Camera Overexposure in Light & Blurry Focus in Dark Conditions

[MountainHigh993]

I just bought a new Essential 2nd Gen XL Outdoor, and am about to return it.  I hope someone can help see if I can fix the problem.  I am encountering two issues with my camera:

1. In brighter conditions, a lamp causes overwhelming overexposure and flare effects, obscuring significant parts of the image.
2. In darker conditions, the camera struggles with focusing, resulting in extremely blurry images with no discernible details, with the lamps apparently overwhelming the the image.

I don't have this problem with the 2nd gen video doorbell -- it handles the lamps just fine.

I would appreciate any advice on what is happening and whether I can adjust the camera's settings or resolve these problems.

[jguerdat]

These cameras use auto-exposure but no focusing capability (it's fixed focus). You need to reposition the camera to eliminate the light from view to prevent this issue. You might be able to reposition the light itself while still lighting up what you need or even fashion a baffle over the light to prevent it from shining onto the camera.

[MountainHigh993]

Thanks.  I have three lamps permanently fixed on the outside walls of my house.  They are LED so I cannot adjust the kind of light they emit.  Also, I live in Norway, and this time of year it is dark from 3PM to 8AM.  What I am understanding from your solution is that I cannot really use this camera outside the front of my house, because the light will always create flares.

Does Arlo have a different camera that handles the lamp light better?  Why does the camera on my 2K doorbell camera handle the light just fine, but the Essential 2nd Gen XL does not?

[jguerdat]

A bright light will always affect auto-exposure - it's basically a single point of light in a dark background. Your eyes would similarly be affected if you look at or near the light. A shield could be fashioned but would take some testing. 

A screenshot of the light during the daytime may be useful so we can see how it's aimed.

Based on your pictures, it appears that you may be able to move the camera to the left (as viewed in the pictures) since it seems that there is a corner of the building that may prove to be a useful mounting location. A picture of the building/corner may also be useful for suggestions.

[MountainHigh993]

Attached are a daylight picture, as well as a picture of the house.  You can see my old reolink camera on the house.  The Arlo Essential XL is in the same place.  I didn't have problems with night vision on the Reolink.  But the battery life was abysmal. 

 

 

 

[jguerdat]

I wasn't expecting to see that sort of light - I figured it would be a floodlight. That makes a big difference. 

I can't say that I see a resolution to the issue other than moving the camera more or less into the corner of the house to help remove the light from interfering with the view.