Novice Night Surveillance

[SIG]

Firstly I want to say this is my first post and I’ve only just started my Cert III, if anyone is on the Sunshine Coast/North Brisbane, I would love to network and get to know you. Please feel free to leave a message here.

Secondly I am aware IR cameras causes glare on glass, I was wondering if anyone knows if you can get universal night vision attachments for handycams? Or what are some other methods to conduct night surveillance while situated in a vehicle?

[BigGeorge]

Hi SIG

check out http://http://www.nightvision.com.au/

 

BG

[BigGeorge]

SIG

I might also add that many years ago when I had a brainwave to offer night surveillance to clients, the reason I didn't get into it and invest in the (at the time, new) technology because clients said how the heck can we positively identify the person in the film (yeah, no video back then). Too contentious.

Perhaps these days the high tech video gear can come up with fine quality night video, but I don't know that one can get away from that green shadow-less look. Or grey look.

(am I just way out of my league with my tech knowledge here?)


BG

[SIG]

Sorry for the late reply BigGeorge

Yes, I thought that the poor vision would be an issue too. I mean there is no real reason to buy a lot of flash high-tech camcorders when you have a pair of eyes, note pad and pen. Nonetheless, I thought there might be something out there that you could use to make some cases easier; especially since there is a market..

I have stumbled across a company online, that is releasing a new type of night vision camera this year I believe it’s similar to IR but may have a filter to prevent glare but also produces a very good quality image.. But I cannot fine the site and.. Yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was overpriced.

[Catzeyes]

There was a fellow PI in Melbourne who I think now has quit the profession (not sure) who had a very good one which when you took photos in night vision was like looking through a telescope and the image was round.  It was very good quality and I believe it cost the price of a small mortgage.  

That was two years ago mind you, so maybe the equipment (like televisions, computers and phones) has come down now.

[Peter111]

I worked at improving our Night Vision equipment and capabilities for a good few years following new products that came onto the market. We could get high quality Night Vision equipment from any source at a cost which was out of our reach for Night Surveillance demands.

Some well known chain stores had some work going at times with smash and grabs going off a few times in a week in remote retail areas in Canberra.

We looked at this closer just recently and found Yukon offering the new Yukon Night Vision Ranger Pro 5x42 Monocular. You can pick this equipment up at times on eBay for just under a $1,000.00 AUD shipped. It records out to a mini DVR like an Angel Eye which is not that expensive, which does the job for up to around 1 hour and 20 minutes of Night Vision recording. You just get the grey, white and black view but it is quite helpful at around 350 metres in pitch darkness.

From memory the equipment uses a 940nm wavelength invisible to the human eye which is the advantage at the cost the equipment is priced at. We have set up other IR beams to 600 meters of viewing at 850nm wavelength which is visible to the human eye thus not efficient in Night Surveillance due to compromising the investigation.

If any one is really keen on Night Vision Surveillance, I encourage them to look further at the Yukon Night Vision Ranger Pro 5x42 Monocular, for it has a lot to offer in the field for the cost outlay. Spend some time looking at a few YouTube videos that can be searched on for this equipment. Here is a link below to the product from our PJL Online Store.

http://www.pjlinvestigations.com.au/sho ... i-391.html

Good luck.

PJL

 

[Darren]

Managed to get one of the Yukon Rangers (not the pro) a while ago - quite good and after waiting awhile managed to score a new one for around AU$400.
You can see a review including video at http://http://actdealer.com/blog/2010/06/17/digital-night-vision-with-video-out/.
Output is NTSC but no great issue - interfaces to our 4 camera DVR in the car fine - works off 12volt as well. Uses light amplification together with IR illumination. Look like binoculars but is really a monocular - the 2nd tube is used to house an IR spotlight for longer distances.

[Jockey]

I have been doing surveillance for near 30 years and in my time I have found that spending allot of $ do buy top of the range night vision equipment has not been warranted. Their just isn't enough night time surveillance around to justify the cost. The same person that Catseyes is talking about that has purchased the night equipment I have seen and used and it really is a waste of money I think it cost all up around $15000. Yes it is good but as I have stated its over the top for what we do.
I use a current Sony Hi Def Hard Drive video camera and find the 0 lux and night shot is good enough for the job.

[Catzeyes]

I can remember who it was now Jockey.  That's a lot of money to pay and I second that, it cannot justify the night work available.

[Peter111]

If purchasing the Yukon Digital Night Vision Pro 5x42 Monocular, you will find that a spare battery holder comes with the equipment. The unit's battery holder capacity is 6x AA batteries. Rechargeable batteries work fine. The spare battery holder is the same capacity 6x AA. On eBay you will be able to purchase 3000 mA capacity rechargeable batteries for around $1.00 each. The high capacity batteries are much cheaper and lighter lately which all helps in carrying and holding the equipment.

We have been contacted to conduct Night Surveillance several times a year even for insurance related claims at times. Loss Prevention Surveillance for apprehension purposes has been the rewarding market, not your cheating partner or insurance surveillance clients.

Good luck.

PJL

[Jockey]

I am talking more on the insurance and domestic market and I can understand the Loss Prevention side is totally different. The same as the criminal side although I have completed a lot of these types of investigations, I have managed to gather the evidence without the expense.

[Peter111]

I am not pointing the finger at any input here although I must state that it's not exactly the evidence that is even used most times in our Night Surveillance work, it's the ability of the Night Surveillance equipment to assist the investigator and at times the team together in extreme darkness at long distances where the Digital Video Camera night features don't cut it.

Yukon Digital Night Vision Ranger Pro doubles as a quality Night Vision Monocular and can be used with a Digital Video Recorder if desired.

You have to be in it to win it the old saying goes. We find that we fill a lot of gaps in investigation work where others miss out by not having state of art technology which wins us a better dollar even after costs.

We keep busy in a regional environment and travel extensively throughout Australia and overseas. I can't complain about the situation with equipment costs and enjoy learning about implementing new technology in strategic proactive investigations.

I wouldn't argue about this because everybody has an opinion to provide which is helpful and everybody has there own view and background. You have to be able to make your own decisions about what technology is going to grow your business and help your clients.

Good luck.

PJL

[Catzeyes]

I had no idea that investigators worked in extreme darkness and over long distances.  I guess my ignorance is showing because I have only been working for three years, but would like to know when any investigator would work under those conditions.  Seriously, I would.

Are you saying this equipment is available in case those conditions are necessary to work in.

Jockey and I don't just do infidelity you know.  He could write a book.  As a matter of fact, I am still holding out hope that he does.

[Jockey]

There is equipment available for any circumstance. My opinion is purely based on the work I have been doing over the years.
I some of the cases I have worked in the past this type of equipment would have been very handy in deed, but I have managed in the past to get by.
It is one of those cases regarding type of equipment and expense that you need to take into account and justify the out lay. I could go out tomorrow and by the best night equipment on the market, but I can't justify the cost as it would spend more time in the box than in use based on the type of work I am currently doing. Years ago I did a lot of transport work travelling long hours and days interstate on mobile surveillance and at times that sort of equipment would have come in hand, however you soon learn what compromise means and you soon learn different methods of how to get in close and obtain the information or see what is going on.

[Peter111]

SIG, please view the article via the following website link below which shows field examples with case information in the document.

If you conduct some research on the AstroScope used for the Surveillance Investigation, you will find it to be quite expensive without the cost of the Nikon Digital SLR Camera.

http://www.militaryandlaw.com.au/files/ ... -20-05.pdf

The Yukon Digital Ranger Pro doesn't produce the quality of images you will see in the document taken with the Nikon Digital SLR using the AstroScope although Yukon Digital Ranger Pro is useful where there is no ambient light, due to the built in IR illuminator that has long distance capabilities.

Surveillance Investigation in complete darkness in the middle of nowhere with the IR illuminator can be conducted. Another advantage is that the Yukon Ranger Pro can be used in full daylight or in low light conditions without doing damage to the equipment like with the earlier Night Vision products. It's quite versatile too.

Astroscope Prices

http://www.morovision.com/nightcameraequip.htm

That's my input, now back to work.

PJL