Just Sharing My Progress

[smithb]

Hi @smithb

Is it possible to add a little more light to your porch at night? It may not take much more ambient light to improve the color image.

I could leave the porch light on, but I like to shut it off at night to indicate that visiting hours are over. I’m still testing things out but I may put a small IR flood in the ceiling and another one on the driveway.

 

[mat200]

I could leave the porch light on, but I like to shut it off at night to indicate that visiting hours are over. I’m still testing things out but I may put a small IR flood in the ceiling and another one on the driveway.

Hi Smithb,

Maybe a dimmer porch light which remains on after you turn the main one off?

 

[bigredfish]

Hi @smithb

Is it possible to add a little more light to your porch at night? It may not take much more ambient light to improve the color image.

+1 on the porch light , I leave mine all night with a beefy led bulb. One more reason for the average druggie or BG to go to another house without... and the added benefit of nighttime full color captures.

 

[Sybertiger]

I see some folks want the lights off for best night time IR quality. And, I understand it's important to maximize quality of the recording in case something happens on your property. Call me weird but I think a more brightly lit property equals less crime. Why hit up a brightly lit house and risk being seen when you can go to a property that sits in the dark.

I'm not trying to set up a trap to record crooks in high quality rather I'd like to discourage criminals to begin with. Anyhow, it's a different way to look at it. There's probably a good balance to discourage crime yet be able to record crooks.

 

[smithb]

I don’t really see lighting as a deterrent at all. My goal is exclusively to capture the best video possible. If IR produces the better picture then I will use IR. If visible light does then I’ll use visible light. I just need to do some more testing to see what produces the best picture.

 

[mat200]

I don’t really see lighting as a deterrent at all. My goal is exclusively to capture the best video possible. If IR produces the better picture then I will use IR. If visible light does then I’ll use visible light. I just need to do some more testing to see what produces the best picture.

If you need it for evidence, at least one good color image / video capture to ID is very useful as IR mode is a bit harder to use to ID.

This is why I try to make certain I have at least a couple of cameras in color mode at the front of the house.