Each Verkada camera has night vision capabilities, using a sensor to detect low-light situations. When external lighting is low, the camera switches to night mode and records in black and white, using infrared (IR) LEDs to illuminate the environment. If the IR is emitted improperly through the dome or reflected into the lens, it negatively impacts image quality.

It is imperative that the dome remain free of debris and the camera is installed properly to achieve the best image quality. When viewing footage in night mode if the footage appears obscured it is most likely the result of one of the following scenarios:

If you run into any of these scenarios the camera lens and dome will need to be cleaned. See Clean Your Verkada Dome Camera for more information.

If your camera is always in night mode even where there is sufficient light in the environment the lux (light) value may need to be adjusted. If this is the case, reach out to Verkada Support for further assistance.

If the camera is mounted too close to a wall, ledge, or light source, the image quality may be degraded due to IR reflection.

If a first-generation Dome camera (D30 or D50) is operating in night mode when there is plenty of light, the IR sensor is likely obstructed by the camera housing.

To fix the obstructed light sensor, physically rotate the lens barrel assembly 180° so the sensor and IRs are visible through the camera case.

Example: Proper and improper orientation

When the entire frame (or portions of it) appears dark, consider the maximum night mode range of each device model. For installations where the camera will view objects outside of its maximum night mode range, consider adding an 850nm infrared extender with a longer range.

Disabling analytics can improve night mode results. Analytics features reduce exposure time, which results in darker images.

If you would prefer to disable night mode entirely, you can change it to FORCE OFF.

Need more help? Contact Verkada Support.