The market’s long-established dependence upon analogue systems has added to a view that switching is just too difficult says Paul Taggar, pictured, Country Manager, UK and Ireland, at Arecont Vision. Misconceptions can be one of the biggest ‘fear factors’ to systems integrators and users when it comes to the application of IP-based video systems and megapixel video cameras.

There is widespread concern that IP-based and/or megapixel video surveillance systems are expensive –but that doesn’t take into consideration the return on investment (RoI) and performance benefits they deliver. Infrastructure and cabling are another concern, complicated by the perceived challenges of installing systems in landmark buildings or historical sites as commonly encountered in the European market.

The fact is that IP systems, especially those that leverage the benefits of megapixel imaging, are cost-competitive with analogue systems. In many cases, systems can actually cost less overall while providing better image quality, performance, and functionality.

These systems also require less cabling and infrastructure, and can sometimes be deployed on existing networks. The immediate task at hand is to address and eliminate common misconceptions about IP megapixel systems so security professionals will more readily embrace the benefits of networked systems.

The Numbers
Megapixel cameras provide real value and measurable cost-efficiencies for both end users and integrators. The most evident value is in the superior images produced by multi-megapixel cameras.

Since the infancy of video surveillance, users have continually asked for better image quality. Now that quality is available with cameras that employ up to 40MP image sensors.

By standard definition, conventional IP and analogue cameras produce about 400,000 pixels versus 1.3 million to ten million pixels for megapixel cameras, and the difference in image definition is clearly visible.

With megapixel cameras, zooming in after event provides forensic capabilities not possible with standard definition cameras. Other benefits of video systems with megapixel cameras include: […]