A Quick and Dirty CCTV Camera Resolution Tutorial

The CCTV camera resolution you chose will obviously affect how clear the image from your security camera will be. Understanding the basics of security camera resolution can help you make the best decision for your CCTV security setup.

Measuring CCTV Resolution

When dealing with CCTV systems, resolution is limited by the capabilities of both the camera and the recorder/monitor that you are using for your security system. Choosing a high resolution security camera won’t increase the quality of your recordings if your recorder is only capable of lower resolution display.

CCTV resolution is measured in vertical and horizontal pixel dimensions. For television specs, which most CCTV surveillance systems use, the highest resolution you can capture and store is 704 x 480 – NTSC in the U.S. – and 720 x 576, which is PAL for European displays. In security camera parlance, this is called D1 resolution, and is the highest resolution you can record on CCTV systems. You can purchase standalone recorders that support 30 FPS recording, but the real resolution is 352 x 240, which is CIF resolution.

CIF CCTV Resolution

At 352 x 240 pixels, CIF resolution is one quarter the resolution of D1. You’ll typically find this in mid level standalone DVR recorders and in higher end CCTV systems that allow for remote Internet viewing, as most wireless CCTV security systems do. They use this rather than the higher end D1 CCTV camera resolution because streaming D1 video can use a lot of bandwidth.

QCIF CCTV Resolution

The next step down in CCTV camera resolution is QCIF, which is 176 x 120 pixels in size. That’s one quarter the size of CIF resolution and is typically used when you plan on remote viewing from a mobile device such as a cell phone.

These figures are relevant if you are considering analog CCTV camera systems. IP-based digital CCTV systems are capable of far higher resolution and much more detail than analog CCTV. If you’re purchasing a new system or upgrading an existing one, most CCTV security camera experts recommend choosing hybrid cameras that will work with either type of system. That way, you won’t have to upgrade your CCTV cameras again when you upgrade your DVR or recording solution.

For the most up-to-date information on CCTV camera and security systems, talk with a security camera pro who can explain your choices in plain English. If you can explain exactly what use you plan to make of your CCTV system, a reputable security camera professional will be able to make the best recommendations for your use.