How to Buy a Camcorder With Night Vision
A camcorder with night vision can record video in very low light situations, such as camping and nighttime hunting. It can also record in total darkness. These cameras collect infrared light that the human eye cannot see and then focus it on one point in much the same way that a magnifying glass can focus sunlight onto paper and start a fire. An internal mechanism in the camcorder intensifies the available light so it can be used. Images taken with a night vision camcorder will not be as sharp as those captured in moderate to bright light. You also will not get full-color video and night vision simultaneously.
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Instructions
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Review the technology that facilitates night vision in the camcorder. Modern cameras with night vision mainly use infrared image enhancement for transient light sources or thermal imaging, a technology that relies on heat sensors. These technologies boost or amplify any available light that the camcorder can sense. Older technologies rely on slowing down the shutter speed to increase the amount of light that reaches the camcorder, commonly producing blurry images, especially when your subject is in motion.
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Look for a statement on the product packaging that indicates the camcorder has a lux, or light, rating of zero. A camcorder with a low lux rating does not have true night-vision capabilities. Some manufacturers offer camcorders with enhanced night-vision modes. These devices have better capabilities than those with only one night mode.
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Check the manufacturer's distance rating for the camcorder. Regardless of which technology the camera uses for night vision, even the best models will require that you be no more than 5 to 10 feet from your subject.
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Review the color capabilities in night-vision mode. Infrared videos often have a greenish tint, but some camcorders accept manufacturer or third-party attachments that help distinguish basic colors such as red, green and blue.
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Ask if the camcorder can transmit the images that it recognizes to the viewfinder or its LCD screen. This feature is important for scene composition and angle adjustments that you might need to make. Without this feature, in complete darkness, you will not know what you are recording.
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Inquire about the camcorder’s night-vision power consumption. Night mode requires that a camcorder do additional work while recording. This could mean that you’ll need extra or high-capacity batteries.
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Obtain information about the effect that other features, such as high-definition, may have on the camcorder’s night-vision capabilities. Find out if image stabilization, zoom and auto-focus are available in night-vision mode.
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Tips & Warnings
Thermal imaging for night vision captures video better when you are filming warm-blooded subjects, such as people or animals. You will have less success using this technology with houses, trees or bodies of water.
Putting your camcorder on a tripod can increase the amount of light it collects and improve image transmission to the camcorder’s lens.
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