From Measurement to Requirements: How IEC 62676-5 is Evolving
Objective measurements are important. Defining the level of performance a camera must actually achieve is equally as important. The ongoing revision of IEC 62676-5 expands the focus from just measurement methods to application-specific performance requirements for professional security cameras.
What Makes a Security Camera “Good Enough”?
The international standard IEC 62676-5 defines key image quality characteristics and test methods for professional video surveillance cameras. The standard is currently under revision, with the updated version expected to be published in 2027.
One of the most significant changes concerns low-light performance. In the current version of the standard, low-light evaluation is included as an informative annex. In the upcoming revision, it will become a normative part of the standard, recognizing the growing importance of camera performance under very low illumination levels.
To support this development, Image Engineering conducted a psychophysical study to determine the perceptual thresholds of image quality attributes that matter in low-light conditions. The results were published at the Electronic Imaging Symposium in March 2026 and provide a scientific basis for defining meaningful performance requirements.
Another important addition is the new Annex C, which introduces application-specific performance requirements. The annex addresses a wide range of surveillance applications, including critical infrastructure, and defines the image quality levels required for different use cases. For the first time, the standard defines concrete performance expectations for different surveillance applications, helping organizations establish consistent requirements for purchasing and deploying surveillance systems.
The practical relevance of these requirements is already evident. The Indian government uses IEC 62676-5 as a basis for security camera tenders. Following these requirements, the new Annex J, “Complete Requirements for Camera Equipment of Video Surveillance Systems for Use in Security Applications,” has been added to the standard.
These developments reflect a broader shift in security camera evaluation. While previous versions of the standard primarily defined how cameras should be measured, the next generation of IEC 62676-5 increasingly defines what level of performance cameras should deliver in real-world applications.
As Project Leader of IEC 62676-5, Dietmar Wueller, founder of Image Engineering, continues to contribute towards the development of objective and application-oriented image quality standards for the surveillance industry.
