A camera that continues to display colors in the dark is not automatically defective. Some models are actually designed for color night shots. The problem begins when the capture in the required location becomes unusable dark. First, determine which night function your model has and which of those still works.
With a day-night camera with a movable IR filter, the nightstand also allows infrared light to reach the sensor. This does not mean that every model has its own infrared lighting. Check the specification sheet whether built-in IR, an external lamp, or visible light is included with the installation. A nightstand turned on without appropriate lighting can still produce a dark result.
Look for a recording shortly before and shortly after the problem arises. Note the camera number and see if the image gets darker, changes color, or completely disappears. Disappearing with an offline alert requires a different investigation than a continuously dark image. Then compare the same moment on the recorder and in the app to exclude an old recording or another channel.
Check with a authorized account or a fixed daily routine, a schedule, or automatic switching enabled. Save the existing values before making any changes. The automatic threshold and any delays vary by model; therefore, do not assume a universal number. Also, check if another rule later resets the chosen profile. This is relevant when a manual change initially helps but seems to disappear again the following evening.
A lamp near the lens can change the lighting situation differently than at the back of the garden. Describe which lights turn on and whether the problem started after replacing or moving them. Ask for a comparison of the available night settings and lighting on the location you want to monitor during a technical inspection. The goal is a usable recording fragment of that location, not exclusively a lighter display in the menu.
Provide the exact model, the used night lighting, and two times from the recording. Indicate whether only this channel is causing problems and which setting has already been tested. After a adjustment, have someone walk through the relevant area and check the saved images. Also repeat the return to daylight: a successful evening test alone does not yet show that the automatic cycle remains working properly.
No. The used image technology and lighting determine whether a camera produces color or black and white in the dark. Check the possibilities of the exact model.
A audible transition is not a control of the final recording. Also assess the lighting and a recorded moving subject at the desired distance.
