Video door intercom system having an external station, which records people using a camera, and at least one home station which is operatively connected to the external station, the thermal radiation inside the overall recording range of the camera being detected using a plurality of temperature sensors (8A, 8B, 8C...) in the form of a thermocouple pile or a thermopile or a thermopile row or a thermosensor array or a thermopile array, and a limited "zoomed" image section being derived from the overall recording range of the camera using a processing and control device which receives signals from the temperature sensors (8A, 8B, 8C...) in the external station, which image section follows the region of the maximum thermal radiation detected by the temperature sensors (8A, 8B, 8C...), characterized • in that the processing and control device generates a sensor signal (sL) for switching on an illumination means (18, 21) as soon as at least one temperature sensor (8A, 8B, 8C...) detects an increase in heat, which, in terms of its intensity, is typical of a person approaching the external station, in front of the external station, • in that the sensor signal (sL) is forwarded via a switching stage for controlling/switching on a person illumination means which is integrated in the external station and is intended to illuminate the face of the person in front of the camera, • in that the sensor signal (sL) is supplied to a switching threshold which has an adjusting apparatus for predefining the desired value of ambient light, the switching threshold controlling a switching stage on the output side and supplying a mains-operated illumination means for illuminating the area surrounding the external station of the video door intercom system via the controlled/switched-on switching stage, • in that the person illumination means is formed by a plurality of LEDs, • in that the sensor signal (sL) switches on an external mains-operated illumination means via the switching stage, • in that the sensor signal (sL) is used to switch on the camera, • in that the sensor signal (sL) is used to start the setting-up of communication between the door station and the home station, • in that the door station is supplied with energy via a bus provided between the external station and the at least one home station, and • in that the person illumination means and the mains-operated illumination means are switched off as soon as the temperature sensors (8A, 8B, 8C...) no longer detect any heat caused by a person in front of the external station. • in that the processing and control device generates a sensor signal (sL) for switching on an illumination means (18, 21) as soon as at least one temperature sensor (8A, 8B, 8C...) detects an increase in heat, which, in terms of its intensity, is typical of a person approaching the external station, in front of the external station, • in that the sensor signal (sL) is forwarded via a switching stage for controlling/switching on a person illumination means which is integrated in the external station and is intended to illuminate the face of the person in front of the camera, • in that the sensor signal (sL) is supplied to a switching threshold which has an adjusting apparatus for predefining the desired value of ambient light, the switching threshold controlling a switching stage on the output side and supplying a mains-operated illumination means for illuminating the area surrounding the external station of the video door intercom system via the controlled/switched-on switching stage, • in that the person illumination means is formed by a plurality of LEDs, • in that the sensor signal (sL) switches on an external mains-operated illumination means via the switching stage, • in that the sensor signal (sL) is used to switch on the camera, • in that the sensor signal (sL) is used to start the setting-up of communication between the door station and the home station, • in that the door station is supplied with energy via a bus provided between the external station and the at least one home station, and • in that the person illumination means and the mains-operated illumination means are switched off as soon as the temperature sensors (8A, 8B, 8C...) no longer detect any heat caused by a person in front of the external station.