When the first 960H cameras were introduced, problems with displays and DVR decoders led critics to dismiss the technology as a fad. However, with chipmakers like Sony and Nextchip investing heavily in R&D, as well as efforts from China, Korea, and Taiwan manufacturers, 960H has improved significantly.

In contrast to the D1 (720×480@30fps) resolution of older analog signals, the new batch of 960H products not only improve on image quality, they also feature WDR, higher SNR, and better color reproduction.

Three Major Leaps
The new generation of 960H products improves in three areas: digital noise reduction, wide dynamic range, and color reproduction.

Digital Noise Reduction
The new DSPs provide higher performance, allowing camera manufacturers to develop cameras that produce resolutions higher than 700TVL. Furthermore, the new processors enable more effective digital noise reduction through 2D and 3D noise processing, raising the SNR higher than 52dB.

Wide Dynamic Range
Newer 960H cameras also feature better WDR performance. Cameras powered by Sony’s Effio-V can capture clear images even in environments with high-contrast lighting or backlight situations. The new 960H cameras’ better backlight compensation and effective exposure result in better WDR performance with or without image enhancements.

Color Reproduction
Color reproduction is a strong advantage for 960H cameras. Sony, Pixelplus and Nextchip introduced DSPs that improve image sensors’ color performance and reproduction even further. […]