Comparison of IP and CCTV cameras

Security systems often used analog cameras connected to digital recording equipment. Quality modern camera systems, however, use IP cameras because of their numerous advantages over analog cameras. Surveillance based on IP cameras are now more suitable for home security and monitoring of private property.

Here we list some of the main advantages of IP cameras compared to analogue cameras.

	Analog camera	IP camera
Interlaced image	Interlaced Image-Each image is composed of even-numbered and odd-numbered half pictures-Fast moving objects generates blurred images and a loss of quality	Progressive-scan the whole image is captured at once-Clear image even when recoding fast movement
Power over Ethernet	Not Available	1 cable can support power & data, there is no need 230V power outlet near the camera
Image resolution	Fixed resolution NTSC / PAL Corresponds to max 0.4 megapixel resolution Limited image details	A wide range of resolution choice - 1 megapixel resolution is 2.5 x greater than maximum resolution of analog cameras
External I/O contacts and their control	The need for separate cables is  costly and inflexible	Its possible to control external devices over a network - integrated connectors allow: to connect any digital device camera being controlled/trigerred by any connected digital device
Secure network communication	Communication is not secure - Anyone can connect to the video signal or the video feed may be replaced by another video feed	Security Options include: Authorization levels - separated authorization of users access to the system or users access to the camera-verification and identification of each equipment in the camera system-https secure protocol-Watermarks can be an option
Infrastructure building cost	Expensive coaxial cabling-Proprietary solution of the transmission-need to have separate cables for power inputs /outputs control sound transmission	IP is a standard protocol working with all devices Digital images without loss of quality Many signals can be transmitted over the same cable (metallic, optical)
Signal quality loss during analog to digital transformation	There is a transfer of analogue images to digital images, then digital to analog and then transfer to digital image again prior to its recording	Only once digitized image means there is no deterioration of picture quality