…And other questions about image resolution you’ve been dying to have answered
Do you ever feel like your security tech is speaking a foreign language when they start talking about image and display resolution? When it comes to the world of security cameras, you’ve probably read a lot about 4MP cameras, 4K cameras, and HD cameras, but what does it all mean? Have no fear – we’re here to help you. Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions we get about image resolution and storage.
What does 4MP actually mean?
Basically, a 4MP, or megapixel, image is composed of roughly 4 million pixels. The most common 4MP resolution is 2560 pixels wide by 1440 pixels high. 4MP cameras offer a higher video quality than 1080p resolution security cameras, allowing you to get a crisper image of intruders or other security situations.
What about 4K?
4K images have a horizontal resolution of about 4000 pixels and a width resolution of 2160 for an incredible 8,294,400 total pixels. If you wanted to put it in the same language as the 4MP camera, 4K cameras feature a resolution equal to 8MP, making it twice as “good” as the 4MP in terms of resolution and number of pixels.
What is 1080p?
1080p is equivalent to about 2MP, featuring 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high. The “p” in 1080p refers to the number of pixels high the image is. In terms of resolution, 4MP is twice as good as 1080p and 4K is four times as good as 1080p.
Is 1080p the same as HD? And what is UHD?
Sometimes. While 720p (1280×720 pixels) is pretty much obsolete, it is still technically high definition (HD). However, 1080p is known as “full HD”. Ultra HD, or UHD, typically refers to 4K resolution, though there is also 8K UHD.
What does aspect ratio mean?
Aspect ratio refers to the ratio between the width and height of an image. Standard 4MP resolution has an aspect ratio of 16:9, or 16 pixels in width for every nine pixels in height. In addition to being the most common aspect ratio today, 16:9 it is also close to the “golden ratio” that exists somewhere between 16:10 and 16:9 that is most pleasing to the eye.
What does resolution have to do with security cameras?
The highest single-lens cameras we currently offer are 5MP. By putting multiple lenses side-by-side and using computer technology to create a composite image, however, the only limit to a camera’s resolution is processing power. We commonly sell 4-lens 8MP fisheye cameras and have sold multi-lens cameras of up to 40MP. One of the highest resolution videos ever made is this 121MP time-lapse video of Earth. The lowest resolution single-lens camera resolution we currently offer is 2MP, though we can manually lower the resolution of any camera to meet your needs.
How does my camera’s resolution effect storage space?
The higher the resolution of your camera, the more storage space it will require. When stored in the same format a 4MP image uses roughly twice as much space as a 2MP image, while a 4K image takes up twice as much storage space as a 4MP image. 1080p uses half the space of a 4MP and 720p uses half of the space of a 1080p image.
Still have questions?
Our free one-hour site visit and consultation is the ideal opportunity for you to discuss your questions with our camera security experts. Not only can we answer all of your questions, but we will also work with you to offer the best options for your security camera installation while keeping your project on budget.
If you’re looking a one-stop shop for your security camera needs, look no further than the experienced professionals at Camera Security Now. Our camera service installation professionals deliver the camera solutions that your company needs, helping you ensure the security of your business, employees, and customers. To find out how easy it is to keep your company secure, request a quote today.
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