How To Eliminate Off-Glass Reflection IR Camera

[Wire Weasel]

Hi guys, Playing with a high-end IR Camera, TX-RX set. Sold as a baby monitor but use for any purpose. Works real good. Right now have it setting on a table just inside sliding glass doors, about a foot away from the glass & looking out the driveway. The invisible light from the IR illumination is bouncing right back off of the glass into the camera lens creating a bright white circle in the receiver's screen. Can still see all around this circle but have this annoying white circle in the middle of the screen. Saw on another site where you could try placing a black cloth patch on the glass where the IR is pointing but it lights the black cloth up a bright white. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to defeat this reflection glare?

Thanks !!

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Perhaps you could try a regular photographic polarizer for a camera lens. I use them on my cameras and as you rotate it you can really see a huge difference in reflected light and glare. It makes the difference between seeing inside a car as if there were no windows and seeing nothing but glare. I assume they would work the same with IR. It's only light. If you have one or can borrow one give it a try. Other than that the only thing I can think of right off is to move the camera closer to the glass.

 

[rabbiporkchop]

Clear polarized lens will fix the problem...

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I used a polarizer many times to take pictures at the beach or on a lake. In Jamaica it was amazing to actually see the bottom through several feet of water instead of just seeing a super bright reflection that locked down the lens iris and made everything else look dark.

 

[Wire Weasel]

Thanks guys. Here's the unit. I'm not sure how I would attach a Polarizing camera lens from a camera set to this thing. If it was small, I guess I could tape it on?

 

[rabbiporkchop]

Only cost a dollar on eBay with free shipping right to your door.. a little bit of duct tape should hold it on just fine.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/58mm-Circular...otector-for-Canon-Rebel-18-55mm-/381578514604

 

[Wire Weasel]

Hey Thanks RPChop !! I'll try one of these. Cheap enough !! Just got this thing yesterday and began testing last night. - Just discovered that apparently the IR has a sensor and only turns on when needed (low light or dark) So using now in the same place during daylight and there is no glare so the IR must shut itself off if sufficient ambient light is present. I do not have the manual - This set was given to me and it is really quite nice. Saw the set on Walmart.com for $159 so they're pretty good. Has an excellent TX range to the RX of more than 100 feet !!

 

[222DBFL]

You could also try to see if you can find some polarized lens' that clip onto a pair of like reading glasses. One of those lenses might work. They can be bought at Walmart or Walgreens or the such. Might even find some in the fishing section of Walmart. Just use some good scotch tape and tape it over the lens like suggested to do with the other lens. Just some food for thought. More ideas is all. Hope you get it resolved!!

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Only cost a dollar on eBay with free shipping right to your door.. a little bit of duct tape should hold it on just fine.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/58mm-Circular...otector-for-Canon-Rebel-18-55mm-/381578514604

I know the description says it is a polarizer but I really don't think it is. A UV filter is not a polarizer and a polarizer should look dark gray in normal light but completely clear when looked straight thru it.I have a separate UV filter for my lenses and it is clear whereas the polarizers are not.Basically I use a UV filter as a lens protector. Better to scratch a cheap filter than an expensive lens or polarizer.

Lens polarizer.

Lens UV filter.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Another cheap suggestion is to try a pair of 3D glasses you get when you go to a 3D movie. Not the old style red/blue type but the type that look like cheap sunglasses. One lens is polarized vertical and the other is polarized horizontal. Either will work and you just rotate it to minimize the reflected glare.

 

[Tallman]

Another thing you can try is view out the door/window at an angle so that the IR is not bouncing straight back at the camera.
Won't cost you a dime to try it! No shipping either.

 

[rabbiporkchop]

$4.00 shipped.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/180533372110