Iris launches Photon marine night vision camera

Iris Innovations has launched Photon, a compact 4K night vision camera designed to improve visibility and safety during low-light marine navigation.

The company says the model is intended to make night-time operation accessible across a range of vessels, from leisure craft to commercial and law enforcement applications.

Photon delivers full-colour imagery in near-dark conditions without relying on infrared or thermal imaging. With a minimum illumination of 0.0003 lux, the camera captures detailed, colour video under starlight. It offers ultra-high-definition 4K resolution and retails for £995/€1,145.

“Photon is for anyone who wants to navigate with confidence after dark and can be used on any vessel: from leisure and sports fishing boats to yachts, commercial operators and law enforcement patrol craft,” says Carl Hitchcock, CEO of Iris Innovations.

“It delivers extraordinary low-light performance at a fraction of the cost of thermal and other night vision cameras, and because it’s 4K, the detail and definition are outstanding. We’ve designed it to work seamlessly with leading marine electronics systems, so it’s ready for any boat.”

The camera is rated to IP67 and fully EN60945 EMC-compliant for marine conditions. It uses power over ethernet (PoE) for simplified installation and includes a rugged waterproof PoE injector.

Photon integrates with navigation systems from Raymarine, Navico (Simrad, B&G, Lowrance), Furuno and Garmin through Iris’s CMAC management system and IrisControl App for Garmin OneHelm, for use across a range of modern helm displays.

Iris claims that Photon maintains visibility and situational awareness in low thermal contrast environments, unlike thermal cameras, which can experience reduced effectiveness.

“We’ve always focused on designing rugged, purpose-built cameras for demanding marine and commercial applications,” adds Hitchcock. “With Photon, we’ve taken that expertise and combined it with cutting-edge low-light and 4K processing technology to deliver a camera that performs brilliantly at a price point that puts it within reach for all boat owners and operators.”

Photon will be introduced at Metstrade 2025 in Amsterdam in November and will be distributed globally through Iris Innovations’ dealer network from the end of the month. Two versions will be available: a 12mm lens for long-range viewing and a 2.8mm wide-angle lens for rear, side and backup applications.

The post Iris launches Photon marine night vision camera appeared first on Marine Industry News.