COLOR or BLACK & WHITE..... or BOTH?!

1. What does lux mean and is it really important?

2. Why do color and black and white cameras have different lux ratings?

3. What is a "dual imaging" camera and what are its advantages & potential drawbacks?

4. Why won't color work as well in low light situations?

5. Will color cameras work with infrared light assistance?

6. Which is usually recommended for general and/or covert surveillance purposes?

Q1: I've seen "5 lux", "0.5 lux", "0.0003 lux" - what does it all mean to me?

A1: Here's where THEORETICAL vs. PRACTICAL SCIENCE can be of utmost importance. A camera's true light rating (or lux factor) is kind of an elusive specification that will generally get you into trouble when shopping specs- because so many of them sound so great "on paper" but don't necessarily work as well in the "real world". The spec generally depends on amount of light present when it was figured. Note: This is often the MOST exaggerated number you'll see. Generally speaking, however, the lower the lux rating a camera has, the better it can "see"- or produce an image- in darker places. In certain situations, "low-light" cameras can "see" even better than human beings-provided theyhave enough light that they can utilize an internal auto gain circuit which boosts the available light available. For "extreme low-light" situations- or ones that may become so, it is usually recommended to use our new black and white Sony Ex-view CCD cameras with the super low 0.0003 lux rating. No camera ever made can image a picture in complete darkness- it's impossible! For situations with NO light present, you'll need some type of extra illumination present, whether visible or Infrared.
Camera lux specs (accurate or not) are generally based on use with a "board" lens rather than a pinhole lens. This larger lens- often about the diameter of a dime, allows more light to get inside to the CCD imager. Since our newest upgrade to the newest color Sony SuperHAD and Ex-view imagers, those rules may as well be re-written because they no longer make any logical sense. Just what do you say when 0.5 lux COLOR cameras are beating 0.05 lux rated black and white units for visual definition and low light imaging ability?! QUIT GETTING SO WRAPPED UP IN NUMBERS, FOLKS. We've seen multiple revisions of cameras in which the lux and resolution "specs" haven't changed at all- but the performance sure has. We don't even deal in the last Sony revision chipset because the new one is 'night and day' better- the difference instantly distinguishable. Back to top-->

Q2: Why do color and black and white cameras have different lux ratings?

A2: Because of the ways that the technologies operate. Black and white is only trying to distinguish between light and dark, generally making it 'easier' for the image sensor to convert images into different shades of gray. Color imagers are attempting to image the true colors which may not be as visible to imager (during low light/ low-lux conditions) as those colors reside within our visible spectrum. And while our newest high resolution micro board and bullet color cameras produce excellent pictures when adequate light is present (best specs available for micro cams). For most of what you'll sadly find with the competition out there, anything less than very well-lit conditions will produce a visible graininess which may quickly dim to black even when the human eye is still imaging well. Our latest color cameras actually see BETTER than even the sharpest human eye in low light conditions. Of course- our newest black & white Ex-view cameras will see in the VERY LOWEST light possible. Back to top-->

Q3: What is a dual imaging chipset and what are its advantages and potential drawbacks?

A3: A 'dual- imaging' chipset is so named for its ability to automatically revert from imaging in color to black and white when encountering lower lighting conditions. This technology is a breakthrough as many want color in well-lit conditions, but also require lower light to pitch dark conditions- where most color cameras may either appear grainy or may not image at all. Rather than having to switch between two separate cameras for alternating light conditions, a dual imager allows the same camera to view in color when lighting is adequate, but switch to monochrome / black and white when light falls below that required for adequate color imaging.
This is also key for use with external / auxiliary Infrared (IR) spotlights and illuminators for use in conditions ranging from well-lit in daytime to pitch black (or zero lux) at night. We currently offer 3 cameras with this color to monochrome (or 'day night' circuitry) technology- our #CC-X2 covert pinhole board camera and our weatherproof #IR-5HAD or #IR-5EX, with over 45' of infrared illumination (in monochrome only since color DOES NOT WORK with infrared assisted illumination).
However, 2 things must be mentioned about this technology. One drawback to the dual imager is that it tends to revert from color to black & white / monochrome mode in conditions where the color-only cameras would still be producing a very vivid color. Also- we like our new color-only cameras as well as the monochrome picture offered with the CC-X2HAD. So, any more- we only recommend the dual cams for uses where Infrared illumination is required. Back to top-->

Q4: Why won't color work as well in low light situations?

A4: For the reasons mentioned above in question 2. Back to top-->

Q5: Will color work with Infrared light assistance?

A5: No- the nature of the way colors are imaged doesn't allow it. Only black and white (monochrome) CCD imaging can be combined successfully with Infrared lighting. Any time you see or hear the words "color" and "Infrared" in the same camera, it must either have two separate cameras OR incorporate the new "dual" imaging chipset technology where the color imager automatically reverts to monochrome / BW when lux falls below a certain threshold (i.e. our #CC-X2, IR-5EX, & IR-5HAD). Back to top-->

Q6: Which is usually recommended for general and/or covert surveillance purposes?

A6: Black and white cameras have typically been recommended for general covert surveillance purposes since they tend to feature both higher resolution and lower lux ratings (light requirements). When gathering what may turn out to be critical evidence- it could be that extra bit of difference that makes all the difference. However, it is important to note that high resolution and actual low lux imaging found in our newest color cameras are BREAKING DOWN the barriers of the past. The latest upgrades to Sony's color SuperHAD and Ex-View chipset imagers are bringing sharp color viewing to environments once reserved ONLY for black and white. The newest generation of Sony 1/3" CCD image sensors actually OUTPERFORM most of the competition's black and white cameras, as crazy as that claim may sound. Back to top-->