Question regarding domes & the sun...

[camera-newbie 0]

So, I had a question that is more general in nature I suppose.. I've got an existing analog dome camera (CNB) that points more or less due west (or close to it). It works fine when the sun is high in the sky (and mornings) but quickly becomes virtually useless once the sun gets low in the sky and causes the captured image to be almost worthless due to excessive glare.

 

Now, before you designers jump on my case with "I told you so", I'm sure some of you must have dome cameras that must look into the general direction of the setting sun -- how do you avoid nasty glare? Yes, I realize I could swap the camera out for a bullet camera with a large enough sun visor to prevent the issue but I like the inconspicuous look of the domes compared to the rather large bullet enclosures available (my only bullet enclosure mounts a super small Basler and is still the size of a Pelco enclosure -- e.g. BIG)..

 

At this point I'm tempted to relocate this CNB camera to have a different task so that it does NOT look into the sun but would still like a replacement camera that can do a similar job without the glare issues and still be small to not be noticeable --- a conversation for a different thread.

[shockwave199 0]

I don't think anything can be done really. Domes get nasty glare lines and bullets tend to wash out white. WDR will only go so far with full on sun blast. Might have to try a different angle or mount location. In fact for wide open FOV's, a bit higher up looking down and keeping the sky mostly out of the picture can help a lot. Even tree tops aren't needed. Account for the tallest truck you might see and aim the shot no higher. Good luck.

[Kawboy12R 0]

My CNBs point north, not west, but I was wondering if your dome was perfectly clean inside and out. Any film or dirt would make your problem greater. Also, looking directly into the light would make a cam with wide dynamic range an asset. Any detail you'd like to capture would be shadowed with sun in the background. Sun shielding to prevent physical glare on whatever lens cover there is would also be great, either a bullet with sliding top shield or something added to help shade a dome if it's looking a reasonable amount downwards. Aim down as much as you can.

[camera-newbie 0]

Thanks guys.. I actually have another camera on the peak of the roof -- an older Basler IP camera that does in fact have a large sun shield and does point down quite a bit and the sun is no issue at all because of the aiming + sun shield. I think I've decided to just mount another camera elsewhere to capture similar FOV but from perhaps another side..

 

The particular dome in question is probably dirty at this point due to being rained on as it'll get the brunt of rain IF there is any sort of wind blowing at the same time so a little external dome cleaning is likely in order.

 

If I get a chance I'll post a pic of what gets captured now -- just for your amusement..