WHAT ARE VIDEO RESOLUTIONS?
1. What is a high definition CCTV camera?
All image formats with a resolution of 1280×720 are considered high definition (HD) format. In the modern world of video surveillance, there are two areas: analog and digital. Consequently, there are analog and network (IP) HD cameras. 960H (NTSC: 960×480) resolution is not HD. Current HD resolution formats include: 1.0 megapixels (720p), 1.3 megapixels (960p), 2 megapixels (1080p), 3 megapixels, 5 megapixels, 8 megapixels (4K UHD), 12 megapixels, 33 megapixels (8K UHD) .. .
Typically, HD network cameras provide slightly better image quality than analog HD cameras of the same resolution (eg 720p).
Recently one of our customers reported that they installed a video surveillance system on 720p AHD cameras (the manufacturer said 1000TVL) and was not satisfied – the image quality of these 720p AHD cameras was even worse than that of the old 960H cameras. Why this happened, we will tell in the fourth part of the article.
2. Advantages of high definition
Compared to standard definition, HD technology has increased image detail. Image quality is further enhanced by various enhancement technologies such as progressive scan, 2D / 3D dynamic noise reduction, wide dynamic range (WDR), etc. In short, HD offers excellent image quality. A typical 960H analog camera offers a resolution of 960H / WD1, which is 960×480 pixels (for NTSC) or 960×576 pixels (for PAL). Once the signal is digitized in the DVR or HVR, the image will be a maximum of 552960 pixels (0.5 megapixels).
A high definition camera can cover a much larger area than a conventional camera. Take, for example, a 12MP fisheye lens panoramic camera with a 360-degree field of view. With an integrated 12 megapixel image sensor and ePTZ (virtual pan / tilt / zoom) and split image capabilities, it can replace multiple conventional CCTV cameras, significantly reducing installation costs and subsequent maintenance fees.
Excellent compatibility is another advantage of HD. Whether you shop online or go to your local electronics store, you will notice that all televisions, camcorders, and digital cameras support HD 1080p (FullHD). Consequently, if you want this equipment to work with your CCTV system, you should choose a CCTV system that supports 1080p. We also understand that 4K is the current trend, it is logical to expect 4K UHD video surveillance system to become popular in the future.
5MP resolution
3. Various HD resolution formats
High definition IP cameras are at the forefront of video surveillance systems. They can provide higher quality video with greater image detail and wider coverage than standard definition cameras. You can select the desired format of network (IP) cameras according to your requirements. For example, for license plate or facial recognition applications, choose megapixel network cameras with a resolution of 1080p or higher. For the resolution of a particular HD format, see the following table:
Format Resolution (pixels) Aspect Ratio Scan
1MP / 720P 1280 x 720 16: 9 Progressive
SXGA / 960P 1280 x 960 4: 3 Progressive
1.3 MP 1280×1024 5: 4 Progressive
2MP / 1080P 1920 x 1080 16: 9 Progressive
2.3 megapixels 1920×1200 16:10 Progressive
3MP 2048×1536 4: 3 Progressive
4MP 2592×1520 16: 9 Progressive
5MP 2560×1960 4: 3 Progressive
6MP 3072×2048 3: 2 Progressive
4K Ultra HD 3840×2160 16: 9 Progressive
8K Ultra HD 7680×4320 16: 9 Progressive
