Knowledge

There are many articles of IP camera and HD camera comparision,  as a decades history CCTV security manufacturer, we have studied most cases and summarized below points which we think is really working in real, instead of on paper based on our practice experience, it may give you some idea when you are hesitate to choose whether IP camera or HD camera.

Resolution

We suppose there is no big difference on this point, no matter IP camera or HD camera, they can both reach to high resolution of 2MP, 4MP, 5MP, 4K or even 12MP.

Installation

IP cameras connect easily to the existing data network, and you don’t need to invest in new cabling infrastructure. When using Power over Ethernet (PoE), a single cable per camera can provide power, video and data. You don’t need a power outlet near your camera, while HD analog cameras do need additional power supply. While talking about set up, it's opposite, HD analog cameras do not require any network configuration or setting adjustments that IP cameras do. Thus, they are easier to set up than IP cameras. Based on the type of camera you use; some basic adjustments can be achieved on HD analog cameras through an On-Screen Display (OSD) accessed or the Coax (UTC) controls directly on the camera body. But some people may say this is also the IPC advantage, it's can be adjusted based on your own need. 

Cost

IP cameras are more expensive than analog cameras. Though the price of IP cameras continues to drop, the overall cost may be less than estimated due to low costs for cabling, recording equipment, and more. The cost can also be varied by installing IP cameras with the existing cabling infrastructure using extenders and media converters.

In an independent integrator survey in 2010, bids for analog versus IP-based systems for a retail store with 14, 25 and 40 cameras were compared. The survey showed that the IP-based bids were consistently lower, and the difference increased with the number of cameras. With 40 cameras offered, the IP-based system cost 16% less than the analog one.

Camera Intelligence

IP cameras offer network intelligence and remote manageability. They can stream images, and different parts of images, to different recipients simultaneously. They can perform additional tasks such as sending a message when they detect motion. while the AHD camera now even equippt with smart functions, it has to work together with a DVR

Integrated Ability

An IP camera integrates power, video, audio, PTZ control and I/O in a single cable, from this point speaking, it's also quite saving, with increased functionality and vast potential for integration. 

For an analog PTZ camera, you need a separate cable to control the pan, tilt and zoom functions. To add audio, you need yet another cable. Together with the power and video cables, this adds up to costly and inflexible camera infrastructure.

Security and Maintenance

Analogue cameras are far more vulnerable to security breaches because the feeds can be physically intercepted and tapes and recording devices can be stolen. Analogue video feeds are also not encrypted.

IP cameras offer encryption of the video feed, as well as multilevel user access control.. As well as HTTPS encryption and VPN support, an IP camera can also use IEEE 802.1x and IP address filtering. Digital watermarks can be added to all recorded material.

Flexibility and Expandability

IP cameras offer more expandability and scalability than analogue cameras because their cabling requirements are less complex. and IPC has a standard Onvif protocol, it ensures that IP-based equipment from different manufacturers can co-exist and interoperate on the same network.

So if you’re looking into setting up a new surveillance and security system, you may choose based on your own situation, but we are more recomend for a IP cameras. Should you have any questions of IP camera, you can contact Videopark team for help.