What is the Slow Shutter Function on Hikvision Camera?

The slow shutter function on a Hikvision camera is a setting designed to improve image quality in challenging low-light environments. It allows the camera to capture more light for each frame it produces.

Understanding Hikvision Slow Shutter

Specifically, the SLOW SHUTTER function increases the exposure time on a single frame. This longer exposure time allows the camera's sensor to gather more light before the image is processed.

How it Improves Low Light Performance

By increasing the exposure time, the camera becomes significantly more sensitive to the available light. This is crucial in low lux conditions (very dim light) where a standard shutter speed would result in a dark or unusable image. With slow shutter enabled, the camera can produce brighter, more detailed images even when light sources are minimal.

Here's a simple breakdown:

• Normal Shutter: Captures a frame very quickly, good for fast motion but needs sufficient light.
• Slow Shutter: Captures a frame over a longer period, gathers more light but can show motion blur.

Benefits and Trade-offs

Using the slow shutter function offers a key advantage for surveillance in dimly lit areas but comes with a potential drawback:

Benefits:

• Improved Visibility: Produces brighter, clearer images in low light.
• Enhanced Detail: Allows the camera to pick up more visual information in dark scenes.
• Reduced Noise: Longer exposure can sometimes help reduce digital noise that appears in dark images captured with fast shutter speeds.

Trade-offs:

• Motion Blur: The primary drawback is that any movement within the frame during the extended exposure time will likely appear blurred. This can make identifying fast-moving objects or individuals difficult.
• Lower Frame Rate: In some implementations, using slow shutter might slightly reduce the effective frame rate.

Practical Application

Slow shutter is typically used in fixed surveillance points where capturing detail in low light is more important than tracking fast motion. Examples include:

• Monitoring dimly lit alleys or parking lots.
• Capturing activity indoors after dark.
• Areas where supplemental lighting is not feasible or cost-effective.

Configuration

Hikvision cameras often allow users to adjust the slow shutter level (e.g., from OFF to 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x, etc.), with higher numbers indicating longer exposure times and greater sensitivity to light (but also more potential for motion blur). The optimal setting depends on the specific lighting conditions and the need to balance brightness with motion clarity.

Here's a simplified comparison:

By enabling and adjusting the slow shutter function, Hikvision cameras can significantly enhance their performance in low-light conditions, providing more usable video footage when visibility is challenging.