Chapter 4 Imaging Tips; Lighting - StarDot Technologies NetCam SC User Manual

Chapter 4
As is the case with any camera, whether digital or film-based, steps can
be taken that will great improve image quality. NetCam SC is no exception
to this rule. The following tips will help you achieve the best possible images
with NetCam SC.
4.1

Lighting

Lighting is the single most important factor in capturing quality video.
Lighting for NetCam SC can divided into two categories: outdoor and
indoor.
Outdoor Lighting
In most outdoor imaging situations, you do not have much control
over the lighting since most of your lighting obviously comes from the sun.
However, you do have control over the lens settings and the positioning of
NetCam SC. If you have an auto iris lens, you can ignore the iris section,
since the iris is controlled automatically by NetCam SC.
The Iris
The first thing to consider with outdoor lighting is the lens iris. The
iris is an adjustable ring that controls the size of an aperture inside the lens
barrel. The smaller the iris, the less light that reaches the image sensor. The
bigger the iris, the more light that reaches the image sensor.
With a manual iris lens, it is up to you to set the iris accordingly. If
your imaging requirements are primarily for daylight only (and night shots
are not a priority), you can afford to set the iris to a smaller size. A small
iris provides better image quality and helps prevents permanent damage
to the image sensor.
If your imaging requirements require both day and night video, your
only choice is to open the iris so you can see at night. A large iris yields
a shallow depth of field, which means not everything will be as clear
and focused as a small iris setting. This may also lead to premature and
permanent "burn-in" or tinting of the pixels, especially if the camera is
pointing directly into the sun.
The Sun
If possible, aim NetCam SC so that it never points directly into the sun.
The best direction is north or south. If you must point the camera in a western
or eastern direction, try to get as little sky as possible in the image. What
you want to avoid is direct sunlight -- as with any camera, or your eyes for
that matter, looking into the sun produces some of the worst images. It may
also "tint" the image sensor over time, even with the iris set properly.
NetCam SC
Imaging Tips
Page 37