Why you should switch to megapixel cameras

I get a lot of people asking me, “Why should I switch to megapixel cameras?” If the camera/lens combination is configured properly, you may not need megapixel cameras. But they have some significant advantages. For example:

1. Dramatic forensic improvements over analog and IP VGA (more pixels equals more detail).
2. Instantaneous electronic Pan, Tilt and Zoom (PTZ with no mechanical moving parts).
3. Reduced camera counts on new installations (Some mega pixel camera manufacturers claim that one megapixel camera can sometimes replace up to 24 analog cameras).
4. Lower bandwidth requirements than VGA IP cameras when utilizing image-cropping feature.

Most manufacturers’ cameras have the ability to throttle back on the bandwidth demand. These cameras allow the same video quality but reduce the load on the network by limiting the bit rate. Another way to reduce the bandwidth demand is to utilize “edge recording.” The encoder has storage capacity built in and will only transmit across the network if an alarm is activated.

For the long run, you should plan on megapixel IP cameras. Maximize existing analog camera systems by using hybrid DVRs.