The Duovox Mate Pro Night Vision camera promises to capture color photos and videos in almost complete darkness. It lives up to its promise as an interesting (albeit limited) tool.
According to Duovox founder David Chen, the new Mate Pro is designed to "replace traditional black and white infrared night vision devices." Aimed at night adventurers, campers and content creators, the Mate Pro is a compact, low-profile device with an incredible ability to view scenes in very low light. the camera isFunding now via Kickstarter.
Compact camera with night vision
Duovox provided PetaPixel with a pre-production sample of the Mate Pro, so observations of its build quality and design may be limited to my device and may not represent the final production run.
The Duovox Mate Pro is 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) wide, 3 inches (7.6 cm) deep (including the fixed lens bump), and 2.125 inches (5.398 cm) tall. In addition to the fact that the lens is in a fixed position and does not detach, it is a compact camera that clips nicely when not in use. The camera does not have a lens cap so you can protect the front element during storage.
Most of the 7.6 ounces (216 grams) of weight is concentrated on the lens, making it front-heavy. At this weight, it probably won't affect the use of the laptop too much, but it does make it difficult to position it independently to compose shots while leaning forward and resting at a downward angle. Included in the box is a mini tabletop tripod that plugs into the 1/4" socket on the bottom of the camera to help you get a better angle.
The frame of the body is plastic, and there are six buttons made of hard plastic on top of the camera. There's a power button, a shutter button, and four other buttons that act as shortcuts for various menu settings. These menus are easily accessible via the 3-inch non-tilting touch screen on the back of the camera.
To the right of the camera is a port cover that hides a USB-C charging port and a microSD slot, which Duovox claims can accommodate cards up to 512GB. For my test, I usedMemory card SanDisk Extreme 128 GB, which performed as expected and showed 8.5 hours of usable video recording time. The USB-C charging port is even more special in terms of compatibility, with a 5W USB-A charger and a USB-A to USB-C cable.
The non-removable battery has a capacity of 3000 mAh, according to Duovox. In practice, it consumes at a moderate rate, providing about an hour of video recording and temporary standby time per charge.
too many settings
There are a number of switches and menus on the touchscreen that control the Mate Pro's settings. There are three brightness levels for screen brightness, color and monochrome switching, screen lock activation, photo and video playback, recording on and off, Wi-Fi connection and lens control. There are also buttons that let you change camera modes (photo, video, and portrait video) and access camera mode menu settings and system settings.
The available video mode settings are:
- Instant video recording: The camera automatically starts recording when it is turned on.
- Cycle mode: 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes can be selected.
- Delay Mode: 1 second, 2 second, 5 second, 10 second, 30 second and 1 minute interval options.
- Motion Detection: Detect changes in the scene to start recording.
- Wayback Mode: A bit like a recording cache. It will record continuously but will not retain the video file until the record button is pressed. I tried with 10 minutes of pre-recording and it saved all 10 minutes before I hit record.
- Delayed stop: Pressing the shutter button to stop recording takes a few extra seconds before it actually stops. You can choose between 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds and 30 seconds.
- Audio: Enable or disable audio recording.
- Timestamp: Enables or disables the timestamp embedded in the hardware.
- Logo watermark: Enable or disable the Duovox logo in the upper left corner of the recorded video.
- Quality: high, medium and low quality options.
Available photo mode settings are:
- Quick shot: Take a photo while the camera is on.
- Face detection: Automatically take a photo when up to 8 faces are recognized in the same scene at the same time. Set options for 1 to 8 faces.
- Burst mode: Take 3, 5 or 10 photos consecutively when you press the shutter button. The screen will freeze on the first captured frame. Burst mode can be used in conjunction with other features such as face recognition.
- Selfie: Shutter delay options are 3 seconds, 5 seconds and 10 seconds.
- Quality: Good, Normal, and Economy photo quality options.
- Timestamp: Select date, time, both, or off.
- Image format: SelectJPEG formator RAW file format.
- Shutter sound: Turn the shutter sound on or off.
see things in (mostly) darkness
The ability to display full color in low-light scenes comes from the Sony STARVIS 2 CMOS sensor, which isIt was originally launched in 2015and are used in a range of products such asDell UltraSharp 4K web kameraDuovox claims the Mate Pro can capture images as low as 0.0001 lux with 22 stops of dynamic range. The camera's optics include a seven-lens system that captures images in different resolutions to combine into a single photo and an infrared filter to maintain color fidelity.
In testing, at least some light source was required for the sensor to work. I tried setting it up in the back yard one night hoping a raccoon would come by or something, but it couldn't see anything and all I got was black footage. However, the Mate Pro can make the most of minimal light and deliver full color and brightness in situations that appear black to the naked eye.
Videos are recorded at 2560 x 1440 resolution, and JPG photos are 5.7 megapixels (3200 x 1808 pixels). The camera can shoot RAW file formats, however, I cannot open them with Adobe.
Duovox applies some level of noise reduction and other optimizations to the image coming out of the camera, but clearly the result is still a much improved signal. That's somewhat impressive for an image straight out of the dark, but it's still clear that there's a limit to what those records can do in terms of image quality.
However, I was impressed by its ability to reproduce fairly accurate colors. Brightening up a dark image is one thing, but the color fidelity is much better than I expected.
After using the Duovox Mate Pro, there are a few things I don't like. My first and biggest gripe is the extremely long minimum focus distance. The lens has a fixed focus, which is just finesports cameraIt can, but you have to be at least about 37 feet (11.3 meters) away from the subject for it to get away.
Shooting indoors or anywhere in my yard doesn't have enough distance to do anything. When I first heard about the Mate Pro, I wanted to position it as more of a camera that uses a motion detector to shoot wildlife, but it requires such a large area in front of the camera that I showed it in practice. very limited use. Smaller creatures also appear very small in the frame when in focus.
Some other issues are that it is sensitive to flare from artificial sources and there doesn't seem to be a way to adjust itShutter speedmake up for it. There's also a pretty strong rolling door effect for any kind of side-to-side movement.
Whether the Duovox Mate Pro has an artistic photo and video app is up to you, but in my experience it seems more like a game for general night vision, or can be used to show what's interesting or how things look in the dark.
Duovox Mate Pro DaIt is currently raising funds through KickstarterSupport prices go up to $599. The retail price of the Mate Pro is currently set at $1,200. The company said it aims to ship the final cameras by October 2022.
disclaimer: Be sure to do your own research on any crowdfunding project you're considering supporting. Although we aim to share only legitimate and trustworthy campaigns, there is always the possibility of losing money when you support any crowdfunding project.
FAQs
What camera can I use to see in total darkness? ›
Infrared cameras are equipped with two necessary components: LED lights that emit infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye, and an image sensor that can see infrared light. The LED lights illuminate the camera's surroundings for the image sensor, which then creates black-and-white, night vision images.
Why is the night vision on my camera not working? ›No image at night
Make sure the camera has power, ensure all the connections are secure and that the infrared is illuminating (this will mean power is getting through to the camera). If that is all in order then stand in front of the camera quite close to it. Infrared needs to bounce off a surface back into the camera.
- Nest Cam Indoor.
- Ring Indoor Cam.
- Arlo Pro 4 Wireless Security Camera.
- Wyze Cam Black.
- Arlo Essential Wireless Security Camera.
Unlike black-and-white cameras, full-colour night vision security cameras provide true colour images and videos even in low lighting conditions, so you can easily identify details, such as faces and license plates.
How do I make my camera see in the dark? ›Digital cameras have a filter to stop them recording light you couldn't see, so the photos look close to what you would see if you were there. You can remove this filter, and make your own infra-red passthru to only allow IR light into the camera. Add an infrared light source, to create a night vision camera.
Why does my camera look weird at night? ›Most cameras struggle to autofocus at night, since the system they use relies on detecting contrast—which they can't do in the dark. Even if the shot isn't blurry from camera motion or subject motion, it might still be blurry because of missed focus.
Is there a night vision mode? ›Night mode automatically turns on when the camera detects a low-light environment. The Night mode icon at the top of the display turns yellow when the feature is active. Depending on how dark the scene is, your iPhone might take a Night mode photo quickly, or it might take several seconds.
What is color night vision? ›Security cameras with Color Night Vision, however, contain especially powerful image sensors that are more sensitive to light. This allows the sensor to absorb more visible light, which allows the cameras to continue to provide color in low-light conditions.
What is the color code for night vision? ›Valspar Paint Night Vision X128R261C / #859d7e Hex Color Code. The hexadecimal color code #859d7e is a shade of green. In the RGB color model #859d7e is comprised of 52.16% red, 61.57% green and 49.41% blue. In the HSL color space #859d7e has a hue of 106° (degrees), 14% saturation and 55% lightness.
How does full Colour night vision work? ›By using infrared light, the camera can create a black and white image that is then beamed to the Live View in your app. By turning the colour night vision feature on, the camera will use whatever ambient light is available to try and create a "false colour" image in your Live View.
How far can a night vision security camera see? ›
Generally speaking, security cameras have a range of anywhere between 10 and 70ft during the day. Alternatively, some night-vision security cameras have a range of 100-200ft! There are many features that can affect and impact your security camera's vision range, such as: Focal length.
Do all night vision cameras have red lights? ›So is there any night vision security camera without LED lights or red glow? Well, currently most security cameras use the infrared light for the night vision.
What is the difference between night vision and infrared camera? ›Difference Between Night Vision and Thermal Imaging
Night vision works by amplifying nearby visible light. Thermal imaging works by using infrared sensors to detect differences in temperatures of objects in its line of sight.
Unless a camera is specifically a monochrome camera, all cameras do effectively have 3 color filters.
Is infrared night vision color? ›Active infrared night-vision combines infrared illumination of spectral range 700–1,000 nm (just over the visible spectrum of the human eye) with CCD cameras sensitive to this light. The resulting scene, which is apparently dark to a human observer, appears as a monochrome image on a normal display device.
What is the difference between color vision and night vision? ›In day vision, visual perception is primarily cone-mediated and perceptions are chromatic. In other words, color vision is present in the light levels of daytime. In night vision, visual perception is rod-mediated and perceptions are principally achromatic.
Can hidden cameras record in dark? ›Many spy cameras use infrared illumination for filming in the dark. It is invisible to the human eye but not to a smartphone camera. When filming in the dark, the infrared light source will appear on the screen as a pulsing dot.
What allows recording even in dark environment? ›Infrared light for security cameras makes use of the thermal energy given off by objects and people to be able to view images, even if there is no other source of light. That is why they are used to record in low ambient light conditions or even at night.
Will night vision pick up infrared? ›Infrared radiation is invisible to the human eye, but to night vision devices, an IR illuminator functions like a flashlight. All night vision devices require at least a small amount of ambient or infrared light to work.
What should my camera settings be at night? ›- Put camera on manual mode.
- Use long shutter speeds, between 30-60 seconds.
- Make the aperture around f/11.
- Utilize a low ISO, around 100 or 200.
- Set the white balance to auto.
How do I reduce night vision glare on my camera? ›
- Place the camera closer to the glass. This prevents glare from getting between the window glass and the camera lens.
- Turn off the status lights. ...
- Use motion-activated lights. ...
- Put it somewhere darker. ...
- Disable it.
Night Vision and Thermal devices fall under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or ITAR for short. To make a long story short, the goal here is we don't want these powerful devices to fall into the hands of our enemies.
What are the two types of night vision? ›Types of night vision goggles. In general, there are two types of night vision goggles and gadgets: image intensification and thermal imaging. Each one lets you see in the dark, but in a completely different way.
Why does night vision get worse with age? ›Less light gets into your eyes as your pupils shrink with age, and this affects the sharpness of your vision. Your retinas change. Older adults have fewer rod cells — light receptors in the retina responsible for the black-and-white vision that's essential for night driving.
How do people with astigmatism see at night? ›Some of the effects of astigmatism at night include: Blurred or fuzzy vision. Light halos surrounding traffic lights. Starburst effects on lights.
What is the best color to see at night? ›(And, of course, reflective stripes for nighttime visibility.) As mentioned above, fluorescent yellow-green is the best choice during the day—and best all-around choice for a single color. But as dusk sets in and lighting gets dim, orange-red and red start to become more prominent.
What color is hardest to see with night vision? ›The cones are the colour receptors sensitive across the range of colours but need quite a bit of light to work, the rods are better at night - low light - but are less sensitive to the red end.
Is color night vision better? ›The color night vision security cameras are better at providing full-color images. This is because they have image sensors that offer a better contrast in low lighting as well. Thus these allow you to get the details clearly as the visuals are not blurry.
Do night vision cameras work in complete darkness? ›In short? No. Night vision devices work by amplifying the available light in a given area, so if there's absolutely no light to amplify, then your night vision device turns into an expensive blindfold.
Does night vision camera work in total darkness? ›Can You Use Night Vision Goggles in Total Darkness? No, you can't use night vision in total darkness because there is no light to be enhanced.
How do you take total darkness pictures? ›
Use A Tripod
Using a tripod (and a very slow shutter speed) is both the most effective and most limited method of taking pictures in the dark without a flash. The positives of this approach is that you can still shoot at a low ISO and keep all the image quality.
Because infrared cameras measure light that is not visible, they can work in darkness as well as daylight.
Do security cameras record in the dark? ›When a camera tries to see in the dark, it needs a light source to illuminate the area below it. Unfortunately, the night vision illuminators that come with consumer cameras are designed for short range only and are of a fixed brightness.
Can people see in complete darkness? ›First of all, it is impossible to see anything at all in total darkness. Total darkness means the absence of light, and our eyes depend on light to see. With that said, it is quite rare to be in a situation with total darkness, even at night.
Why are night vision goggles illegal? ›Night Vision and Thermal devices fall under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or ITAR for short. To make a long story short, the goal here is we don't want these powerful devices to fall into the hands of our enemies.
Do night vision cameras work in daylight? ›Does Digital Night Vision Work in Daylight? Digital night vision does work during the day, however, some devices have a lens cap that you have to put on with a tiny hole in the middle so that not too much light comes into the objective lens and gets registered by the camera or the sensor.
How can I make my camera quality better in the dark? ›- Put camera on manual mode.
- Use long shutter speeds, between 30-60 seconds.
- Make the aperture around f/11.
- Utilize a low ISO, around 100 or 200.
- Set the white balance to auto.
- Decrease Your Aperture. Decreasing your aperture to the lowest setting (f/stop) possible will allow the maximum amount of light to enter your camera. ...
- Increase Shutter Speed. ...
- Increase ISO. ...
- Take Advantage of Light. ...
- Register for a Learn Photography Canada Course.
Thermal gives you much better detection, while night vision gives you much better identification.
How far can infrared camera see at night? ›(Higher quality IR cameras can illuminate objects 150 feet away or more). Even at closer distances, it's good to try out the camera so you know what to expect.
Can you hide from infrared cameras? ›
Aluminum Foil
Just like glass, aluminum foil blocks infrared rays. This means that an object cannot be seen through aluminum foil and is hidden from a thermal imaging camera.