Nowadays, “high‑definition” and “infrared” have become the most popular front‑end product series in the security surveillance industry. In terms of overall market shipment volume, infrared cameras account for more than 80% of total security surveillance camera shipments. Nevertheless, the product development history of infrared cameras only spans a short period of 5 to 8 years. Before that, infrared lamps and security cameras belonged to two separate markets with no overlap. Today they have gradually converged into a specific, huge and fast‑growing market — the security infrared camera market. What are the existing problems of infrared cameras at present? Below are insights shared by the editorial team of Kaimorui.

Existing Problems of Infrared Cameras

1. Waterproof Performance and FoggingMost infrared cameras adopt sealed design with an IP66 protection rating. However, infrared lamps generate substantial heat while operating. Insufficient heat dissipation of the housing and poor sealing of equipment may lead to water vapour accumulation inside the camera after a period of operation (this phenomenon occurs mainly in northern China), which undermines monitoring performance.
2. Heat Dissipation DeficiencyTemperature is the critical factor affecting the service life of infrared lamps. Equipped with high‑heat‑generating infrared lamps, the front section of an infrared camera builds up concentrated heat throughout its operating cycle (taking 12 hours as a reference). Such heat buildup interferes with the normal operation of other components of the camera.
3. Poor Night‑vision PerformanceTypical manifestations include the “flashlight effect” and insufficient monitoring range, among other issues.
4. Frequent Mode Switching FluctuationsThis malfunction occurs when certain cameras, whether fitted with IRCUT dual‑filter switches or dual‑peak filters, fail to operate stably under complex lighting conditions.

Driven by the trend of network‑based surveillance and market demands, infrared array cameras have achieved tangible breakthroughs. With advances in camera technologies, night‑vision surveillance keeps evolving. Restricted by cost, image clarity, application scenarios and inherent characteristics of luminescent materials such as infrared light waves and lasers, infrared technology remains the optimal and most practical solution for night‑vision surveillance. It delivers comparatively superior night‑vision monitoring results and performs well in license‑plate capture for road surveillance, filling gaps in the current market.