Color Night Vision Security Cameras: How They Work & Best Picks in 2022

"I'm looking for a color night vision security camera. Anyone knows of a brand that offers it?"

Actually, almost all IP cameras can record color videos at night (require manual settings).

BUT, it is the image sensors that directly affect the video quality and tell the security cameras with color night vision from the regular ones.

The full color night vision security cameras, normally packed with advanced starlight image sensors, can deliver true color images and videos in low-light conditions, allowing you to identify such details as human faces and license plate numbers.

Now, let's get down to how color night vision cameras work, the comparison between true color night vision cameras and regular night vision ones, and a ton of other things you should know.

• How Do Color Night Vision Security Cameras Work
• Color Night Vision IP Cameras vs. Regular Night Vision Cameras
• Quick Tips to Manually Set up Color Night Vision Recording
• How to Choose Security Cameras with Color Night Vision
• Recommended Color Night Vision Security Cameras
• Your Color Night Vision Cameras Not Working? Try These Methods

How Do Color Night Vision Security Cameras Work

The color night vision security cameras, thanks to the powerful image sensors which are highly sensitive to light, allow the sensors to absorb much more visible light.

So the color night vision IP cameras can remain capturing color images or videos in low-lit locations, while the regular cameras would automatically shift to black and white mode when lighting conditions drop at night.

But color night vision may NOT always be possible.

For the color night vision CCTV cameras, ambient lighting such as a porch light or street light, is required to produce color images and videos at night.

Color Night Vision Security Cameras vs. Regular Night Vision Security Cameras

For most of you, good night vision of a security camera is perhaps why you buy it in the first place.

That begs the question…

Should you choose color night vision security cameras or regular ones?

After looking through the comparison between security cameras with color night vision and regular night vision cameras, you'll naturally draw your conclusions.

Image Quality: The full-color images of colour night vision CCTV cameras feature better contrast effect in low-light places, so you can gain more visual details to easily identify potential suspects, vehicles or other objects compared with regular cameras.

To make you understand better about the differences between color night vision security cameras and regular ones, you may watch the videos on the comparison of Reolink Argus 2 (with color night vision) and Reolink Argus Pro (with traditional night vision).

Installation Scenarios: As noted above, the wireless outdoor color night vision security camera systems need minimal light to deliver color images at night.

If you intend to monitor areas that are illuminated with strong street lights or some other light source, the color night vision security cameras are absolutely the best options.

Or in case there is no ambient light at all, the infrared IP cameras with the 0 Lux rating, like Reolink RLC-410, can also deliver high quality video in total darkness.

Price: This is a myth you need to recognize – full color night vision security cameras don't always cost more money than the regular cameras.

For example, you can even buy the high quality color night vision security camera Reolink Argus 2 below USD $130.

And there are various money-saving tips you may employ to get a budget-friendly infrared color night vision camera.

Essentially, it all comes down to just being a smart buyer to select the most suitable and cost-effective security cameras with color night vision (introduced below).

Quick Tips to Manually Set up Color Night Vision Recording

While many color night vision security cameras can automatically record color images or videos at night, some may require manual settings to do the trick.

Taking Reolink Argus 2 security camera with color night vision for example, below are simple steps to manually set up color video recording at night on your smartphone (within 1 minute).

Step 1: Launch Reolink App on your mobile phone and click the security camera with color night vision you want to set up.

Step 2: Tap the image icon and you will see three options "Color", "Black & White" and "Auto".

Step 3: Switch to the "Color" mode and the full color night vision security cameras will deliver true color images at night.

Similarly, you can also set up Reolink color night vision IP cameras on your PC in a breeze.

Step 1: Start Reolink Client on your PC and click the color night vision security camera you'd like to configurate.

Step 2: Click the "Image" under "Basic Settings", and choose "Color" in the "Day/Night" column.

Now you can expect to get full color images day and night from you color night vision CCTV cameras.

How to Choose Security Cameras with Color Night Vision

The following section discusses how to choose the best color night vision security cameras, hoping to provide the guidance you need to choose a right product.

1. Factor in These Terms of Full Color Night Vision Security Cameras First

Yes, technical terms of color night vision security cameras are boring, dull and incomprehensible.

Yet, they are also helpful to tell whether the security cameras with color night vision present improved images and videos at night.

Here we've listed some important terms about CCTV wireless hidden color night vision security cameras you should check out before your purchase.

And don't worry, though, we will explain them in a simplified manner, so that you can easily understand even if you're a layman.

• Resolution: The higher resolution a color night vision video camera has, the better image quality it can present, and the more visible details you can get.

To obtain the desired high quality images and videos, select the high resolution night vision security cameras (at least 1080p) as your first choice.

Below is the image captured by the 1080p security camera with color night vision, Reolink Argus 2.

• IR range: It indicates how far the color night vision security cameras can see in ambient lighting.

As a rule of thumb, it is recommended to choose long range color night vision security camera systems to see further, meaning you'll have a better shot to capture the suspects or objects at a distance.

• 3D DNR: This is a kind of noise reduction technology to reduce image noise in both static and moving images, allowing you to get clearer images and more accurate details.
• Wide Dynamic Range: The color night vision surveillance cameras with WDR (wide dynamic range) technology can balance light for improved images and videos. So they are most ideal for the high-contrast lighting locations.
• IR Cut Filter: The infrared cut filter is designed to ensure that the color night vision cameras provide true color reproduction, so that you can obtain high quality images and videos day and night.
• Filed of View: The larger the field of view is, the wider areas your outdoor wireless color night vision security camera can cover.

In other words, if you need to monitor large areas with one single camera, then the full color night vision security cameras with wide field of view would be your best bet.

Sum up: All the technical terms above normally can be found in the product specifications.

Or if you're unsure whether the color night vision IP cameras have these features, you may directly consult the sellers to figure it out.

2. Decide on Where to Place Color Night Vision Security Cameras

A useful thing to ask: "Where would I install the color night vision security cameras?"

This question can lead you to decide on which type of color night vision CCTV cameras you should buy, indoor or outdoor?

Indoors: For the indoor infrared security cameras with color night vision, note that never place the cameras behind glass and windows, which may lead to washed-out and blurry images. (Read this to learn the fixes.)

And if you place the color night vision security cameras in your kids' room, they might be scared of the red glow at night.

Blocking the red circle of your color night vision security system with tape, obviously, would make you see nothing at night and defeat your purpose to buy it in the first place.

A feasible method is to get an IR light that can be placed anywhere in the room and turn off the IR light on the color night vision cameras.

Outdoors: The outdoor color night vision security cameras should be at least IP 65 weatherproof to brave all the elements and extreme cold or heat. (Also check out the security cameras that can survive cold weather.)

It's more favorable if the wireless outdoor color night vision security camera systems are packed with protective housing or skins.

For one thing, the color night vision rainproof security cameras can be protected from man-made vandalism and natural disasters.

For another, they can easily blend into the environment and serve as CCTV wireless hidden color night vision security cameras.

3. Watch Video Samples of Security Cameras with Color Night Vision

Subjective promotion ads vs. objective user video samples, which would you trust?

The latter, I bet.

After all, not all outdoor color night vision security camera systems are created equal. Compared with what the seller claims, user video samples are far more reliable for you to judge the camera performance.

Reolink seems to resonate with you on this very matter.

And that's also one of the original purposes of its Reolink Captures Program, where you can enjoy the interesting color night vision IP camera videos uploaded by real users and check out the camera video quality at the same time.

This video program has been receiving favorable responses from the users worldwide. And here we pick up one user video sample of its color night vision security camera Reolink Argus 2 for your reference.

4. Read Color Night Vision Camera Reviews

As with the user video samples, the media reviews of security cameras with color night vision are also credible to distinguish the camera performance.

Generally, the third-party media reviews are the testing results for weeks and even months, so they are trust-worthy and can offer you professional insights into the full color night vision security cameras with pros and cons.

Now let's look at color night vision security camera reviews of Reolink Argus 2 by the top tier media Make Use of.

"The Argus 2 is well-made and easy to set up, but most importantly it gives you the flexibility of moving your cameras around whenever you like – without the worry of wiring up power each time."

Recommended Color Night Vision Security Cameras

Here we've picked up two best color night vision security cameras based on the above standards.

1. Reolink Argus 2 – Battery Powered Security Camera with Color Night Vision

Reolink Argus 2 earns its place as the best overall color night vision security camera on the market with the combination of great image quality at night and its design.

This full color night vision security camera tops our list with the 1080p Full HD resolution stretching up to 33 feet in the darkness.

What is more appealing is that, it is a rechargeable battery-powered security camera and offers the add-on solar panel, so you don't need to worry about the batteries dead when you need the camera most.

Night Vision Specs:

• Resolution: 1080p Full HD
• Night Vision Range: 33 feet
• Field of View: 130° wide viewing angle
• 3D DNR: yes
• Wide Dynamic Range: yes
• IR Cut Filter: yes

Watch the video below to check out the color night vision of Reolink Argus 2.

Reolink Argus 2

100% Wire-Free Starlight Camera

Rechargeable Battery & Solar Powered; Outdoor/Indoor Protection; 1080 Full HD; Starlight Night Vision; 2-Way Audio; Live View Anytime Anywhere.

Learn More

2.Reolink Go – Cellular Color Night Vision Camera That Works Without Internet

This color night vision security camera Reolink Go is where affordability meets reliability.

Its 1080p high resolution, 33 feet night vision range, and 110° wide viewing angle are just a few reasons it snags the best value color night vision IP camera (also shares the other night vision specs as Reolink Argus 2).

What's unique about this full color night vision security camera is that it can work perfectly without WiFi network and power. So you can monitor your barns, farms, shed, construction sites, vacation homes, boats, hotels, etc. on your cell phones at night.

Watch the video below to check out the image quality of this cellular color night vision security camera (shared by a user Jens on his Youtube channel).

Reolink Go

100% Wire-Free 3G/4G LTE Mobile Camera

No WiFi & Power Needed; Rechargeable Battery or Solar Powered; 1080p Full HD; Starlight Night Vision; 2-Way Audio; Live View Anytime Anywhere.

Learn More

Your Color Night Vision Security Cameras Not Working? Try These Methods

It could be multiple reasons responsible for your color night vision security camera not working. Use the following practical tips to help troubleshoot the problem.

• Make sure your security cameras with color night are installed in places with external light sources nearby, as they require minimum illumination to work properly.
• Check the power supply and WiFi connection of the color night vision cameras carefully.
• Ensure that the full color night vision security camera and its image sensors are not obstructed, otherwise the obstructions can prevent adequate ambient light from reaching the image sensors.
• Examine your color night vision IP camera lens to see if there is any dirt, dust, spider webs, etc. Clean the camera lens with a soft microfiber cloth.
• Update your color night vision CCTV cameras to the latest firmware and also download the newest software.
• If the above tricks still don't work, you may contact the camera sellers for technical support.

Still have any questions about the color night vision security cameras? We've always been here to welcome all your ideas, questions or anything you'd like to share!