Of the 12 "starlight-level night vision" cameras tested, only 3 met the standards.
"Starlight-level night vision" is now a standard marketing slogan for car cameras. But what exactly constitutes "starlight-level"? We borrowed a darkroom and tested 12 mainstream products on the market at a standard of 0.001 Lux (a clear, moonless night sky). The results were somewhat embarrassing: Only 3 cameras could output usable images at 0.001 Lux. 5 cameras had barely discernible outlines but were extremely noisy. 4 cameras had either a completely black screen or severe ghosting. The difference wasn't in the sensor, but in three overlooked aspects:
1. The true value of the lens aperture. Many products are labeled F1.6, but in actual testing, they are F1.8 or even F2.0. A one-stop difference in aperture means twice the amount of light entering the camera. We require suppliers to provide third-party testing reports, not just the specifications.
2. The noise reduction strategy in the ISP algorithm. In low light, the signal-to-noise ratio of the hardware-acquired signal is inherently low. A good ISP will dynamically balance "preserving detail" and "suppressing noise," rather than simply and crudely smoothing out noise. We compared two products using the same sensor, and the difference in algorithms resulted in a two-tier difference in night vision performance.
3. The "Cheating" vs. "Realism" of Infrared Illumination: Some products rely on strong infrared illumination to improve night vision, but the lifespan of infrared lights is typically only 1/5 that of LEDs, and oncoming vehicles will be dazzled. A truly robust solution involves improving sensor light-sensing efficiency and optimizing the optical structure, not simply relying on "turning on the lights."
Practical advice for buyers: When evaluating night vision performance, don't just look at promotional videos (most of which are in laboratory environments). Request raw video recordings of "real-world nighttime road tests," paying close attention to three key indicators: license plate clarity, pedestrian outlines, and motion blur.
Our internal standard: At 0.001 Lux, a license plate recognition accuracy of ≥90% at a distance of 15 meters is required to be labeled "Starlight Level." If this standard isn't met, we'd rather not advertise it.