Day and night cameras with color night vision use available ambient light and, in darker areas, supplemental warm-white LEDs to capture nighttime scenes in color. Cameras with infrared night vision use infrared illumination to record in low-light or dark conditions, typically producing a monochrome image while avoiding visible white light.

When installing day and night cameras, consider the scene’s lighting, the camera’s lens and viewing angle, and whether infrared or color-at-night imaging better suits nighttime monitoring. For outdoor locations, select a weather-resistant model with suitable mounting, while indoor installations may prioritize a discreet form factor, local storage, Power over Ethernet (PoE), or integration with an existing video system.

Many day and night cameras can connect to an existing network video recorder or surveillance platform through IP networking, Power over Ethernet, or ONVIF support, depending on the camera and recorder. Some models also support smart home integration, local microSD storage, or app-based viewing, so verify compatibility with the specific system before installation.

Fixed lenses suit consistent viewing areas, while motorized varifocal lenses let installers adjust the viewing angle and zoom, and higher resolutions such as 4MP or 8MP can capture more image detail; for nighttime scenes, consider cameras with color-at-night performance or infrared night vision. Local microSD storage can support standalone recording on many day and night cameras, while a multi-channel network video recorder can provide expanded storage for larger surveillance systems.