HD Cameras

Both cameras are producing the same quality of image but differ highly in price (IP cameras are much more expensive due to the web server and compression chip built into the camera). The main difference between IP and analog cameras is the ability to address each IP camera individually using unique IP’s on the network. An analog camera has to be accessed through the IP address of the attached DVR.  One may say that analog needs a different older type of RG59 wiring with power attached to it. This is not true. For all of our installations over the last 8 years we have used cat 5 wiring and high quality video baluns to send power and video up to 1000 ft from an analog camera to the DVR without putting additional load on the local network.

Over the last three years we started implementing HD systems in large grocery stores and hospitals in the Chicago area. We found them very stable and the quality of the picture was finally there. Due to resolution increases of up to 27 times from standard and IP cameras, security personnel and Police were able to finally get IDs of the face and cars in the parking lot (see sample pictures).

Many people mistake frame rate and resolution. The Department of Homeland Security recommends security cameras should have a maximum available resolution with frame rate reduced to 3-5 pictures per second. These settings extend recording time and still keep details in place. High Definition pictures have additional information needed for the face, license plate or other object recognition.  Increasing frame rate does not increase information from the CCTV camera.

With the market moving forward we are able to offer HD IP systems at a 20% higher price then analog systems.   A lot of organizations are successfully utilizing analog systems and would like to add High Definition Cameras to cover parking lots or large areas with greater details. We are offering a simple solution to replace just the DVR with a Hybrid unit that supports old analog cameras and new HD cameras at same time. This solution saves money, and at the same time brings your security system to the state of the art level.

One might say “What about PTZ”? Pan Tilt and Zoom cameras by design are a great tool in hand of the security personnel to monitor and investigate suspicious customers. Two major problems of PTZ cameras are a short life due to moving parts and the fact that it is only recording the picture currently seen by a camera.  According to “Murphy’s Law” this will lead to missing recordings in other places theoretically covered by this camera. This problem is solved by 5 and 10 megapixel cameras due to a new HD camera future called “Forensic PTZ” or “Digital PTZ”. An object or person can be followed and zoomed in at real time and post recording without losing the rest of the recording in the cameras field of view. Also the lifespan of the HD camera is much longer since the only mechanical part is the IR cut filter for night viewing.  Do we need HD PTZ camera?– personally I don’t think so. In this particular situation IP PTZ with resolution of 640 x 480 is sufficient since the zoom is done by mechanical optical camera lens. This keeps cost down if you really need a traditional PTZ camera.  The last option available now for updating analog cameras to IP environment are encoders.