 Posted May 18, 2011 You can always surgically remove the IR filter if you want, although it will make for an off color day shot, especially if its a cheap camera. Removing the IR filter from board cameras can sometimes be tough too as I have found that they are sometimes glued on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted May 18, 2011 http://www.ktnc.co.kr/english/viewtopic.php?t=466 not sure if they are M12 or M13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vibe 0 Posted May 19, 2011 I've given up and am just ordering different lenses from different suppliers to see what I end up with. Fortunately they are cheap enough to experiment. I looked carefully at the one I got a few years ago and the quality is really nice - when I look at the new ones I got this week, it's typical made-in-china style where they slowly start to cut corners on the quality to increase profit. Metal housing is now plastic, glass is plastic, etc. One looks like it once had a filter coating and someone must have scratched it off to make it full spectrum, which is crazy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted May 19, 2011 KLV-2812DN is the model you want, but again, not sure they come in an M12 thread. Most domes and bullets that use TND Varifocal lenses are M13. If its a fixed lens it wont have an IR Cut filter, that is placed over the camera chip. In the AI Varifocal lens the IR Cut filter is part of the Auto iris mechanism. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vibe 0 Posted May 21, 2011 I believe IR-cut can also be a coating. The bottom of the one lens I have that is actually IR-cut has a red coating. Though it may very well be a carefully mounted piece of glass on the bottom or even a plastic disc, I dunno. I'm up to a half dozen different lenses I've bought and none of them have IR-cut. I guess they just don't do it anymore. I found this collection which carefully lists if they have IR-cut or not, but their prices are twice ebay plus shipping, so it will be a last resort: http://www.electronics123.com/s.nl?sc=16&category=&search=lens%20filter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vibe 0 Posted May 21, 2011 Oh awesome, I'll make my own true day/night, just the price sucks: http://www.electronics123.com/s.nl/it.A/id.2901/.f http://www.electronics123.com/s.nl/it.A/id.3122/.f I'm curious how the focus can be kept since the filter in theory should slightly change the focus but I might give that a try. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted May 21, 2011 I wouldnt waste the time. I tried to remove one of the plastic IR Cut filters from the Auto Iris mechanism before and ruined it, basically fingerprints damage it. You can buy the small IR Cut glass which is used for most fixed lens cameras such as ones that come with the M12 thread, and just glue that over the CCD yourself. I found it before in different sizes when searching online. If your camera has a varifocal lens its most likely an M13 though, which I believe those KT&C varifocal lenses are. Ive only seen one camera i gutted that had the IR cut filter in the bottom of the lens holder and that was a cheap CNB bullet, most had it over the CCD itself, or in the case of the AI lens, built into the AI mechanism. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vibe 0 Posted May 21, 2011 No it's definitely M12 (and not varifocal) I would definitely not try to remove the filter (especially since I only have one lens with one and it's great quality). How thin are those glass filters though, because the lens already has to get quite close to focus - I guess I can buy an extender. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted May 21, 2011 I found this collection which carefully lists if they have IR-cut or not, but their prices are twice ebay plus shipping, so it will be a last resort: http://www.electronics123.com/s.nl?sc=16&category=&search=lens%20filter Except it seems like a typo, they say the IR Cut filter lets 850nm through for day night apps, which is incorrect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted May 21, 2011 Its cheaper just to buy a new camera with an IR Cut filter built in. Most color only cameras have a fixed IR Cut filter to block IR. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vibe 0 Posted May 21, 2011 I am trying to find something reasonable price-wise with mechanical switch filter. Need to check opinions on the Digimerge DCD110043B it's a $50 true day/night apparently: http://www.digimerge.com/images/file/Specification%20Sheet%20for%20the%20DCD110043B.pdf but maybe I should start a new thread for that Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tomcctv 190 Posted May 21, 2011 I am trying to find something reasonable price-wise with mechanical switch filter. Need to check opinions on the Digimerge DCD110043B it's a $50 true day/night apparently: http://www.digimerge.com/images/file/Specification%20Sheet%20for%20the%20DCD110043B.pdf but maybe I should start a new thread for that if they cant show real pictures on the spec sheet then all they are doing is selling crap. the picture they have on the spec sheet going day and night are the same picture colour turned black white. (same frame) how many cameras are you looking at doing. is it worth all the time money and effort. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted May 21, 2011 I am trying to find something reasonable price-wise with mechanical switch filter. Need to check opinions on the Digimerge DCD110043B it's a $50 true day/night apparently: http://www.digimerge.com/images/file/Specification%20Sheet%20for%20the%20DCD110043B.pdf but maybe I should start a new thread for that 3.6mm lens, and TDN? I'll believe it when I see it. There is ALOT of false advertising out there BTW, I bought 3 cameras from Vitek not that long ago, they claimed it was a TDN with IR Cut etc, was nothing of the kind. BTW, TDN is going to be much more than $50 in the US even at dealer cost. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vibe 0 Posted May 22, 2011 TDN is probably under a price revolution this year. The mechanical switch to move the IR-cut filter is down to $10 now http://www.dhgate.com/ir-cut-filter/r-ff8080812b51ebc8012b52d4943a0f0c.html#1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rory 0 Posted May 23, 2011 Yeah but problem is bullet and dome cameras generally dont use that type of device, in general TDN is only in AI Lens cameras and its built in with the AI Mechanism. Additionally there's alot more to a Day night camera than just blocking the IR or Removing it, thats evident with all the bad TDN cameras on the market these days. None of them can match a dual CCD though (2 separate cameras) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vin2install 0 Posted May 24, 2011 TDN is probably under a price revolution this year. The mechanical switch to move the IR-cut filter is down to $10 now http://www.dhgate.com/ir-cut-filter/r-ff8080812b51ebc8012b52d4943a0f0c.html#1 It's usually cheaper than that but that is only for box cameras. I have this one sitting here Uploaded with ImageShack.us This for bullets and domes. You can see how the AI and ICR are integrated on the lens itself. This is usually more expensive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vibe 0 Posted May 25, 2011 Oh wow nice. Where can I buy those? I just bought a couple of box cameras just to get TDN ability, oh well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites