This is a frequent forum debate with a practical answer.

850nm LEDs (low-glow) emit a faint red glow visible to the human eye — and to many animals, including some deer. They produce brighter illumination and better image quality at night, but the visible glow can alert wary animals and potentially attract other hunters to your camera location.

940nm LEDs (no-glow) emit in the near-infrared spectrum that is invisible to humans and most animals. The tradeoff is reduced illumination intensity — 940nm cameras typically produce slightly darker or grainier nighttime images at equivalent distances compared to 850nm cameras.

Which to choose:

•        Heavily pressured hunting areas with wary deer → 940nm no-glow

•        Research or wildlife monitoring where detection of the camera is not a concern → 850nm (better image quality)

•        Security or property monitoring → 850nm (deterrence value from the visible glow)

•        Public land where camera theft is a concern → 940nm (less visible from a distance)