A video camera system comprises an imaging system having a camera lens and an image sensor, and a retractable IR-cut filter, and a control unit for controlling the imaging system. The video camera system has a day-mode in which the IR-cut filter is arranged in front of the image sensor, and a night-mode in which the IR-cut filter is retracted from its position in front of the image sensor. Furthermore, the video camera has a field of view defined by properties of its imaging system, and it comprises a separate light-sensor for measuring an ambient light level so as to support a decision regarding when to actuate a transfer from night-mode to day-mode, or vice versa. The camera system is characterized in that the separate light sensor has imaging optics and is enabled for a variable field of view, which is aligned with a field of view of the video camera system, and in that a current field of view of the video camera system is used when selecting an active field of view of the separate light sensor.