What is an Auto-Iris Lens?

An auto-iris lens automatically adjusts the iris (or aperture) in order to regulate and optimize the amount of light or infrared energy a camera receives. This is ideal for outdoor video surveillance cameras as they often have to deal with changing light conditions and high-contrast situations. The iris is not a digital image process but is a physical opening built into a lens that is controlled by a small servo motor and is often used in tandem with DSP image processing such as WDR, HLC and BLC. It allows security and surveillance cameras to adjust and optimize the image on the fly based on the changing light conditions.