Nightvision camera viewed through iPad

J

JetskiJeff

n3wb
Aug 13, 2025
11
3
Delaware
I am looking for a budget friendly night/low light vision camera that can be used on a boat while underway at night. It needs to be hardwired to a 12v battery and able to view through an iPad (2025 A16). Any recommendations? Would like to stay under $200 for the camera since who knows how long it’ll last in a saltwater environment bouncing around. Appreciate the help, last camera I tried using with an Amazon fire tablet and never got it to work so I scrapped the idea, until now again!
 
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If the camera you're considering to use is still that Hikvision 2CD2087G2 you cited back in August to use with the Fire tablet, then try the free app Streamie
on that iPad and see how it goes. It claims to use RTSP and I already posted those URL's in my reply to your August post..

EDIT: What about lighting? Will you need visible white LED's for full color under poor ambient lighting underwater or is IR (black and white) OK?

TonyR

Post in thread 'Tiny Cam with Amazon fire 11 tablet for hikvision cam?'

Even though the Fire OS is a specialized version of the Android OS, I'm pretty sure there's more hoops to jump through to get a straight-up Android app like TinyCam to install and work properly on a Fire Tablet. A Google search will reveal such info.

=OR=

I'd first try VLC for Fire . It's free to download and use from the Amazon app store and should work well on the Fire Table AND allow a RTSP stream from the camera to be viewed without having to jump through those aforementioned hoops. Just choose your Fire tablet or Fire Stick model from the left column.

Then...
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I ended up returning that camera, so clean slate, just now using the iPad instead. The camera will be hardwired to my 12v battery with a switch to activate, and then I’m assuming Ethernet to USB-C adapter to view the camera.
I will try the streamie app whenever I get a camera. When I’m using the boat at night in the back bays, there’s a lot of ambient light from nearby houses/hotels/marinas etc. When I’m in the ocean, I’m hoping a clear night with at least a partial moon and stars will provide enough to see in front of me somewhat. Others have posted that as long as it’s a clear night and the moon is out, the cameras work. I just don’t want to drop $2-4k on a boat nightvision setup. Others have DIY ones for 1/10th of the price!
Any recommendations on a camera? Thanks!
 
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TonyR said:
This cam on Ama$on has a fairly decent rating and price, specs say it's ONVIF-compliant and can stream via RTSP, is POE or 12VDC, has IR for night vision, refund or replacement until Jan. 31, 2026:

Barlus Underwater Cameras 304 Stainless Steel IP68 5MP 2592×1944 POE IP Camera 32Ft Cable Koi Pond Camera​

Click to expand...
I like the looks of it, seems like it would hold up well on a boat. My biggest concern is the night time capabilities, especially with movement and how far it can see. A lot of the cameras I’ve been researching will specify how far they can see in the night, some are 150+ feet! I don’t see this one being that capable since it’s for a pond.
 
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Best of luck to you finding an over-the-counter, ready-to-go camera that can see anywhere near 150 feet underwater, especially at night. I came up with zip. :idk:
 
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Yeah, 150 ft underwater at night is pretty much impossible for any cheap, off-the-shelf cam. Most of the budget ones are really just pond cams. If you find something under $200 that can actually do that, definitely share, a lot of us would want to see it.
 
Sorry, there’s a misunderstanding. I don’t need to see underwater! It needs to be weather resistant being on a boat (even though I’d like to make it removable when not in use). I just need to see what’s in front of me when I’m driving the boat at night, other boats, buoys, markers, etc. I see some of the cameras have +150ft distance at night. Seeing underwater would be crazy but not helpful in my case here! I just need to see where I’m going at night when driving the boat. Sorry for the confusion!
 
JetskiJeff said:
Sorry, there’s a misunderstanding. I don’t need to see underwater!
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I'd say not a misunderstanding but a mistype....you said so in your first post. But as I go back to other posts I understand that you intend to use above water to see where you're going. :cool:

That said, since it would be used for navigation I don't recommend an IP/network camera....it can have too much delay and lag to be practical or safe for such a task. That's why backup and side/front cameras in motor vehicles are analog, not digital/network/IP.
 
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Sorry! I typed underway and it autocorrected to underwater! My mistake!

Any recommendations for a camera that will be able to be viewed on an iPad or would that be digital cameras only?
 
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