Indepth look at Megapixel IP Cameras

With the introduction of Megapixel cameras to the CCTV surveillance market there is a new myth that the bigger the mega-pixel the better the video quality. This article disputes the common misconception that the more mega-pixels the better.

All Megapixels as well as IP cameras work on all the same basic video principals as coaxial based analog cameras. Just because a 5-megapixel camera can produce more pixels than a 2-megapixel camera doesn't mean that the 5-megapixel camera is better. There is more to a good quality image than just the number of pixels. Here are some important details to pay attention to when looking at a mega-pixel camera.

1. CMOS vs. CCD - The type of chip used to make up the image can be very important when determining quality. CMOS chips have come a long way over the last few years but still have some deficiencies compared to CCD chips. The biggest advantage to CCD chips is they produce higher quality images in low light. When having quality video at night is important, a CCD chip may have an advantage over a CMOS.

2. Progressive Scan - This is the method for displaying, storing or transmitting moving images in which all the lines of each frame are drawn in sequence. The alternative, interlacing, is used in traditional television systems where only the odd lines, then the even lines of each frame (each image now called a field) are drawn alternately. Making sure that the mega-pixel camera selected can produce smooth quality images even when recording high speed motion is important to having useable forensic evidence when an incident occurs.

3. Day / Night Quality - Making sure that a mega-pixel camera can image well in good lighting conditions as well as poor lighting can set many cameras apart. If poor or low lighting conditions exist for your viewing area, make sure the camera can perform well in your conditions. If you are using a high quality mega-pixel camera with true day/night (the IR cut filter is manually removed from the imager), you may need to add a good IR illuminator to improve the quality of the video.

4. Fuzzy pixels - Mega-pixel surveillance cameras are in some ways no different from the digital camera you have at home. If you were to compare a picture taken from a 10-megapixel inexpensive import camera to a 10-megapixel Canon digital camera there would be a difference. What makes the Canon camera produce a better image? It comes down to the quality of each pixel produced by each camera. Higher quality cameras use better color filters, digital noise reduction technology, and specialized chips to produce higher quality crisper images. The more pixels a camera produces doesn't mean it has a better image.

5. Lens Quality - As these mega-pixel cameras produce higher and higher numbers of pixels, the quality of the lenses continually need to be improved. The glass that is used must be designed specifically for mega-pixel cameras and use special optic glass to ensure the best possible image. Even if the camera is the best, putting a low quality or poorly manufactured lens on it will result in inferior quality video.

For each of these components listed above it is important to see the video first hand. When making an investment in IP or Mega-pixel camera technology seeing the video first hand is always the best way to determine if the camera selected is right for you. Verifying the quality of a camera through a specification sheet is OK but don't be fooled, let your eyes make the real determination.