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Resolution Specifications
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Resolution
Specifications:
All manufacturers will list specifications. They will talk about the
TV Lines of resolution that their camera has, and that their monitor has.
Additionally they will talk about the number of pixels that either might have.
In regards to the number of pixels. Any camera that talks about
the number of pixels that their solid state imaging device has, is normally
talking about the CCD image device that now is normally either a 1/3" or ¼"
semiconductor device, that sits behind the lens of the camera and records the
light that it sees.
In all cases more pixels is better than less.
But this does not always translate to a better picture. So if a
seller specifies the number of pixels and expects you to pay more, then you
should ask exactly what improvement you will see for that difference.
The same issue relates to the Monitor. More pixels means more
information on the screen. But there is still an issue of how and when and
where will this more information be seen?
TV monitors also talk about TV lines of resolution. If you have a high
priced monitor, then you should expect more lines of resolution. But bear
in mind, that the only benefit is when that particular monitor is being used,
and (that generally,) only if you are viewing directly the video picture from
the camera that has a matching or better number of TV lines of resolution.
Here we need to add that all NTSC ( that is normal TV's
used in the United States, amongst other places, in Europe as an example the
numbers are slightly different) TV's have 525 TV lines of resolution.
(Please note for those of you who are technically oriented the actual lines in
use are less, but the standards used for discussion purposes are 525.)
That is to say that you are used to seeing pictures on TV's with 525 TV
lines of resolution. That is the standard that most people are calibrated
to seeing.
But there is more to the story. When we talk about videoing, the
actual end product that you the customer is generally interested in is the
quality of the video tape.
One important aspect that seems to be ignored by most is that the standard
VHS video recording equipment in use has the capability of recording at 270 TV
lines of resolution. So if you think about it, all those movies you rent and see
are at 270 TV lines of resolution.
So, even if you have a super high resolution camera, and a matching monitor
to view it on, the only time one gets most of that benefit is if you are
watching as you record it. Because, once it's been recorded and you
are viewing the recorded view, you only get the benefit of the VHS recording
limits. That's even if you are replaying it on the High resolution monitor. So the upside of this is
to always have a camera and a monitor that provide
more lines of resolution than the recording media. How much more is debatable,
as to whether it provides value.
The down side is if you are paying more, for higher numbers (which is normal)
make sure you realize that you get your moneys worth and that you know who and
when that improvement helps.
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