Bit rate controller and a method for limiting output bit rate

A bit rate controller for controlling a bit rate for encoding of digital video data, the bit rate controller comprising:

• a light level determination block configured to determine a light level in images of a captured scene based on light level during capturing of the images, wherein a light level scale is discretized into a plurality of distinct light levels comprising at least a low light level, an intermediate light level and a high light level, and wherein a maximum bit rate for encoding the digital video data is associated with each respective distinct light level;
• and
• a maximum bit rate setting block configured to, upon the light level being determined to be:
• the low light level, set the bit rate for encoding the digital video to a low-light maximum bit rate;
• the intermediate light level, set the bit rate for encoding the digital video to an intermediate-light maximum bit rate;
• or
• the high light level, set the bit rate for encoding the digital video to a high-light maximum bit rate;
• wherein the low-light maximum bit rate is lower than the intermediate-light maximum bit rate and wherein the high-light maximum bit rate is lower than the intermediate-light maximum bit rate.