Introduction
If you’re one of those people who uses a dashcam in your car, you’ve likely not had much luck with night vision. With all the bright headlights and high-powered stoplights, your camera’s infrared sensor has trouble turning off all the other things that emit visible light and block your view. But what if there was an easy way for you to get rid of this blinding glare altogether? Well, there is.
You can get a pair of infrared lights that attach to your dashcam and throw an invisible barrier in front of it. They’re called night vision goggles, and they’re worth looking into. But they’re not cheap, nor are they easy to use.
Is IR Light Effective?
It’s a common misconception that IR light is only helpful in low-light conditions. This is not the case. While they’re certainly most useful under cover of darkness, they can be turned on during the day as well. As long as no bright lights are shining into your camera’s sensor, you’ll be able to see things clearly in front of you.
However, if you find yourself surrounded by too much light, you may need to turn it off until the sun goes down or everyone else hides inside their homes. Remember that there are some things that IR light cannot keep out of your line of sight for whatever reason. For example, if you’re driving through a wooded area and you find yourself surrounded by a bunch of trees, their thick trunks will block your view, and you’ll have to turn off your dashcam’s IR lights.
You also may want to know that it may be hard for this camera to focus on smaller items. This night vision is only suitable for close-up objects, so make sure they’re several feet away from your car before testing things out yourself.
IR light is also critical if you want to know details such as license plates at night. It is handy in knowing small yet essential details.
What if I Keep the Infrared Light Next to the Cam?
If you’re worried about how well your camera is doing, it’s maybe time for an upgrade. The problem with infrared light is that it causes glare and blocks any signals coming back to the dashcam from the outside world. This shouldn’t be much of a problem in clear daylight since you still have all the other things outside that can illuminate your surroundings and relay light sensor information. But if you live in complete darkness or have minimal ambient lighting, infrared might be a detriment to your recordings.
To combat these problems, dashcams usually include some forms of illumination in their designs. Some high-end models include additional IR lights that are built into the body itself. Some dashcams also let you install a separate IR light with its battery and be attached to the camera. If you’re going to go this route, though, make sure your dashcam is compatible with a separate IR source before you do so.
What you do have to consider, though, is how much light you want to endure. If your dashcam randomly starts recording when there’s only a little more than an hour of sunlight left in the day, then this additional illumination could cause problems.
If you keep the Infrared lights next to the camera, it’ll need to produce twice as much light as it would if put directly next to the camera. That’s why some dashcams don’t include it at all (they use a separate IR illuminator), or they have their own infrared illuminators built-in just for that purpose. That way, there’s no need for any additional external lighting source if you can’t get away with using one.
If you want to be extra cautious about the quality of your recordings in nighttime conditions, it might be best to keep the additional infrared lights next to the camera while you’re driving. If you think it’s okay to use an external infrared light instead of having that feature built into your dashcam, then feel free to do so. Just be aware that they might not give off as much light as if they were mounted next to the camera itself. If you don’t want any other infrared rays at all, mount them a few inches from your camera and hope for the best!
How Could I Improve My Night Vision?
Before deciding whether or not to get a separate infrared light for your dashcam, there are some other things you should think about first. First of all, you’ll need to figure out what exactly your needs are. Which is more important to you: an incredible night recording or good nighttime visibility? If you want both a clear recording and full, usable night vision, go for the second option. If you’re only concerned about your visibility during the day, then it’s probably best to stick with your regular dashcam and keep an infrared light on hand just in case.
Another thing to consider is whether or not it’s worth getting a separate dash cam at all. This depends mainly on how much money you have available. Most people who have recently started using dashcams are shocked at how expensive they are compared to car cams of the past. For many people, it’s more cost-effective to upgrade their current dashcam or install a new one, especially if it already has an infrared sensor.
If you decide to go with a separate IR light, make sure that it’s the same brand as your dashcam. Different brands have different ways of communicating with lights, which means that they’re not always compatible. It’s also essential to choose a racing camera with Night vision so you could see the road clearly and drive safely at night time.
Best Night Vision Dashcams:
Moreover, if you want to buy night vision dashcams separately, then let us tell you about all the infrared cameras
1. DODOGEARS Car Cameras and GPS
This is a device that has been providing the best possible care to owners for years, and it has this year also put out a new upgraded version of itself, which is now even better in quality lighting system than before. It provides a dual dash cam which includes a rear camera supporting night vision, and a front view camera, which can be another perfect option for most people to see what’s going on after dark. It also supports micro sd card options. This is one of the best available cams with night vision on the market.
2. Nextbase 512GW wireless to go dashcam with Night vision
This camera has the excellent feature of working with GPS and wifi, meaning that it can connect to both the GPS outside and be connected to a wifi router in your home or office. This can be very good if you want to do things like access footage over the internet anytime and anywhere in the world. It can also support up to 4K videos, making it one of the best for recording quality videos when you are out. The best feature is its night mode.
3. Nextbase WB-300 Wireless Dashcam
This is a somewhat cheaper version of the Nextbase that manages to develop up to 1080p high-quality video, which will be very good for those that aren’t too high on budget. It can also support night vision, which will be excellent for those who don’t like driving at night.
4. Veilside G1W-2 Wireless Dashcam
It is a good product with good specs to use for your vehicle. It has built-in wifi, so you can easily view and share recordings on your mobile device. The camera is also easy to set up, and if there’s poor lighting in your car, it automatically switches into night mode as soon as it detects dim light. This dashcam has been designed for both front and rear views, so that’s helpful for those who drive different cars at different times of the day or have additional drivers in their families.
Conclusion:
On final notes, it is up to you to place an external IR light or buying an upgraded camera, both ways are helpful, and you should decide. We have also covered how IR light works with dashcams so you can make a sound decision.
FAQs:
Q. Does night vision work in bright daylight?
A. Yes, it does and very well too. However, early recordings may reveal some strange artifacts as the automatic white balance, and exposure compensation algorithms learn to adjust to current conditions. It is this that also accommodates the infrared gain. The better the camera, the quicker this occurs, for it, learns fast.
Q. Can a dash cam be used for night vision rather than recording video?
A. No, unless it is a thermal imaging camera, all other types of cameras require a light source from which they can capture an image and process information about what is being illuminated by this light source.
Q. Is increasing IR light helps increase night vision?
A. That’s mostly what it does, but even the best camera with a mighty IR led will struggle in total darkness. It needs to be bright enough to pick up something other than blackness, which may not happen in all cases. In very dim lighting, it tends to wash out anything it captures simply, and that is why the best camera constantly has an automatic gain control working on its sensor. The video thus becomes less effective when compared with daylight recordings.