Today we're taking a look at two impressive low light cameras from Watec - the Watec 3200 and 3500 models. These cameras are designed for applications like surveillance, computer vision, and visual inspection that require excellent performance in very dim lighting conditions.
Key Specs and Differences
The Watec 3200 and 3500 have some important differences when it comes to their low light capabilities:
- Watec 3200: Minimum illumination of 0.007 lux
- Watec 3500: Minimum illumination of 0.001 lux
To put that in perspective, full moonlight is around 0.1 lux, so these cameras can see in conditions much darker than moonlight.
Special Features
Both cameras have a feature called "Sens-up" which allows for auto frame integration in extremely low light. This can be adjusted to gather images in even darker environments.
The Watec 3200 has an RC02 remote controller that can be plugged in directly to adjust settings.
The Watec 3500 has impressive auto-exposure capabilities. As we slowly increased the light source in our demo, the camera automatically adjusted to avoid overexposure.
Real-World Performance
To test these cameras, we set up a simple demo with a cup in a dark environment. While our standard camera couldn't see anything, both Watec cameras were able to clearly capture the cup.
When we slowly added light, our standard camera eventually picked up the cup. But as we dimmed the lights again, only the Watec cameras could still see it.
The Bottom Line
For applications requiring clear imaging in extremely low light, the Watec 3200 and 3500 offer impressive capabilities that outperform standard cameras. Their auto-adjustment features and ultra-low lux ratings make them ideal choices for challenging low light environments.
