I have a Pan Cam V3 and Cam V3 which both work great in color night vision mode. The Video Doorbell v2 is advertised as having the function but in test it failed dramatically. I
can barely make out a hint of light and plenty of darkness.
Is there less ambient light where the doorbell is mounted vs. the others? Covered porch, etc?
Can you post comparison photos? Is there at least some light at night where your doorbell is located?
This is with the IR light on instead. Luckily I do have a motion activated floodlight above where the Doorbell is, but still, my old doorbell could show the full backyard with the IR mode. I wanted all my cams on the same ecosystem and be able to use with my Google Hub v2 screen.
Is something wrong with the starlight sensor in this unit? I have Night Vision Mode set to Off on my Video Doorbell v2 because the color night vision is so good. I’d wonder about contacting Support for a replacement.
Yeah as you seen in my i.ages I posted, the starlight festure isn’t working on my Video Doorbell V2. I read the advertisement on the Wyze sight and it makes a claim for it yet m8ne doesn’t seem to have it. Id contact support but I can’t be bothered with mailing it back and wait for the new one.
Only you can determine what your time and effort are worth. I think your images say a lot, and I wonder if a more general issue is affecting this camera, because even your photo using night vision and the IR light seems darker than I would expect (looking at the buildings and the tree between them, for instance).
This the north faci g side of my place through my Cam v3 with the color night vision on. My doorbell faces west. I think the street light is really helping the cam. Ill try placing my Cam v3 next to my doorbell tomorrow to see how different they are if at all.
Yeah, if that’s not too much effort, then I think that might provide a good point of comparison.
Edit: I wonder also if anyone knows whether or not the WDR setting has any effect on Video Doorbell v2’s color night vision. I haven’t yet had a chance to try this myself, because I’m still using an older firmware on my Doorbell.
I have tried it with WDR on and off and there was zero difference. I had other cams with the function and it was clearly doing things on those devices. Maybe the Wyze 3.0 software version is more faulty than we know.
I didn’t think it would, but I figured it was worth asking, because I’m trying to figure out what’s happening with your image quality. I’m still suspicious of a faulty hardware unit. If this was an app issue, then I would expect it to affect your Cam v3 image quality, as well (though I’m aware that app issues don’t always affect all camera models).
I tried the Color night vision (Starlight) function of my Cam V3 and this was what it did in the backyard. It’s definitely better but not the best. I guess theres just not enough ambient light for the sensor to be happy. First image is color night vision and second is IR led.
For memory, the last are the Doorbell v2 with color followed by IR
Maybe the bright lights are causing the cam to squint?
I have two v3s point out into my backyard.
One v3 has enough light to view in color. The other went to black and white.
I do have solar LEDs hanging off of the gutter and a couple lights in the yard.
No IR Lights are being used.
That moon is pushing a lot of light into the shot. I’m under a cloudy, moonless night. I did think of those bright windows possibly blowing out the brightness but it’s the same when they’re off. I’ve yet to see what happens under a nice big moon and clear sky. In another image my Cam V3 color night vision is really happy getting an assist from a nearby streetlight. It’s probably just too dark in the backyard here. It sorta sucks since the entrance to my apartment is in the backyard but what can I do? I’m not planning on moving anytime soon considering what my rent is. It’s disgustingly low for todays economy. I do have a motion light over the door, above the Doorbell v2. It helps out great when something sets it off so it’s ok. I can do with what I have.
This last image in this post (Video Doorbell v2 with Night Vision Mode on and IR enabled?) actually looks pretty decent to me and seems much better than what you shared previously. It’s about what I would expect, because it looks like you’re getting fair illumination from the camera’s IR lights and appears to show reasonable detail despite the light from the building across the lot shining almost directly into the camera. I think I’d stick with that one.
I’ve read elsewhere on the Forum about some people installing external IR blasters to boost night vision, usually in the context of wanting to leave a camera’s built-in IR off because it attracts bugs that set off motion detection, but I wonder if you could improve your nighttime illumination to throw some IR light farther out.
Now that I think of that, I should ask this: Were you operating both cameras (Cam v3 and Video Doorbell v2) simultaneously and with IR turned on when you captured those images? If so, then the pictures may show you getting IR illumination from both cameras, and I think that would demonstrate that you’re getting a benefit from the additional IR illumination. That might be an argument for throwing additional IR into the area for your Doorbell if you want to have the Cam v3 elsewhere.
I think that’s a good assessment and may be another reason to boost the IR there if you don’t want to (or can’t, for whatever reason) increase the visible light. I’d consider ways to increase the illumination—visible and/or IR—in this location to get better use out of your camera(s).
I agree that the Doorbell v2 IR night vision is working well and is what I have chosen to stick with. You asked if I ran both cameras IR leds at the same time while getting these captures. No. I specifically turned off one cameras IR and turned only the cam which I was taking a photo withs IR on at a time. Everything was one at a time, Next you talked about adding an IR flood light. I dont feel like it’s really needed since just roughly 1and a half feet directly above the doorbell is a motion activated pair of flood lights. I have sensitivity high enough that it activates if a cat walks across the middle of the yard. I hsve an indoor/,outdoor cat and it helps to know when hes home and wsnts in. Everything has been pretty good since installing it.
I’m really interested in the Wyze Thermostat and definitely will be swapping out my existing wifi smart plugs to Wyze branded ones. My goal is to have everything on one ecosystem, well nearly. All devices on Wyze, but voice controled over Google. So far I’m really enjoying it all.
I appreciate the clarification about how you captured the images you shared. Since that last image was with the Doorbell’s IR only and you have the motion-activated flood, then I agree that I’d probably stick with that if it’s working for you.
I don’t have any experience with Wyze Thermostat, but I’ve been interested in that and the Sprinkler Controller. I’ve read of some users on the Forum using non-Wyze smart plugs for powering their wired cameras so that if something glorks with Wyze connectivity, then the other smart plugs could be used to power-cycle the Wyze cameras. If you’re using Wyze Plugs, though, then you’ll be able to use the work-around that allows your Video Doorbell v2 to make voice announcements on your Google Home smart speakers. It’s nice to have options in the marketplace.
Went ahead and shot the shot and ordered the Thermostat. Ordered yesterday afternoon so waiting for it to ship. I’m looking forward to remote control of my heat. Lol.
Good luck! I hope that works out for you and is a straightforward installation. If not, I’ve noticed that a particular Forum user seems to be helpful with Wyze Thermostat problems.