Infrared cameras
convert light in the electromagnetic spectrum.
Not all light is visible to the human eye. In fact, most bands of light on the electromagnetic spectrum are invisible: we can only glimpse a tiny fraction of the light energy in our universe. Infrared cameras help enhance human vision by picking up infrared energy and converting it into a visible form. They have both practical and artistic benefits. Aesthetically, infrared cameras can produce interesting, fanciful images because they use a different part of the spectrum than visible light. They also permit thermal imaging, which is widely used among police and search and rescue teams looking for criminals or lost persons.
Shell
The shell is the body of the camera, the encasement that holds its various components. The shell must be sturdy enough to withstand the weight of the infrared circuitry and environmental conditions, if the camera is to be used outdoors. Typically, infrared camera shells are made of a metal composite or very hard plastic.
Hot Filter
The "hot filter" is the main component of an infrared camera, the part that gives it its ability to "see" infrared radiation. This is also what enables the heat-seeking quality of infrared cameras, which represent heat from an object (human or otherwise) as visible colors. Hot filters, as their name implies, filter out non-IR energy to allow the camera to pick up only infrared.
Lens
The lens is the "eye" of the camera, the part that takes in infrared light. Within the lens is the aperture, which controls how much light the camera picks up. The incoming light is reflected onto a mirror and then converted into the viewable image.
Circuitry
Infrared cameras require a complex network of circuitry to power their electronics. They require a zoom mechanism for zooming into an image. Zoom mechanisms may be manual (requiring human adjustment) or automatic. Infrared cameras use both film and digital capture, depending on the particular camera. If you have an older model, you may need special infrared film. Newer digital infrared cameras simply store the data on the camera's hard drive or removable memory chip.
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