| B/W |
Security cameras can “see” colors only if the ambient lighting level is high enough. CCTV Security cameras that are rated for night use (the so-called night-vision cameras) can record pictures in low-intensity ambient lighting conditions by illuminating the scene with infrared LEDs. However, they can’t distinguish colors under infrared light. |
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| Full Color |
So even a color CCTV camera will get black-and-white pictures when it’s dark. Some high-end cameras have limited support for color output even in low ambient lighting conditions, but even that will only take you so far. |
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| Auto, B/W⇔Color |
Night-vision IR security cameras have a sensor that measures the ambient light. This sensor determines when to switch the camera between color recording and IR / night vision recording. If there is not enough ambient light hitting the sensor, the camera will record in IR / night vision mode. |
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