CCTV only showing black and white

[Roblox84]

I purchased the 4ch 720p bullet camera system and three out of 4 cameras are only in black and white display. I've tried a replacement camera they sent me on each of those channels but they still only show black and white. I've tried plugging them into the one channel that shows color but that didn't work either.

Weird thing is when I move the camera that shows color to another channel it will still show color, but when I move a camera that shows black and white to the other channel it still only shows black and white. I have no idea what to do, can this be a DVR issue?

Another thing I would like to add is that one of my cameras would go from color to black and white several times a day but when it wasn't changing it would stay on color. This camera also had very blurry playback of recorded video. I switched this camera out with the replacement amcrest sent me and it did fix the blurry playback issue but now the picture is also only in black and white.

[Zach]

Hello,

The camera's have a built in light sensor and when it goes below a certain lux value, it switches to IR mode which shows only black and white. (Lux is how light intensity is measured). It sounds like the area you are viewing is dark to the point where it forces the IR lights to come on.

[Roblox84]

I can try shining a light into them to test it, but these lights are basically out on the open pointed towards the ground. I have one camera that is under our front porch where it doesn't get any direct light and that is the only camera that is working properly. When I hooked up the replacement to each of these cameras I had them pointing more up receiving more light and it was still black and white.

I'm still getting two more replacement cameras from them which ended up being shipped separately so I'll try them, but I doubt my cameras are bad now.

[Zach]

Please try checking the connections on the camera and DVR side (DVR side first as that should be easier). If a connection is loose it may account for this. I will check with out a product myself and see if I can replicate this issue. Also, if you could get some snapshots of what exactly the camera is pointing at that would help.

[Roblox84]

I've tried messing with the connections and still nothing. The only time something happens is when I unplug a camera from the video cable and plug it back in, then the camera goes to color for a half a second and then changes to black and white. It's almost like those three cameras are switching out to IR like someone else pointed out. I just don't know why they'd be doing this and I also shined a flash light into them and they didn't switch to color.

What's confusing is when I go outside and put my hand over the lens I can hear the IR filter engage so it's black and white but not even in IR mode?

[Zach]

It's possible that the channels settings have been adjusted. Try going to Settings>Camera>Image, select the Channel with the issue (the top right box in the picture) then click the default button (box on the bottom). I have attached a screenshot for reference. The live preview will show you if it has changed.

[Roblox84]

I am not seeing all those settings you are seeing on my program. I tried upgrading my firmware using several USB sucks but it wouldn't let me so I figured I had the newest firmware.

[Roblox84]

When I go into the color settings and click on reset equalizer the images switch to color for a second and then revert back to black and white. I've managed to make one display stick in color by pressing reset equalizer 20 times and finally the color stayed on and it didn't revert to black and white, but the other two no matter how many times I click reset the color won't stay on. Anyone have any other ideas on this issue?

[Zach]

Sorry for the delayed response. You can check the version by going to Info>Version. What changes is the release date. You can compare it to the release date listed on www.amcrest.com/firmware You can also update through the WebUI if you're having issues with USB drives. The only thing I can think to try would be resetting everything to default (Setting>System>Default) to see if you can get the cameras to reset. Other than that we can try replacing the DVR.

[Roblox84]

I've already replaced the DVR and those cameras and nothing seemed to work. Can this be a camera power supply issue or is that unlikely?