May 4, 2007
Megapixel cameras show the difference is in the details
When people think of video surveillance footage, often the first thing that comes to mind is that grainy, low-resolution footage you see on nightly news reports – you know the ones where someone gets caught on tape trying to rob a mini-mart? As it turns out, security cameras are capable of much higher image quality, thanks in no small part to digital technology and new megapixel surveillance cameras.
With a standard CCTV camera, the maximum number of pixels is 704 by 480, but with the smallest 1.3 megapixel camera, the resolution is 1,280 pixels by 1,024. And that's on the low end of the megapixel spectrum. Some cameras go as high as 11 megapixels, though the most affordable, and most commonly used megapixel cameras fall in the 1 to 2 megapixel range.
Megapixel cameras offer a number of significant advantages over traditional CCTV cameras. First there is the detail. While lower resolution surveillance cameras are able to monitor activity, they can't necessarily provide the proper image detail to identify individuals. Megapixel cameras on the other hand have a higher resolution and are capable of providing clear images of fine details such as individual faces and license plates. The added detail also means fewer cameras are required to cover wider areas. A small number of high-resolution megapixel cameras with wide angle lenses can cover areas that would normally require a heaping helping of CCTV cameras. Some experts say it can take up to four CCTV cameras to cover the same areas as a single megapixel camera.
Another benefit of these cameras is the ability to digitally zoom in on different areas of a single camera view. An operator can zero in on activity as it happens or perform digital zooms within recorded footage of events that have already occurred.
The use of megapixel IP cameras is growing steadily. While manufacturers predicted the technology would be a popular choice for industries such as casinos and retail stores, megapixel cameras are now seen as a viable option for many who choose to go the route of IP-based video surveillance. This trend should continue as the technology improves and prices begin to drop.
Posted by Dan on May 4, 2007 7:21 PM | Comments (0)
Telephone: 888-257-4210 · 
Fax: 503-684-1590