Hikvision settings for better night-time performance? (2024)

I have a DS-2CD2185FWD-I camera. And by day i'm happy with it, but at night I have a small light on just a few meter away. When that is on I have trouble with my night vision. I can only see clear a few meters. Is there a guide or something that could help me get the best off my camera with the light on? Or should I switch to a different type of camera. Any tips? There is a person left in the picture, but he's very hard to see. I don't think its good enough with light off and only night vision as well..

Hi @rkg

It looks like the security light you have there is stopping the camera from automatically switching to black & white IR mode, which would give you clearer images at night.

If you login to the camera with a browser and go to Configuration > Image > Display Settings > Day/Night Switch and click the Day/Night Switch dropdown to change it from auto to scheduled-switch, once this is selected you can set when the camera switches in and out of IR mode and once you have those times set to what you want you can click save and wait overnight to see if you get improved low-light results while in IR mode.

There is no way on this older camera model to schedule the IR switch to happen at different times throughout the year.

The simplest solution as you already have the white light in the scene would be to use a ColorVu camera instead, they have improved hardware (bigger sensor, larger lens aperture) to achieve clearer colour images at night.

Yes, any ColorVu model should work fine to cover 15m.

Turret cameras are the most popular style, but it obviously depends on your install location and your own personal preference.

Additionally - if you were able to rotate the camera a few mm to lose a little more of the white wall - you may find the camera would switch to b/w automatically. It depends on how important it is to see that sliver of wall. It's the well illuminated white that's keeping you in colour. I'm not sure on your model - maybe @Dan might know - but under Configuration > Image > Display Settings > Day/Night Switch - There might also be the option to change the sensitivity as to when the b/w switch happens. I gather the higher the number - the easier it'll switch. I might play with both of these suggestions before changing the camera.

Thanks for the help so far! I think I will have a problem with rotating the camera, At least I have to give up some of the areas I want to cover. I have added a photo when I have night vision on, and I think it's way too blurry. So I need a ColorVu camera I guess?