And what they mean
These terms may be used to describe the size of the image captured at the camera, transmitted over a wire, displayed on the screen, or recorded on the hard drive.
When comparing megapixel camera specifications you may notice pixel counts slightly different from the above. This is because some cameras will specify the total number of pixels captured by the sensor, and others will specify the ‘effective’ pixels. Some of the total pixels are used to contain technical housekeeping type of data, and are not contributing towards the ‘effective’ details of the image.
Those of you familiar with CCTV know that the resolution of an analog camera is typically listed as “TV lines”. These “lines” refer to the horizontal resolution of the image; therefore a 700 line camera has better resolution than a 420 line camera. Digital video recorders, however, list their resolution according to the terms in the chart above. DVRs that are ‘Full D1’ can record all the detail captured by the highest resolution analog cameras.
What Camera Should I buy?
One of the most common questions we get is “What resolution camera should I buy?” Of course, it depends. Each camera in your application may require a different resolution. It comes down to how much detail you want, what platform (if any) you already have in place, and how much is your budget. Examples of applications where you can easily justify spending more for higher resolution are recording monetary transactions, desiring facial recognition, or reading license plates.
It is important to consider what platform your camera will be running on as that may limit your resolution options. To summarize CCTV platforms: Analog cameras transmit over coax and can capture up to 700 lines (approximately full D1). HD-SDI cameras capture higher resolution images then encode / decode the data to run over coax. IP or network cameras transmit over CAT5 (just like computers). You can run analog cameras on a CAT5 network, or IP megapixel cameras over coax, but it would require additional hardware and added complexity so it’s not recommended.
We do not often recommend HD-SDI cameras because there are shortcomings with the current technology (a topic for another discussion). High resolution megapixel cameras are fantastic and are becoming more affordable. But don’t expect results like you see in the “CSI” TV shows – that’s just fiction. And keep in mind that the higher the resolution of the cameras, the more bandwidth and hard drive space you will need to transfer and store it. In most cases, cameras over 2MP are usually not worth the extra cost (at today’s prices), especially considering the added costs in required bandwidth and hard drive storage.
Surveillance Solutions
CAMERAS
At Optiview, we pride ourselves in carrying a massive diversified inventory of different security cameras, always in stock. 4K Cameras, IP67 Weatherproof, IK10 Vandal-proof, 24/7 Color, Active Deterrence, and Two-Way Talk. At Optiview, we have it all!
RECORDERS
Every recorder that we keep in stock is built for performance. Our Network & Digital Video Recorders are designed to run 24/7 and all supporting multi-site video monitoring. Optiview’s recorders can be customized with the number of video channels, number of hard drives, analytics, and more.
ACCESS CONTROL
Optiview specializes in keeping your buildings and sites safe and secure. Efficiently manage your security from almost any location and integrate with other technology all through a single platform. Integration with Optiview’s VMS enables even more advanced security features.
EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
Optiview carries more than just cameras and recorders! We carry aluminum enclosures to keep your equipment protected in the elements, Solar Powered Mobile Platforms to keep your sites secure, and networking and accessories. Optiview has you covered.
