Low light level image intensifier DSP or circuit needed

[Nigel Banks]

Does anyone know of a way to get a brighter image from a low light level
source using a small camera.
I have tried using several "low light level" pencil cameras, including some
expensive professional ones but they always seem to be slightly darker than
a modern DV camera which is a bit too large for my use due to confined
spaces. Getting a camera with a lux sensitivity level does not seem to be
sufficient. I have not found any where I can reduce the shutter time below
50Hz to get more light (other than USB outputs but I need video output). I
just need to brighten up the image an F-stop or two. Some cameras seem to be
very bright but they seem to have internal compensation which has no effect
when the whole image goes darker.
Thanks

 

[Zak]

William Davis wrote:

Don't know if it applies to your situation, but modern CCD cameras are
far more sensitive to light in the IR (infared) spectrum than the human
eye.

Especially if you take out the IR block filter. Sony does this for their
'nightshot' feature. It royally messes up color...

Otherwise try a brighter lens (lower F-number).


Thomas

 

[Rich The Newsgropup Wacko]

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 00:28:16 +0100, Zak wrote:

William Davis wrote:

Don't know if it applies to your situation, but modern CCD cameras are
far more sensitive to light in the IR (infared) spectrum than the human
eye.

Especially if you take out the IR block filter. Sony does this for their
'nightshot' feature. It royally messes up color...

But it makes it so you can see through people's clothes:

http://xray-vision.com/see-through-01/night-shot-085.html
;-)

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Ron G]

I didn't think it was at all possible to actually use a standard Sony, and
see through material.
That would be interesting just for checking if someone had a weapon or not,
under their clothing, whether metal, or a plastic knife, etc.
What modifications would be required?

Thanks---
Ron

Rich The Newsgropup Wacko <wacko@example.com> wrote in message
newsan.2005.01.14.06.04.10.627369@example.com...

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 00:28:16 +0100, Zak wrote:

William Davis wrote:

Don't know if it applies to your situation, but modern CCD cameras are
far more sensitive to light in the IR (infared) spectrum than the human
eye.

Especially if you take out the IR block filter. Sony does this for their
'nightshot' feature. It royally messes up color...

But it makes it so you can see through people's clothes:
http://xray-vision.com/see-through-01/night-shot-085.html
;-)

Cheers!
Rich

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[Rich Grise]

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 19:08:21 -0600, Ron G wrote:

I didn't think it was at all possible to actually use a standard Sony, and
see through material.
That would be interesting just for checking if someone had a weapon or not,
under their clothing, whether metal, or a plastic knife, etc.
What modifications would be required?

I think there's some filter you take out.

Do a web search on "night shot", and when you pick your way through the
nudie ads, there's sites that talk about using it as a spy-cam and such.

And you don't really "see through" stuff - you just see the heat signature
and no color. If a guy's got a gun in a shoulder holster under a tweed
jacket, you probably won't see it.

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Jan Panteltje]

On a sunny day (Sun, 16 Jan 2005 08:22:04 -0600) it happened Jeffery S. Jones
<jeffsj@execpc.com> wrote in <i9tku0p0a7slqd35n020tsrn225e17cnua@4ax.com>:

A better alternative, if you can't use lights (even IR lights) to
brighten the scene, is using a better low light CCD/camera. Size is
an issue -- the small pencil cameras have small CCDs, and that affects
the light sensitivity. Bigger CCDs beat smaller ones for low light.
The small (cheap) cameras use CMOS sensors, not CCD.

CMOS sensors are not that good at low level (noisy, differences between
pixels).

 

[William Davis]

In article <41e6da9e@212.67.96.135>, "Nigel Banks" <nospam@nospam.com>
wrote:

Does anyone know of a way to get a brighter image from a low light level
source using a small camera.
I have tried using several "low light level" pencil cameras, including some
expensive professional ones but they always seem to be slightly darker than
a modern DV camera which is a bit too large for my use due to confined
spaces. Getting a camera with a lux sensitivity level does not seem to be
sufficient. I have not found any where I can reduce the shutter time below
50Hz to get more light (other than USB outputs but I need video output). I
just need to brighten up the image an F-stop or two. Some cameras seem to be
very bright but they seem to have internal compensation which has no effect
when the whole image goes darker.
Thanks

Don't know if it applies to your situation, but modern CCD cameras are
far more sensitive to light in the IR (infared) spectrum than the human
eye.

(For fun, point your camcorder at the business end of any remote control
and enjoy "seeing" the control codes come out the end!)

There are IR light sources readily available that you can use kinda like
"invisible floodlights" to brighten scenes.

Color rendition typically sucks, but if all you seek is the ability to
"see" subjects in very low light situations, try Googling "infared
lights" and sift through the results.

For what it's worth.