| There are a number of aspects to look at when it | | | | parking lot. |
| comes to picking and choosing from among various | | | | One that can work at .05 LUX will be capable of |
| security cameras and their systems for operating | | | | displaying pictures from dimly-lit areas at night. |
| them. | | | | A LUX of .05 can even see better than the human |
| Whether the camera is high-definition capable or | | | | eye at night. |
| whether its cameras are able to "see" in low light | | | | So keep in mind when it comes to security cameras |
| conditions all matter. | | | | that low LUX ratings are better than high LUX, |
| In this regard, knowing what LUX has to do when it | | | | because a security camera should be able to capture |
| comes to a security camera's ability to capture an | | | | images in a low light environment for obvious security |
| image in low-light conditions is important. | | | | reasons. |
| LUX is a way of expressing the measure of any | | | | Most security professionals – when discussing |
| camera's sensitivity to light. | | | | cameras – believe that exterior or outdoor |
| It's a standardized measure and it's (LUX, that is) | | | | cameras should have low LUX ratings. |
| meant to stand for one-tenth of a foot-candle of light. | | | | Don't forget that low-LUX cameras aren't able to see |
| A foot candle is normally how light intensity is | | | | in conditions of complete darkness. |
| measured. One might say that a spotlight has 10,000 | | | | At least, they won't be able to make out much more |
| foot candles of intensity, meaning that it would be very | | | | than lumps and unclear movement. For that, the |
| bright. | | | | cameras will need to be paired with an infrared (IR) |
| When it comes to a security camera and its LUX, it's | | | | unit. |
| always better to go with one that that has as low a | | | | As IR requires no light (it "sees" on a different light |
| number as possible when it's important that a camera | | | | wavelength spectrum), it isn't rated in terms of LUX, |
| be able to pick up movement or activity in very dim | | | | because that measure is reserved for measurement |
| conditions. | | | | of visible light intensity. |
| For example a camera that's rated at 1 LUX will | | | | Any good security camera system is composed of |
| usually have no problem "seeing" during the early | | | | several components but the cameras are the most |
| evening hours or just before dusk. It won't be able to | | | | crucial element because they're the "eyes" of the |
| see in the dark, of course, which will require it to be | | | | system. |
| fitted with infrared (IR) capability in order to pull that off. | | | | If they're not versatile enough to see well, there's no |
| There are cameras that can go much lower than just | | | | hope that the system will perform to its fullest. |
| 1 LUX. | | | | Having cameras that are of sufficient quality and |
| A camera that's able to go down to .1 will be able to | | | | equipped with the ability to see at night (meaning, |
| pick out movement or an image from a nicely-lit | | | | having infrared capabilities) is of utmost importance. |