Techniques for the detection of moving objects in a video image sequence are provided. Distinctive image variation points in a difference image are determined. An image variation threshold value is established and image variation points are determined as those points in the difference image in which the absolute image brightness value of which exceeds the image variation threshold value. The quality of the image variation points are determined based on at least one predetermined quality criterion. If the quality criterion is met, the determined image variation points determined are determined as the distinctive image variation points determined. Otherwise, the establishment of an image variation threshold value and determination of the quality of image variation points is repeated with a changed image variation threshold value.