Grainy video at night and IR cut filter help

[jmcu 0]

Can anyone suggest the cause of the grainy video on camera 3.

This is only at night, The daytime video is clear.

 

These are all the same cameras 700TVL Sony Effio-P /SuperHAD II WDR Bullet CCTV - 84IR - IR CUT - 2.8-12mm

All ran the same distance with rg-56 solid copper. I have changed out the connectors and power connections, it made no change.

(maybe something in the OSD settings I missed ? )

 

Camera 2 - I was told the IR CUT filter stuck if the IR lights are on and it is still dark. The IR is on, but it is very dark unless the contrast is turned way up.

Is there a way to "unstick" the cut filter ?

 

Thanks for suggestions?

 

 

Edited April 28, 2013 by Guest

[Kawboy12R 0]

For cam 3 you might try checking to see if the noise reduction settings match your other cameras, as well as maybe shutter speed settings.

 

For cam 2, is that white light always shining? It might be that light causing automatic exposure adjustment to make the rest of the pic too dark. To my eye, it looks like cam 2 is seeing light from SOMETHING behind it shing in the same direction the camera is looking, so if there really is no light shining in the same direction as the camera then the IRs are shining, the camera is seeing IR, but the exposure is darkened down because of that pinpoint of light shining at the camera. If the OSD isn't set to auto exposure then try setting it to auto. If it IS set to auto, try looking for a way to set the exposure to auto adjust to the bottom part of the screen or maybe the left side. It'll make that light way too bright and maybe draw some vertical lines in the picture like the streetlight does in cam 1 but it should brighten up the rest of the pic.

 

If cam 2 DOES have some white lighting from behind, then maybe the cut filter is sticking. Try tapping it, slapping it, or rubbing a magnet on the sides of the camera. Possibly you've got it set somehow in the OSD to NOT retract (day mode all the time), but I think it'd look a lot lousier than it does if that were the case. My money is on the IR and cut filter working properly but you've got an exposure problem because of a funky setting and that white light.

 

If you can't adjust the settings for the IR to overpower the white light shining at it, maybe point the cam at an angle and remove that white light from the FOV or add an external IR illuminator. $10-$40 will get you a lot of extra IR, but maybe start with a low power one instead of overpowering things and whiting out close targets with a floodlight. Make sure the IR shines at least as wide as the FOV of the camera to avoid light/dark areas of coverage, or possibly use two for best results.

[jmcu 0]

Thanks Kawboy12R....

 

I will recheck the OSD settings. Would the noise reduction settings be called something else ?

 

Cam 2 only has cam 3 behind it , back to back, so no light is pointing in that direction. I think it is the cams IR that is shinning , just don't seem to be to strong or like you said darkening up because of that light. The light in the distance is the same streetlight in cam one, and it is always on.

I tried to smack it a few times and it seemed to brighten up a little better that it was, I will try the magnet. I do know it is set to auto for day/night.

[Kawboy12R 0]

It might be related to a blur setting. Low blur is generally = high noise. Exposure might be locked at 1/60th or faster. 1/30th is generally a good compromise exposure speed to balance blurring. Long exposure gives less noise but more blurring. Also, are you sure cam 2's IR is actually shining? The filter might be fine but the lights are dim or even off. With cam 3 behind cam 2, cam 2 might be seeing only cam 3's distant light if its LEDs aren't functioning from defect or setting.

[jmcu 0]

I was able to turn off the ATR after reading it may cause noise at night, I also found the NR setting and turned it on to high.

I will have to see tonight when it gets dark to see if there is any change

 

As far as the IR on 2, I have been working nights so I wasn't able to check at night, but I tossed a shirt over the camera and was able to see the lights on, they seemed a bit dim but they worked. I was also able to hear clicking when covered, would that be the cut filter ? I changed some settings on this one as well.. I will see in a few hours..

[Kawboy12R 0]

The clicking will be the cut filter moving. It's a mechanical thing, basically just a piece of glass that blocks infrared light. Hearing the click is a good thing. So is seeing the red LEDs, although it'd be nice to find an easy answer quickly. It'll probably be a pain to go out in the woods and hook up a monitor to see the OSD of the camera and fiddle with the settings. Not sure what you've got for battery powered equipment but the last time I checked most of my trees didn't have 110v receptacles for plugging in toys. There's one major plus to network cameras- you can fiddle with their settings from just about anywhere that's got internet and see the results from the comfort of your La-Z-Boy. That's not exactly common with analogs.

[jmcu 0]

lol

 

Your right about not having 110v in the woods.. I am running solar power to a 150ah battery..

It was a real pain in the butt adjusting the OSD from a cell phone with crappy 3g spotty connection, but after 3hrs and a dead phone I was able to adjust a few settings.

The noise is gone on cam 3 so I am real happy about that one.... ( thanks )

 

Cam 2 looks a lot brighter.. I turned the backlight to HLC. You can see it is trying to block out the streetlight. So I guess the IR in turn is a lot brighter.

But I am still not to happy with the clarity. Still a little tweaking for this one.

 

Cam 4 I didn't adjust yet .. It is not a Effio just a 700TVL Sony ..

 

I did get the bug for a IP camera so I have one on the way...a Dahua SD6982A-HN 2MP. But this one is not going in the woods...

 

[Kawboy12R 0]

Glad it's working better and good luck. I should've thought about mentioning BLC etc as well. At least it's probably too early in the season for you to be fighting skeeters as well as dead batteries.

[blakem 0]

I had a suggestion for camera 1. If you angle it down toward the ground more so the street light is out of frame it will eliminate the lens flare and increase the contrast at night. It would also give more coverage of the ground and not sky.

[jmcu 0]

blakem

 

Thanks for the suggestion..

That camera is going to be changed out soon. I will keep that in mind.