Industry Overview
The security and surveillance camera industry has seen explosive growth over the last few decades. Most public spaces are now under surveillance for the populace's safety, and more cameras are being installed daily. However, it's crucial to understand that it is not necessarily the number of cameras but the quality of their image processing that matters. Without high image quality, the performance and safety of Surveillance camera systems will suffer greatly.
As with other camera systems, surveillance systems rely on various image quality factors to determine their performance and safety. The IEC 62676-5 international standard defines eight metrics crucial to Surveillance camera testing. These metrics include resolution, minimum illumination/low-light, dynamic range, infrared illumination, geometric distortion, veiling flare, and maximum frame rate.
Surveillance camera systems, like automotive systems, must perform in constantly changing lighting and weather conditions. Image Engineering offers advanced testing solutions for the key metrics outlined in the standard, as well as tools to simulate various environments.
Main Applications
Security and surveillance systems cover many applications that contribute to the general safety and security of our daily lives.
IEC 62676-5 Standard
Climate-Controlled Testing
Camera Resolution (ISO-12233)
Low-Light (ISO-19093)
One of the main tasks of a surveillance camera system is to keep watch at night. It is therefore essential to ensure that these systems can perform adequately in low-light environments.
Relevant Standards for Surveillance Cameras
A look at the crucial industry standards for testing and evaluating surveillance camera image quality.
IEC 62676-5
IEC 62676-5-1
ISO 12233:2024 Resolution
ISO 19093:2018 - Low-Light
This standard defines thresholds and test methods for determining whether a camera system can still produce acceptable image quality in low-light scenes.
Key Products & Solutions
Advanced tools and solutions for testing the image quality performance of security and surveillance systems
TE42-LL
GEOCAL
iQ-Climate Chamber
iQ-Analyzer-X
Advanced AI-powered analysis software for evaluating the camera's performance of various image quality factors.
Security Camera Test Services
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We house one of the world's largest independent and objective camera test labs. For over twenty years, we have provided objective camera tests to companies looking to improve the image quality performance of their digital cameras.
Our test lab always adheres to the testing methods established by international standards (e.g., ISO, IEC), including IEC 62676-5, when applicable. A few of our engineers even actively contributed to the publication of the standard. Our test lab is equipped with advanced test equipment to verify each metric specified in the standard. We also regularly utilize the iQ-Climate Chamber for climate-controlled camera testing, which is essential for security and surveillance camera systems.
Example Test Solutions
Test Setup 1: IEC 62676-5
The goal of this test solution is to evaluate the image quality metrics described in IEC 62676-5, the international standard for security camera applications. Metrics include resolution, dynamic range, infrared illumination, geometric distortion, veiling flare, low-light illumination, and frame rate.
Ideal equipment:
TE42-LL – Multipurpose test chart
TE269 – OECF and IR testing
TE281 – Flare test chart
iQ-Flatlights – Reflective test chart illumination
LG3 – Transparent test chart illumination
LED-Panel – Timing measurements
iQ-Analyzer-X – Analysis software
This setup is built around a series of test charts for measuring multiple image quality factors across different lighting conditions. The iQ-Flatlights provide spectrally tunable reflective test chart illumination, while the LG3 provides transparent test chart illumination and also offers flicker response testing. Finally, the LED-Panel lets you test the most critical timing parameters of a camera, and the iQ-Analyzer-X analyzes the test results.
Test Setup 2: Climate-Controlled Testing
The goal of this test solution is to evaluate image quality metrics relevant to security camera applications in a climate-controlled setting. Metrics include resolution, dynamic range, infrared illumination, geometric distortion, veiling flare, low-light illumination, and frame rate.
Ideal equipment:
TE42-LL – Multipurpose test chart
iQ-Climate Chamber – Temperature control
GEOCAL – Geometric calibrations
Universal Camera Mount – Camera mounting and alignment
iQ-Analyzer-X – Analysis software
This setup is built around the iQ-Climate Chamber, which allows you to control the temperature of your test ( -40 °C to 120 °C). You can mount and align your camera inside the Climate Chamber with the Universal Camera Mount. It can then be aligned through the porthole to different charts and measurement devices.