IP cameras or network
cameras are analogue or
digital video cameras, plus an
embedded video server
having an IP address, capable
of streaming the video (and
sometimes, even audio).
Due to the fact that
network cameras are
embedded devices, and do
not need to output an
analogue signal, resolutions
higher than CCTV analogue
cameras are possible. A
typical analogue CCTV
camera has a PAL (768x576
pixels) or NTSC (720x480
pixels), whereas network
cameras may have VGA
(640x480 pixels), SVGA
(800x600 pixels) or quad-VGA
(1280x960 pixels, also
referred to as 'megapixel')
resolutions.
An analogue or digital
camera connected to a video
server acts as a network
camera, but the image size is
restricted to that of the video
standard of the camera.
However, optics (lenses and
image sensors), not video
resolution, are the
components that determine
the image quality.
Network cameras can be
used for very cheap
surveillance solutions
(requiring one network
camera, some Ethernet
cabling, and one PC), or to
replace entire CCTV
installations (cameras
become network cameras,
tape recorders become DVRs,
and CCTV monitors become
computers with TFT screens
and specialised software.
Digital video manufacturers
claim that turning CCTV
installations into digital video
installations is inherently
better). |
