As IP-based video systems continue to gain widespread popularity in the video surveillance market, one of the benefits is the ability to capture high-resolution images through megapixel video. Also emerging is use of the HDTV standards that are prevalent in the consumer video market. The images produced by this new generation of cameras are often collectively referred to as high-definition (HD) or as megapixel images. Because the terms HD and megapixel both indicate an improved level of imaging performance compared to traditional analog images, they are often thought to be the same. But, there is a difference.
In fact, the broadcast (or consumer) HD resolution should not be seen as the goal in video surveillance. Megapixel cameras offer resolution higher than broadcast HD resolution, thus, an explanation is in order.