While 1080p was once the benchmark for high-definition video, 4K and 8K resolutions are now leading the market. 8K, in particular, delivers unparalleled clarity and precision, making it ideal for applications requiring the highest level of detail, such as large-scale surveillance and intricate monitoring tasks.
An 8MP security camera image is composed of roughly 8 million pixels. The typical 8MP resolution is 3840 pixels wide by 2160 pixels high, or 3840 x 2160. This offers significantly higher video quality compared to 4MP models, capturing more detail and making it easier to identify intruders or security threats. For comparison, 8MP cameras have 8,294,400 pixels, whereas a standard 1080p television has only 2,073,600 pixels.
The aspect ratio is the ratio of width to height in an image, and it determines how the image will be displayed on various screens or in different settings. Common aspect ratios for security cameras are:
1MP (720p) – 16:9
1.3MP – 5:4
2MP (1080p) – 16:9
3MP – 4:3
4MP (1440p) – 16:9
5MP (1920p) – 4:3
8MP (4K) – 16:9
16MP (8K) – 16:9
Choosing the right aspect ratio depends on the intended use and the display medium. A 16:9 aspect ratio, for example, is ideal for widescreen displays and is commonly used in high-definition, 4K, and 8K security cameras. Meanwhile, other ratios like 4:3 or 5:4 may be more suitable for specific applications or older display formats. Understanding aspect ratios helps ensure that the camera’s footage is displayed correctly and optimally for your surveillance needs.
Are you ready to equip your business with a holistic approach to security? That’s whereCameraSecurityNow.com comes in.
What Does 8MP Actually Mean?
If you need to store a substantial amount of video, such as retaining footage for several months, you’ll need to account for increased storage capacity. This means upgrading your hard drives or Network Video Recorder (NVR) to accommodate the larger files generated by higher-resolution cameras.
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What Does Resolution Have to Do with Security Cameras?
“8K” refers to the resolution of a display, with “8” denoting approximately 8,000 pixels across the width. However, 8K resolution doesn’t mean exactly 8,000 pixels; it usually refers to either 7680 x 4320 pixels or slightly different dimensions used in various applications.
Back in the day, if you tried to zoom in on images from old televisions or analog cameras, the lack of resolution made it nearly impossible to get a clear, detailed view. This limitation was often dramatized in crime shows, where characters would “zoom and enhance” low-resolution footage to reveal minute details. In reality, such zooming was impractical with resolutions like 720 x 480.
Today, modern high-resolution IP security cameras offer much higher detail and clarity. For instance, a 4K (8MP) security camera with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels provides over eight million pixels, allowing for detailed “zoom and enhance” capabilities. Moving even further, 8K cameras offer a resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels, providing four times the detail of 4K cameras. This higher resolution can capture incredibly fine details, such as the text on a distant sign or intricate features in large areas.
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Advanced Camera Technologies
Ask us for a free consultation. Consult with one of our experienced certified technicians today, for free, and you’ll have the opportunity to explain your security goals and budget. Afterward, you’ll have the opportunity for us to come out for a site survey and provide you with suggestions on how to meet your goals and budget.
Ultimately, the choice of camera resolution should align with your specific security needs and storage capabilities. Investing in high-resolution technology ensures you capture detailed, actionable footage, but it’s crucial to balance resolution with practical considerations like storage and budget.
Resolution is just one aspect of a security camera. You should also evaluate features like:
Wide Dynamic Range (WDR)
Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
Frame Rate (FPS)
Video Compression
Remote Focus Lens
Vandal-Resistant
Tamper Detection
Ingress Protection Rating
The enhanced detail available with 4K and 8K cameras is particularly useful for identifying small but crucial details, such as a vehicle’s license plate, a company’s logo, or text on clothing, even from a distance. The ability to discern these details can be instrumental in solving security issues or aiding law enforcement. Therefore, investing in the highest resolution camera your budget allows—whether 4K or 8K—can significantly enhance your surveillance capabilities.
Aspect Ratio and Security Camera Resolution
“MP” stands for “MegaPixel,” with “Mega” meaning “million” and “Pixel” being the smallest unit of an image. Essentially, a megapixel represents approximately one million pixels.
The relationship between resolution and security cameras mirrors that of television sets. Historically, both security cameras and TVs were analog devices, with resolutions measured in ways that are quite different from today’s digital standards. Before the year 2000, analog video was measured in horizontal lines of resolution, often referred to as “TVL” or “TV Lines.” This method of measurement, which predates digital technology, provided a much lower level of detail compared to modern digital cameras and TVs.
8K is used to describe both high-definition displays and high-end security cameras. The resolution of an 8K camera matches the resolution of an 8MP camera, giving you a total of 8,294,400 pixels.
How Does an 8MP Security Camera Compare to an 8K Security Camera?
For those needing even greater resolution, single-lens cameras with up to 8MP (4K) are available. However, combining multiple lenses to create composite images can push resolution limits even further. We offer 4-lens 8MP fisheye cameras and have provided multi-lens systems reaching up to 40MP. Notably, one of the highest-resolution videos ever created is a 121MP time-lapse of Earth.
Despite evolving terminology, the essence remains the same. Both “MP” and “K” are ways to express the number of pixels in an image, measured in a width by height format.
When comparing 8MP and 8K security cameras, it’s essential to note that both terms correspond to the same pixel count. Essentially, both 8MP and 8K cameras offer the same resolution:
8MP Security Cameras: 3840 x 2160 – 8,294,400 pixels
8K Security Cameras: 7680 x 4320 – 8,294,400 pixels
Do you ever find yourself puzzled when your security camera technician starts discussing image and display resolutions? If you’ve encountered terms like 8 megapixel (MP) cameras, 8K cameras, and UHD cameras, you might be wondering what they actually mean and how they stack up against each other. We’re here to simplify things and answer your burning questions about security camera resolution and storage.
What’s the Difference Between Resolution Listed in “MP” and “K”?
8K refers to a resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels, which offers an exceptionally high level of detail and clarity. In the realm of security cameras, an 8K resolution corresponds to an 33MP camera, providing an image that is significantly more detailed than lower resolutions. For comparison, an 8K camera has four times the resolution of a 4K camera and sixteen times the resolution of a 1080p camera.
…And other questions about comparing security camera resolutions, such as 8K vs 8MP, that you’ve been eager to have answered
As resolution increases, so does the amount of storage required for video footage. Higher resolution cameras capture more pixels per image, leading to larger file sizes. Consequently:
8K (32MP) uses roughly four times the storage space of a 4K (8MP) image.
4K (8MP) uses approximately twice the storage space of a 4MP image.
1080p uses half the storage space of a 4MP image.
720p uses half the storage space of 1080p.
One of our technicians, led by Johnny Beagle, will assist you every step of the way. We will start by giving you a free site survey, which will help us understand the best possible solution for you. Next, one of our technicians will walk you through what kind of cameras would work best for your business.
High-Resolution Cameras and Storage Needs
With the same pixel count, there is no resolution advantage between an 8MP and an 8K camera. Instead, consider the other features that might suit your specific needs.
What Features Should You Consider Besides Resolution?
The difference between referring to resolution in “MP” versus “K” is akin to speaking different languages. Think of “MP” as the language of camera lenses and “K” as the language of display screens.
Depending on your surveillance needs, it might be more beneficial to invest in a camera with these features rather than focusing solely on resolution.
