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D-Link IP Cameras for Home => DCS series Network Cameras => Topic started by: scdigger on November 07, 2013, 08:04:38 AM

Title: Shooting Outside Through the Window...
Post by: scdigger on November 07, 2013, 08:04:38 AM
Hey guys. I've got one of my cameras (932L) covering our backyard/swimming pool area, but have it sitting on the window sill inside the house. Great picture during the day, but when it gets dark and night mode kicks in, all I get is a reflection of the camera off the window.

Here's my thought, would covering the IR lights on the camera with something like electrical tape, and then maybe putting an external IR light somewhere illuminating the yard solve my problem?

Anybody done this? Experience? Thanks, in advance, for your input.

GT
Title: Re: Shooting Outside Through the Window...
Post by: JavaLawyer on November 07, 2013, 04:09:00 PM
Network Camera FAQ Board: DCS Network Cameras - LEDs Reflect Off My Window at Night and Wash-Out the Image (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=47699.0)

Additionally, you'll have to do some searching on these boards, but there are posts from users recommending various IR illuminator specifications.
Title: Re: Shooting Outside Through the Window...
Post by: rstark18 on January 15, 2014, 10:03:39 PM
Are there any issues with PIR detection when shooting through a window?
Title: Re: Shooting Outside Through the Window...
Post by: RYAT3 on January 16, 2014, 08:01:04 AM
Are there any issues with PIR detection when shooting through a window?

That would be easy to test.
Title: Re: Shooting Outside Through the Window...
Post by: rstark18 on January 16, 2014, 08:22:37 AM
To answer my own question... apparently so. I can't get it to detect through a window. Too bad
Title: Re: Shooting Outside Through the Window...
Post by: JavaLawyer on January 16, 2014, 08:28:17 AM
Whether PIR will or will not work depends on the glass. Most windows will reflect IR (to some degree) unless the glass is truly transparent. That said, more traditional image-based motion detection should work fine.
Title: Re: Shooting Outside Through the Window...
Post by: rstark18 on January 16, 2014, 08:30:25 AM
The problem I'm having with motion detection is every once in a while the colorbalance of the 2332L will shift triggering an event. This seems to be happening 4-5 times a day.
Title: Re: Shooting Outside Through the Window...
Post by: JavaLawyer on January 16, 2014, 08:34:33 AM
The problem I'm having with motion detection is every once in a while the colorbalance of the 2332L will shift triggering an event. This seems to be happening 4-5 times a day.


If you are only concerned about capturing motion detection triggers, you can try leaving the camera in Night Mode and see if the gray scale video helps.
Title: Re: Shooting Outside Through the Window...
Post by: JavaLawyer on January 16, 2014, 08:53:00 AM

The problem I'm having with motion detection is every once in a while the colorbalance of the 2332L will shift triggering an event. This seems to be happening 4-5 times a day.

If you are only concerned about capturing motion detection triggers, you can try leaving the camera in Night Mode and see if the gray scale video helps.


If you decide to test this approach, please post back and let us know if that reduces or eliminates the false positives.    :-\
Title: Re: Shooting Outside Through the Window...
Post by: RYAT3 on January 16, 2014, 12:07:45 PM
To answer my own question... apparently so. I can't get it to detect through a window. Too bad

Yeah my glass window would pick up reflections of me on the inside...
Title: Re: Shooting Outside Through the Window...
Post by: JavaLawyer on January 16, 2014, 12:13:02 PM
Yeah my glass window would pick up reflections of me on the inside...

PIR detects IR radiation from heat emission. Under the right circumstances, a truly transparent glass pane can have optical reflection, yet accurately work with PIR motion detection.