Alright, let me try to put to rest any uncertainties:
1) This is not my area of expertise, I'm an FAA licensed pilot and studying computer science with an emphasis on software engineering while dabbling in sub-system design. Designing a NIR/FLIR imaging system is a specialty area in itself...
Problem: I'm trying to optimize an inexpensive digital camera with a CCD sensor for NIR video. As of right now (after removing the IR filter) it doesn't work well in the dark at all (even with a basic visible light filter ... obviously). I have to direct at least a little bit of regular light...