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Can security cameras see at night?
Updated
Yes. Most cameras light the scene with infrared, which people cannot see, and show it in black and white. Color night vision needs some light, from a built-in spotlight, a porch light or a very sensitive sensor. The night range on a listing is a claim for spotting that something is there, not for telling who it is.
Black and white vs color
Reolink's support page describes the usual setup. In Auto mode, the camera shows color when there is enough light and switches to black and white in low light. You can force color or black and white by hand, but forcing color in a dark yard just gives you a dark picture unless there is light to work with.
| Type | How it works | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Infrared | Invisible light from the camera | Black and white. Works in full darkness |
| Spotlight color | A visible light turns on | Color, and it can scare people off. It can also bother you or the neighbors |
| Low-light sensor | Uses light that is already there | Needs a street light or porch light nearby |
Night range claims
- Tapo C50098 feet
- REOLINK Argus PT33 feet
Neither listing says how a face looks at that distance. Plan to identify people at a fraction of the claimed range, and test it by walking past at night after you mount the camera.
What our picks list for night
- The WYZE Cam v4 listing says a Starlight sensor and a 72 lumen spotlight give full color at night. Caveat: a light that turns on with motion may annoy the house next door.
- The REOLINK Argus PT lists color night vision and a 33 foot night range. Caveat: it only sees where it is pointed at that moment.
- The Tapo C500 claims the longest night range in our group. Caveat: it records at 1080p, so far faces will be soft.
Five ways to get better night video
- Add light. A porch light or motion light often does more than a sharper camera.
- Mount closer to the door or gate you care about.
- Keep the lens clean. Dirt, water spots and cobwebs on the lens blur night video.
- Keep bright lights out of the frame. Reolink's page on false alarms lists reflections and strong light sources as triggers too.
- Reading a license plate at night is hard for any home camera. Aim at a spot where cars slow down and add light.
More on picking a camera: 2K vs 4K, the storage calculator, and the six picks.
Privacy and the law: Infrared and spotlights reach farther than you may think. Aim at your own property and keep neighbors' windows out of the frame. Rules on recording audio differ by state. This is general information, not legal advice.