Night vision and infrared settings

Last modified: Tuesday March 10, 2026.

Depending on the model, you can adjust how Alta cameras function in low light levels.

Supported cameras have night vision settings:

  • When operating at typical daylight levels, camera video is color.
  • At lower light levels, camera video is monochrome. Not differentiating between color wavelengths, increases low-light image quality.

When night vision is active, built-in or external infrared (IR) illuminators can also be active.

During Night vision conditions, the camera will briefly switch from the night mode (monochrome), to day mode (color) to check if there is sufficient lighting for the camera to operate in color mode. This occurs hourly. During this test phase, the camera's IR cut filter, which blocks visible light and allows infrared light through, flips down then back up again if the scene remains too dark. This feature is not available on the Avigilon Alta A5 camera.

Before you start

Night vision threshold and infrared settings are available for Avigilon Alta cameras only.

Adjust Alta camera night vision settings

  1. Open plus icon Devices > Devices Cameras.
  2. Select the camera to adjust.
  3. Click Edit settings in the side panel.
  4. Open Video > Video adjustments.
  5. Select the required Night vision mode:
    1. Turn Night vision on or off.
    2. Set Night vision to Automatic to activate it at sunset light levels.
    3. If supported, select Use external IR to use externally connected IR illuminators.
  6. If supported, you can adjust the night vision Threshold:
    1. Move the slider towards the sun icon sun icon to turn on night vision earlier or in brighter conditions.
    2. Move the slider towards the moon icon moon icon to turn on night vision later or in darker conditions.
    3. To accurately set the threshold, expose the camera to the required light levels and adjust the slider until night vision activates.
  7. If supported, turn on IR to enable the camera's infrared illuminators.
    1. IR illuminators only activate when the camera is using night vision.
    2. For multi-source cameras, open the Night vision multi-source icon settings to turn on or off individual illuminators.
  8. Click Done.