Comparison Ultra Vs Pro4 in Nightvision

[Andrewjl]

Hello, I am trying to understand the capabilites at night of the "NightVision" setting between the Ultra and the Pro4 cameras. There appears to be quite a difference. Can someone please explain the differences in detail and whether further improvement to the Pro4 can be made.

[StephenB]

---

@Andrewjl wrote:
Hello, I am trying to understand the capabilites at night of the "NightVision" setting between the Ultra and the Pro4 cameras. There appears to be quite a difference. Can someone please explain the differences in detail and whether further improvement to the Pro4 can be made.

---

What settings are you using for the Pro 4?

Usually when we say Nightvision here we mean the infrared mode.  If you go into low-light settings, you get that mode at night by turning off the spotlight and color.  Otherwise the system will often record low-light color. 

So try those settings on both cameras, and see how they compare.

[Andrewjl]

Hi,  Yes interesting exercise.  The difference is quite remarkable - though not mentioned as far as I can see in the specs - The test I did was from the same camera position over separate nights.  Set for "night vision" + "no spot lamp". so running contiuously.. + No colour on the Pro4.  The Ultra like the rest of my system has ecellent low light capabilities and can work without spotlight assistance.  The Pro4 however presents a very much darker, less sensitive, image (faces almost unrecognisable) under the same consitions.  Wondering if I have to spend more on a more light for the Pro 4 as the Ultra can no longer be used in this location

[jguerdat]

That tends to sound like the Ultra has better external lighting compared to the other cameras. That's one reason for using the spotlight - you don't need that external lighting. I'd try the test with spotlights/color enabled.

[Andrewjl]

Yes  My tests have proven to me that for the same location and very similar night conditions.

Oh inceidentlally the Ultra is via my local Hub The Pro4 runs direct to the internet.

1) The Ultra can show the garden clearly (along with people)  without Spotlight assistance

2) The Pro4 cannot achieve this and despeartely needs the spotlight as all I see is a murky background

In my mind this is either due on the Pro4, dissapointlingly, to a lower quality (less sensitivity) chip or the firmware is holding this back.

Andrew

[StephenB]

FWIW, My Pro 4 is placed so that it doesn't use NightVision.  But I haven't seen much difference between the NightVision "reach" on the Pro 3 and the Ultra.  

What I have seen is that Pro 3 will sometimes use low-light color when NightVision is needed.

[Andrewjl]

mmm   So "Night Vision" option in an Ultra is different from the "Night Vision" option offered on a Pro4.   

The Pro 4 does add the colour option but this appears do offer little not provided in an Ultra as it's already a step up in sensitivity.

I wonder what Arlo say themselves?    Be interesting to understand what economy might have been made between the two and whether the Pro 4 can accept a firmware upgrade

Andrew

[StephenB]

---

@Andrewjl wrote:

The Pro 4 does add the colour option 

---

Not sure what you mean by "added".  The Ultra/Ultra2 also has low-light color.

---

@Andrewjl wrote:

So "Night Vision" option in an Ultra is different from the "Night Vision" option offered on a Pro4.   

---

No, I wouldn't say that.  It might perform a bit differently (though I haven't seen much difference myself).  But the option is essentially the same.  Both use IR spotlights to illuminate the area, both engage an IR filter when switching to Night Vision.

Both the Ultra and the Pro 4 datasheet say:

• Night Vision
- Illuminates up to 25 feet
- Dual 850nm LEDs

https://www.arlo.com/en-us/images/Documents/ArloUltra/Arlo_Ultra_Family_DS_US.pdf

https://www.arlo.com/en-us/images/documents/arlopro4/Arlo_Pro4_Data_Sheet_US.pdf

It's possible your Pro 4 is defective.  Have you tried it in a place where there is no light?  The IR LEDs should still let you see the area.

[Andrewjl]

Hi

Thank you

My tests included TWO Pro 4's and Ultras  The Pro4 was I would say some 50% down on the ultra - Test done with no spotlights just Night Vision turned on. 

The difference is quite marked from a Black image with hightlights (reflections) to a clear monochrome image. The Pro4 option of colour becomes irelevent

I will raise this directly with Arlo

Andrew

[Killhippie]

@Andrewjl From I have seen the Pro 4 has awful night vision, my images are black almost with no detail, but my old 720P Arlo Go produced crisp clear night time vision. I think the sensor in the Pro 4 is just substandard, even with the spotlight on, images are blurry if you try to zoom in on a phone, and I could never get the Pro 4 to show a decent nightvision only image, I was told it was lighting or my porch door confusing the camera but tbh when a lesser camera like the Go produces crystal clear night vision in the same place I do wonder if the Pro 4 is a compromise, it does not even reconnect if your ISP goes down, Wi-Fi yes it will reconnect but if the internet goes down it doesn't so needs the battery to be removed and put back in to regain its connection. So with poor colour vision from my point of view, awful night vision the camera is next to useless unless I use the spotlight all the time, which does have advantages as in it scares people away and you do get to see the colours they wear, its just no detail on their faces. The Ultra and the Ultra 2 have larger camera sensors I believe which would probably account for the difference.

[Andrewjl]

I couldn't agree with you more.  Yet the specs of the two cameras appears the same.

I would have kept with the Ultra's that I have in the rest of the system, but for the fact that I need the camera to be further away than the hub can handle.  The only reason I bought the Pro4's is for the extended range I can get  over the WiFi direct.

As you say the night vision is shocking/unacceptable for a modern day/night camera as advertised.

Not what it "says on the tin"

Andrew

[StephenB]

Can you post pictures of the two, so we can see what you are seeing?  

Or maybe links to videos?

[Andrewjl]

Hi  Guys,   Well  a bit of "humble pie" needs to be eaten and apologies.   An intensive test with exactly the same mounting mosition. The same time in the evening, spotlight off and a number of setting adjustments (to make the Ultra and the Pro 4 behave the same revealed the problem was not with the Arlo camera !!  The images are only different in the quality of camera image.

I had bought a pair of Wasserstein camera protectors after I had rain get into an Ultra camera and cause corrosion.  The rain must have got in via the front access.   All my previous Pro4 tests had one of these on in comparison with the old ultra with no protector.  This time I noticed a halo'ing effect in the camera image and looked for reflections. Peeling back the cover immediately solved the problem.  The Protectors effect both the Pro4 and the Ultra cameras.  Mine are in white.  I do not have black ones.

Ultra with protector on

Above Ultra with Protector on

Pro4 with Protector on

above Pro4 with protector on

Pro4 No Cover

above Pro4 with protector off

Ultra No cover

above Ultra protector off

Note all test were done without the spotlight on

I guess I'm going to have to come up with another solution for keeping water out that seals in but still allows the camera to come out of its cover.

Thanks ofr the useful input though.  Andrew

[StephenB]

Thanks for following up.  This will be useful info for other users,