The latest firmware update for the Aqara E1 camera has introduced a serious issue. The camera now produces a very loud mechanical clicking sound when the IR-cut filter moves during the transition between day mode and night mode. It sounds almost like a hammer inside the camera.
The IR-cut filter mechanism is slamming back and forth whenever night mode is activated or deactivated. This behavior did not occur before the firmware update. I have three identical cameras, and only the two cameras that were updated now exhibit this problem. The third camera, which is still running the older firmware, switches to night mode silently as before.
This raises a serious concern that the IR-cut mechanism is being driven too aggressively, which could potentially shorten the lifespan of the camera.
What happening is the following:
Every time night mode is activated—either manually in the settings or automatically when the room becomes dark—the camera switches on its infrared illumination so the sensor can capture images in low light. To do this, the IR-cut filter in front of the sensor must physically move out of the optical path.
This movement is controlled by a small actuator or motor that receives an electrical impulse. After the firmware update, it seems that the impulse driving this actuator may have been increased significantly. As a result, the IR-cut filter is being moved with excessive force and is slamming into position, producing a loud clicking sound.
This did not happen before the update, and the camera that has not yet been updated still performs the transition silently.
Could you please investigate whether the latest firmware has changed the IR-cut actuator behavior? If so, is there a fix or a firmware update planned to correct this issue?
