Night vision explained, Blaze Alarms
Starlight and Full Colour Night Vision Technology
How our security cameras see in the dark, and how to pick the right night vision for your driveway, backyard or business. Explained simply, without the marketing hype.
- Starlight: colour in low light
- Built-in light: full colour all night
- Siren and light cameras that react to intruders
Call or text 416-250-7398
4.9 ★★★★★ 176 Google reviewsSeeing in the Dark for Around-the-Clock Security
Most break-ins and driveway thefts happen at night, so night footage matters more than daytime footage. The question is simple: when it’s dark, can you still tell who was there, what they were wearing and what car they drove?
Cameras answer that in different ways. Some use invisible infrared light and show black and white. Starlight cameras use a very sensitive sensor to keep showing colour in low light. Full colour cameras add a soft built-in light so the picture stays in colour all night. Each has its place, and most systems we install use a mix.
Four Types of Night Vision, Explained Simply
Infrared (IR)
Black and white at night
Invisible infrared LEDs light up the scene. You get a clear black-and-white picture in total darkness, but colours (a red jacket, a white car) are lost.
Starlight
Colour in low light
A large, very sensitive sensor keeps showing colour under streetlights, porch lights or moonlight. In complete darkness it switches to black and white infrared.
Full colour
Colour all night
A soft, warm built-in light switches on in the dark so the camera shows full colour all night, even with no other light around.
Smart dual light
Best of both
Stays in quiet infrared mode until it sees a person or car, then turns on the light to record in colour and let the intruder know they’ve been seen.
Which Night Vision Is Right for You?
A quick guide. We’ll recommend the exact cameras at your free site audit.
| Spot | What we usually recommend | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Front door and porch | Starlight | Porch lights give the sensor enough light for colour, and faces stay clear. |
| Driveway | Full colour or smart dual light | Car colour and clothing matter for police reports. The light also deters thieves. |
| Dark backyard or side yard | Smart dual light | Quiet at night until someone steps in, then the light switches on. |
| Bedroom-side walls, near neighbours | Infrared or Starlight | No visible light shining into anyone’s windows. |
| Businesses and parking lots | 4K Starlight with siren and light | Maximum detail for plates and faces, plus a way to warn people off after hours. |
Siren and Light: Cameras That Fight Back
Some of our cameras have a built-in siren and a strobe or warning light. When the camera’s AI sees a person cross a line you draw, like the edge of your driveway, it can flash the light and sound the siren automatically.
You can also trigger them yourself from the app, and talk through the camera with two-way audio: “You’re on camera. Please leave the property.” Most people leave right away.
Camera Systems With Starlight Night Vision
Every package is hard-wired, professionally installed and comes with no monthly fees. Full colour and siren and light cameras can be added to any package.
Townhomes and smaller homes
4 camerasStarlight cameras for your main doors, driveway and yard.
See the 4-camera systemMost popular
6 cameras5MP Starlight cameras for full coverage of a detached home.
See the 6-camera systemLarge properties and businesses
4K, 8MPThe most detail at night for long driveways and licence plates.
See the 4K packageNight Vision FAQs
Do Starlight cameras show colour in total darkness?
No. Starlight cameras show colour in low light, such as under a streetlight or porch light. In complete darkness they switch to black-and-white infrared. For colour in total darkness, you need a camera with a built-in light.
Will a camera light bother my neighbours?
The built-in light is soft and aimed at your property. Smart dual light cameras only turn the light on when they detect a person or car, and you can schedule it or turn it off in the app.
Can cameras read licence plates at night?
Sometimes, but it depends on distance, angle and headlights. A 4K camera placed close to where cars slow down gives the best chance. We’ll be honest at the site audit about what each spot can capture.
How far can the cameras see at night?
Most of our cameras light up roughly 30 metres in infrared. What matters more is how close the camera is to faces and cars, so we place cameras where people actually walk and park.
Is full colour better than Starlight?
Not always. Full colour is best where you want colour detail and a visible deterrent, like the driveway. Starlight or infrared is better where a light would be a nuisance, like a wall facing a neighbour’s bedroom.
Do the cameras work in winter?
Yes. Our cameras are IP67 weatherproof and rated down to -30°C, and hard-wired cameras have no batteries to die in the cold.
Not Sure Which Cameras You Need?
Tell us about your property and we’ll book a free on-site audit, including a look at your lighting at night. You’ll get a clear written quote and no monthly fees.
- Free on-site site audit, no obligation
- Clear written quote
- No monthly fees, ever
Get your free quote
See clearly, day and night
Blaze Alarms, trusted local experts in 4K CCTV installation across the GTA since 1990.