The manufacturers of the pickup elements make two basic grades for each sensor size as well as one for each of black and white and color. A standard type 1/3” CCD color is 380 lines of resolution, while a high resolution is 480 lines. In black and white, you have a standard resolution of 420 lines, and high resolution of 600 lines. When you see the varying claims of resolution above these standard specs, all I can say is beware. Again, we all buy the same products from the same factories, so the hardware specs should not be different.

Remember, if you buy a camera that is at a lower resolution, the DVR can not enhance the quality of the image. In other words, the DVR may be able to broadcast 480 lines of resolution but if it only receives 380, then that is the maximum definition you may achieve.

Which brings us to the question of what resolution of camera is needed. Each situation is different and is dependent upon our objective. There is one key that you will hear us mention all throughout our papers, which is, “You are only as fast, or as good, as you're slowest, or weakest element.” It would make no sense to buy a top of the line camera with the best of everything and then put a cheap lens on it. You wouldn't buy a Nikon body and put a $29.00 lens on it and conversely, you wouldn't take a $99.00 35mm camera and put a $5,000.00 lens on it. These are self defeating. Quality must match all the way down the line.

Where will you see the difference between high resolution and low resolution, is when, you are trying to make out details like reading a license plate.