We have all been in parking lots and noticed the security cameras monitoring the area. What we do not know, is that the capability of that camera to read true colors is tremendously important for security.

In lighting for streets, parking lots, highways and airfields, it is sometimes thought that the quality of the light is not as important as the coverage provided by the lights. Many times, these are the applications where low-pressure sodium lamps are used in the lighting fixtures. While these lights are more efficient than some other types of lighting, they produce only a single wavelength of yellow light, resulting in a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of ZERO. This means colors cannot be differentiated. Red cars look brown, blue cars look brown, and white cars look yellow-brown. To the human eye, the light produced by low-pressure sodium lamps is a distinctive yellow orange color. Often, the use of this type of lighting can be a location requirement due to restrictions on the location’s proximity to residential areas where possible light spillage can be an issue. With low-pressure sodium lamps, the yellow orange light that is emitted makes true color rendition almost impossible. While the illumination of these areas is paramount, there are security-monitoring issues that need to be addressed. If a security camera does not have the capability of ‘seeing’ colors, reports of stolen vehicles will be incorrect. The color ‘reported’ usually would not be the true color of the car in question, because all cars under low-pressure sodium lights appear brown. The same problem can be applied to clothing of a possible thief or burglar. [caption id="attachment_2321" align="aligncenter" width="75"] Sony FCB E ver Series[/caption]

The Sony Solution

The introduction of Sony’s newest imaging option in color block cameras, the FCB E ver. Series, has greatly improved a security camera’s ability to perceive colors in a ‘true’ fashion. Remaining on the cutting edge of the imaging industry, this new addition to the Sony family incorporates the replacement of multiple part options for different lenses, and has digital output available in each of the series models.

The White Balance upgrade features the “Outdoor Auto Mode” and removes the limitation in areas to take in white color. “The Sodium Vapor Lamp Mode” (SVLM) is indispensable when shooting under low-pressure sodium street lamps, where, because of the lamp source, pictures are not to true color value. With the new Sony FCB E ver. Series SVL mode, the camera takes in white color properly, and pictures with true color rendition are the result. Police and fire personnel will then be able to receive correct information.

By using the Sony FCB E ver. Series camera in a security application, the correct color rendition will be available for all identifications.

This camera is the only choice for precise security reporting where color accuracy is essential.

Gail De Salvo