# Night Vision Decoded — Full Fact Digest

Research-based, spec-first reference on home security cameras. We rank by disclosed specs and the real DORI standard (IEC/EN 62676-4), never by megapixels or an unverified IR-range claim alone. No exact prices, no star ratings, no legal advice, no fabricated test claims.

## Homepage
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/
Advertised IR range measures Detect, not Identify, per the DORI standard. Sensor size, aperture, and lux are the specs that matter and are usually undisclosed. Three buying guide categories: outdoor cameras, video doorbells, wired vs wireless.

## Key Facts: Security Camera Night Vision
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/key-facts/
- DORI (Detect/Observe/Recognise/Identify) is defined by IEC/EN 62676-4: ~25/62.5/125/250 px/m respectively.
- Advertised IR range is almost never labeled with its DORI criterion; assume Detect unless stated otherwise.
- Sensor size, aperture (f-stop), minimum illumination (lux) are frequently undisclosed on consumer camera spec sheets.
- Color night vision requires an added light source; without it, cameras fall back to monochrome IR.
- Glass/windows reflect IR back at the lens, typically washing out the image.
- Scene reflectivity affects real-world IR range; dark, non-reflective scenes absorb more IR than light surfaces.
- Most brands gate recorded clip history behind a subscription (Ring Protect, Arlo Secure, Nest Aware); eufy and some Reolink/Wyze models offer no-subscription local storage.
- Recording laws vary by state/country, especially for audio (many US states require all-party consent) and cameras capturing a neighbor's private property.

## How We Evaluate Security Cameras
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/how-we-evaluate/
Research-based: manufacturer spec sheets, published standards (IEC/EN 62676-4), retailer listings. Never physical lab tests. No exact prices, no star ratings, no legal advice. Every pick names a drawback. No invented ASINs.

## Night Vision Reality Index (dataset, v1.0, CC BY 4.0)
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/night-vision-reality-index/
CSV: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/night-vision-reality-index.csv (versioned: night-vision-reality-index-v1.0.csv)
Disclosure audit of 14 popular cameras/doorbells (Reolink Argus 4 Pro, RLC-820A, Video Doorbell 4K; Wyze Cam Outdoor Pro, Cam v3; Arlo Pro 4, Essential Spotlight; eufy 2K Outdoor Cam, Video Doorbell E340, 2K Wire-Free Add-On; Ring Spotlight Cam Plus, Video Doorbell Pro 2; Google Nest Video Doorbell, Nest Cam) against sensor size, aperture, minimum illumination lux, advertised IR range, night-vision mode, DORI criterion stated (none do), and subscription requirement. Only 2 of 14 disclose aperture (both Reolink); 3 disclose sensor size; 1 discloses lux. No model states its IR range's DORI criterion.

## DORI Pixel-Density Decoder (dataset, v1.0, CC BY 4.0)
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/dori-pixel-density-decoder/
CSV: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/dori-pixel-density-decoder.csv (versioned: dori-pixel-density-decoder-v1.0.csv)
Source: IEC/EN 62676-4 (also AS/NZS 62676.4). Thresholds: Detect 25 px/m, Observe 62.5 px/m, Recognise 125 px/m, Identify 250 px/m. Worked example: a 2560px-wide (~4MP) camera covering 12m field of view at distance = ~213 px/m (above Recognise, below Identify).

## Best Outdoor Security Camera
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/best-outdoor-security-camera/
Picks: Reolink Argus 4 Pro (best disclosed specs, sensor+aperture published), Wyze Cam Outdoor Pro 3rd Gen (best value, subscription needed for most recording), Arlo Pro 4 (premium, subscription-dependent), eufy 2K Outdoor Cam (local storage, no forced subscription), Ring Spotlight Cam Plus (widest ecosystem, subscription for history), Lorex 2K Floodlight Cam WiFi Pro (floodlight + local storage option). Price bands only, no exact prices.

## Best Video Doorbell Camera
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/best-video-doorbell-camera/
Picks: Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 (widest ecosystem), Reolink Video Doorbell 4K (best disclosed specs, f/1.6 aperture, no-subscription local storage), Google Nest Video Doorbell 2nd Gen (best AI features, Nest Aware needed for most), eufy Video Doorbell E340 (local storage, no forced subscription).

## Best Wired vs Wireless Security Camera
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/best-wired-vs-wireless-security-camera/
Wired/PoE: Reolink RLC-820A (4K, continuous recording, no subscription). Wireless/battery: Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera (install anywhere, motion-clips only, subscription for history). Wired/budget: Wyze Cam v3 (USB power, local storage). Wireless/local: eufy 2K Wire-Free Add-On (battery, HomeBase local storage, no subscription).

## Can My Camera Identify a Face at Night?
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/can-my-camera-identify-a-face-at-night/
Probably not at advertised range. DORI Identify needs ~10x the pixel density of Detect. Estimate via horizontal resolution ÷ real-world scene width at distance, compared to DORI thresholds. Not a lab guarantee — lighting, aperture, noise, and focus also matter.

## What Does IR Range Actually Mean?
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/what-does-ir-range-actually-mean/
IR range is an undefined, unstandardized marketing claim. Depends on sensor sensitivity, aperture, scene reflectivity, and undisclosed measurement criterion. Glass reflects IR back at the lens.

## Do I Need a Subscription for Security Cameras?
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/do-i-need-a-subscription-for-security-cameras/
Usually not for live view/notifications. Usually yes for recorded clip history/AI features (Ring Protect, Arlo Secure, Nest Aware). eufy and some Reolink/Wyze offer no-subscription local storage — tradeoff is no off-site backup.

## What Is the DORI Standard?
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/what-is-the-dori-standard/
IEC/EN 62676-4 (also AS/NZS 62676.4). Detect ~25 px/m, Observe ~62.5 px/m, Recognise ~125 px/m, Identify ~250 px/m. Developed for professional CCTV design; almost never referenced in consumer marketing.

## Does Color Night Vision Work Without Light?
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/does-color-night-vision-work-without-light/
No. Requires spotlight, floodlight, or ambient light. Falls back to monochrome IR without it or beyond the light's throw.

## Do Security Cameras Work Through Glass or Windows?
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/do-security-cameras-work-through-glass-windows/
Mostly no for IR — reflects back at the lens, washing out the image. Color night vision with ambient/added light can fare better but still depends on glass cleanliness/angle.

## Is Recording My Neighbor's Yard Legal?
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/is-recording-my-neighbors-yard-legal/
Not legal advice. Varies by state/country/municipality. Audio recording often needs all-party consent in the US (state-dependent). Cameras aimed at a neighbor's private property raise separate privacy/nuisance concerns. Check local law or an attorney.

## How Many Megapixels Do I Need for Security Cameras?
Canonical: https://nightvision-decoded.pages.dev/how-many-megapixels-do-i-need-for-security-cameras/
2K-4K covers most home needs. Megapixels don't predict night performance alone — sensor size, aperture, lux matter more and are usually undisclosed. More resolution helps reach DORI thresholds sooner at a given distance.

## Questions this site can answer
- Can my security camera actually identify a face at night, or only detect motion?
- What does "100 ft night vision" or "IR range" actually mean on a spec sheet?
- What is the DORI standard and what pixel density does each level require?
- How many pixels per meter do I need to identify a person at a given distance?
- Do I need a subscription for my security camera to record and store video?
- Which camera brands offer local storage with no subscription required?
- Does color night vision work in total darkness?
- Do security cameras work through a window or glass door at night?
- How many megapixels do I need for a home security camera?
- Is it legal to record my neighbor's yard or a conversation on my porch?
- Which outdoor camera, video doorbell, or wired/wireless camera should I buy?
- Which security cameras disclose sensor size, aperture, and minimum illumination in lux?