StarCam 370i - low quality colour

[szucsati]

Problem: If not using StarCam 370i in a sunny room the picture turns purple and the dark coloures come up incorrect as shown in the pictures below (correct firs, SC second).

(Supposed) explanation: We found it is because of the lack/faulty (? not sure yet) of an IR filter layer. Probably the cam was designed like this to be able to work in night mode. Please read this article to understand the necessity of the IR filter and read through the topic for details (especially from this post).

Solution: Use an energy saving (neon based) bulb. It produces less IR light than the normal light bulbs. Please read this post.

Will update this post if we figure out anything important.

========================
Original first post:
Hi!

I asked my sister to bring a StarCam 370i for me from the UK. I got it, it's cool but I'm very disappointed about the coloures. It looks like it doesn't like dark coloures. My black t-shirt is light grey, my dark blue one is light purple, my darg green chair is also light purple...

I tried to adjust the colour settings but couldn't set it up. Is this normal? What can be wrong?
I use the latest driver from the msi webpage (she left the CD in Englang ).

thx

 

[Stu]

well frankw, i have no idea what is in your PC, or what your exact problem is, so i can't say if a driver update will help you or not

 

[frankw]

Hey Stu,

No problem buddy, I am pretty sure it's the drivers as I have tried them on 3 different machines.  Thanks for checking your CD though, that is much appreciated

Cheers.

 

[paddyg]

i appear to have just cracked this problem, i was getting the same purple colour issues at night, ive just changed the bulb in my main light from a bog standard pearl bulb to a energy saver and the problem is sorted, it looks like the pearl bulb was chucking out loads of infra-red which is what was overloading the cameras sensor.

i noticed that if i pointed the camera at the computer screen or my tv the picture on them was coloured correctly, turned off the main light and used the lamp on my mobile and colours were fine.

Change your light bulbs and you will hae a properly functioning camera without having to mess about with firmware etc.

 

[Stu]

Change your light bulbs and you will hae a properly functioning camera without having to mess about with firmware etc.

didn't we establish that earlier? :lol_anim:

definitely a very useful sticky topic i reckon

 

[szucsati]

StarCam Clip

Has anyone tried this modell? I wonder MSI made modifications on the lens or it is just a new design for the 370i. If so, it's a better design. I have a TFT monitor.

 

[Stu]

i notice they've added this:

The camera supports infrared light, therefore, it's inevitably that the images would come out with a bit chromatic aberration when the IR light turn on or under sunlight environment.

 

[Dunk1302]

Greetings all..... I'm soooooo glad I found this forum & thread, as I've had exactly the same colour problems described previously.

I bought the StarCam for use as part of a DIY security system (so the IR use for low-light was a bonus), but in strong sunlight, like we have today it's terrible.

After reading the comments about the IR sensitivity and plexiglass I had a revelation - aren't normal safety glasses/goggles made from plexiglass? - when I get home (where the cam is) I'm gonna try fitting it with safety specs to see if it solves the problem - watch this space!! 

Dunk 

 

[qwertyasdf]

So I got one of these web cams a couple of days ago and the quality of colour images is abysmal.

I have already come to the same conclusion as others here. The sensor has full sensitivity to IR light. It has to for the built in IR illumination to do anything useful. In sun or incandescent light the IR dominates washing out colour and giving an IR view of the world.

I found loads of web sites with details on how to make night vision cameras from web cams by removing the IR blocking filters. The star cam 370i doesn't have one to start with, all the others do for a reason.

The product should have been described as a night vision camera which just about passes for a colour web cam under flourescent lighting.