Window Camera

PHK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82069354#Comment_82069354

Full colour night vision is a thing. They've reduced in price dramatically since the BBC used them a decade ago to film animals at night.

There's two main technologies at play here (excluding cameras with floodlights). In basic terms a very sensitive large sensor that can pick up colour on very low ambient light such as starlight or the moon. Or a large sensor with processing of changes in reflections from street lamps etc to generate an estimate of the colour (this is a software solution and so cheaper)

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82069697#Comment_82069697

I think the point is "complete" darkness… as you say, you can get highly sensitive CMOS sensors that can operate with very little ambient light but not 0 ambient light. Assuming the OP doesnt live deep in a cave then the chances of there being 0 ambient light is very low

Most, but not all, use IR as well as the visible spectrum and therefore have an IR emitter to "light" the area with something that wont disturb people like a flood light would but this is where the IR reflecting or refracting in the window can often result in a washed out night time footage as the camera is blinded by its own light.