What to consider when buying a higher-definition camera

Needless to say, today’s IP camera resolution has become larger than before. Traditional full HD cameras have given way to 2K and 4K cameras. Yet it is advised that the user think about a few points before deciding which high-resolution camera to purchase.
 
The closed-circuit TV (CCTV) technology has gone through several phases. Old-time analog systems consisted of analog cameras and DVRs have transitioned to IP-based systems with IP cameras and NVRs. The camera technology itself has also evolved, from the VGA standard offering 640 x 480 pixels to 1280 x 1024 pixels to the full HD format, 1920 x 1080 pixels.
 
And the evolution continues into 2K (2560 x 1440 or 4 megapixels) and the ultra-high definition formats of 4K (3840 x 2160, 8 megapixels) and even 8K (7680 x 4320, 33 megapixels), although the latter is more for broadcasting purposes, not video surveillance.
 
As far as video surveillance is concerned, full HD has been the most popular standard, yet with the increasing availability of 2K and 4K cameras and their better affordability, demands for them have gone up as well.
 
In particular, 4K has also gained the attention of users. Offering resolution of 3840 x 2160, 4K allows the user to see details of the image, for example each individual on a crowded street or an intruder breaking into the house, clearer. Its growth potential is also not to be ignored: according to a report by Market Reports World, the global 4K technology market had been valued at US$47.2 billion in the year 2017, which is expected to reach $150.2 billion by 2023, at a compound annual growth rate of 21.29 percent.
 

What to consider

 
With 2K and 4K cameras becoming more widespread, it’s natural for end users to consider replacing or upgrading their existing cameras to the new ones. Before doing so, however, there are certain things to consider.
 
According to a recent blogpost by CCTV Camera World, the following are the rationale for choosing 2K over 4K:
 

• You feel that 40 ft of facial detail is enough from the mounting location of the camera.
• You are budget-minded and want higher quality than 1080P but don’t want to break the bank right away.
• You want an upgrade path in the future if the 4MP quality cameras do not meet your expectations. You can always move the 4MP camera to a different location and put up a 4K camera in its place.

 
And the following are why the user should choose 4K over 2K, according to the post:
 

• You need the highest quality in the industry to protect your home, or business.
• You are looking to "future proof" your security camera system installation and not have to worry about future upgrades.
• You have the available budget for high quality cameras and a powerful recorder with enough storage.

 
However, for those looking to buy 4K, the post gave a piece of advice. “Don’t be fooled by cheap cameras on Amazon or other CCTV companies that use inexpensive 4K sensors. Although the cameras may produce a 4K picture, the video quality will suffer because of poor quality sensors, and camera internals that sacrifice camera reliability and longevity,” it said.
 
It should be noted that a lot of cameras out there are capturing 4K video at less than the full frame rate (for example at 25 or 20fps) to save bandwidth and storage. Most 4K applications, for example city surveillance, do not really warrant the full frame rate as the user is more interested in looking at the details in each image.