| News seems to be coming out daily about popular | | | | performance allow filming in ultra low light using only |
| uses of a personal night vision camcorder. Camcorder | | | | existing visible light without the need for some other |
| technology is constantly improving and hardly a day | | | | type of illumination. |
| goes by without another new announcement of a | | | | This ability for a night vision camcorder to be able to |
| new improvement in current technology, or a | | | | 'film in the dark' using only the small amount of available |
| completely new discovery. | | | | visible light is coming closer and closer to being |
| The design of CCD image sensors used in night vision | | | | marketed at pricing that will allow mass sales in the |
| camcorders is a highly researched field. Manufacturers | | | | consumer market. |
| worldwide are researching new and previously | | | | Many current camcorders use sensors that are |
| unexplored areas to find faster and better ways to | | | | sensitive to infrared light. Infrared is invisible to the |
| build low light and no light sensors. Making the sensors | | | | human eye, so it is possible to augment the lighting with |
| more effective while finding new means of keeping | | | | infrared illuminators that are either built into the camera |
| the cost of manufacture as low as possible has been | | | | or by using a separate infrared light source. While this |
| driving a number of new innovations. | | | | allows filming in the dark the cost of providing the extra |
| It is estimated that the worldwide market for CCD | | | | IR light is a factor that has to be considered. |
| units will exceed two billion units within the next three | | | | This makes the news of new visible light technology |
| years. | | | | sensors very interesting. While you may not find a |
| More and more manufacturers are making advances | | | | consumer priced night vision camcorder that truly gives |
| in sensors that use only the available visible light to | | | | high performance filming in near total darkness on the |
| record in what the eye perceives as a no light situation. | | | | shelves of your local electronics store today, it will |
| Ultra low light performance is enhanced when the | | | | probably not be that much longer before affordable |
| sensor in the camcorder or camera either increases | | | | units will be available. |
| the accuracy of its photon capturing ability, or | | | | A few years ago, the idea of having an affordable |
| enhances the sensor performance to enable faster | | | | night vision video camera was unthinkable. Now it |
| capturing of photons. Both these measures are | | | | seems that units that will have amazing capabilities are |
| factors that determine the quality of the final video | | | | only a few years, or perhaps a few months, in the |
| image. High quality internal sensors with fast | | | | future. |