Camera Coverage Areas

Author: John Honovich, Published on Feb 10, 2016

How wide and far on an area can a camera cover? 

A fundamental metric in analyzing this is pixel density (aka PPF or PPM). Three key factors contribute:

  • Resolution of the camera (e.g., VGA, 720p, 1080p, 4K)
  • Size of the area (e.g., a room, a restaurant, outside a building, a big parking lot, etc.)
  • Lighting conditions (dark, direct sunlight, etc.)

Using our IPVM Camera Calculator, we have developed a series of 4 comparisons to show you tradeoffs in camera coverage area.

#1 - Residence

In the residence below, notice how even in a small bedroom, a VGA camera not cover the whole room at 40ppf. However, even 720p starts becoming overkill and unless the camera can see through walls, 1080p and 4K are routinely wasteful.

Here is the same coverage area shown dynamically, as a gif, demonstrating tradeoffs:

*** **** *** *** ** ** **** *** * ****** cover? 

* *********** ****** ** ********* **** ******* ******* (*** *** ** ***). ***** *** ******* **********:

  • ********** ** *** ****** (*.*., ***, ****, *****, **)
  • **** ** *** **** (*.*., * ****, * **********, ******* a ********, * *** ******* ***, ***.)
  • ******** ********** (****, ****** ********, ***.)

***** ******* ****** **********, ** **** ********* * ****** ** * *********** ** show *** ********* ** ****** ******** ****.

#1 - *********

** *** ********* *****, ****** *** **** ** * ***** bedroom, * *** ****** *** ***** *** ***** **** ** 40ppf. *******, **** **** ****** ******** ******** *** ****** *** camera *** *** ******* *****, ***** *** ** *** ********* wasteful.

**** ** *** **** ******** **** ***** ***********, ** * gif, ************* *********:

[***************]

**********

*** ***** **********'* **** ******* **** ** ********** ****** **** the ******* **** ****. ** ******* *** ***** **** ****** area **** ******** ***** *******, **** **** ** *** ******. ** the ***** ****, ** ** ****** ******** *** **** **** unless *** ****** **** ******* **** ** *** ******** **** of *** ****.

**** ** *** **** ******** **** ***** ***********, ** * gif, ************* *********:

Outside ********

***** ******* ** ***** ***** ******* ********** ***** ******* ******. 

** *** ********** '*****' ******* **** / ****** ******* *** of **** ********, **** ** *** **** ****** *** **** 20ppf (* ****** ***** **** ***** ******* ******** *** *** facial *******), ****** *** ******* *** *** *********** ***, ****** you *** ***** **.

**** ** *** **** ******** **** ***** ***********, ** * gif, ************* *********:

Parking ***

*******, ** **** ** * ******* *** ** * *** box ********. ** *** ****** *****, ** **** **** *** lower **** ** **** ******* ***.

******, *** **** ** *** *******, **** *** **, **** close ** ******** **** * ******* ** *** ******* ***.

**** ** *** **** ******** **** ***** ***********, ** * gif, ************* *********:

***********

****** *** *************.

*** *** ******, **** *** '****' ******,*** ***** / ******** **** ************* / ******* *********, ***** ************. *** **** ******** ****** with ****** ********, ******* ****** **** ************* *** **** **** ****, ******* ******** ******** to **** **** *****.

******* ***********, ******* ******* ************ (**** '*****' *** ***** *** true ***) **** ** *** **********. *** *******, * ***** ago, *** ***** *** **** *** ******* *** **** **** poor ** *** ***** *** ***. ***, **** *** / 1080p ******* *** *********** ** ***** ***** *** *** ***** 4K ******* **** ** ** ****. ****, ** ******, **** change **** **** ** ********** ********. *******, ****** ******* *** upper ***** ** ******* **********, ** ***** ******* ****** *** common ** **** *****.

Comments (24)

Thumbnail profile picture john

John Bazyk

IPVMU Certified | 02/10/16 06:01pm

** ***** **** ** *****'* ****** **** * *****, **** of **** ***** ** **** **** **** *** ******* ***-*** and *********** ***. **'* ***** ** ** ******** *** **** situations *** *****'* ******* * *********** *********** ** ***** *****, to ******* *** ***** ***.

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Matt Ion

In reply to John Bazyk | 02/10/16 06:16pm

**** ** * ****** ** ********** ********, **-*** ****'* "*******" DVD *** **... ** *** * ********* ******** ** **, both ***** ** ********** ***.

Michael Goodwin

In reply to John Bazyk | 02/11/16 05:59am
**+ *** **'* ***** *******, ** **** ***** ***** ** makes * ******* **********, ********* ***** **** ** **** ******* on ****** ***** **** *** ****** ***** * **** **********

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Goodwin | 02/11/16 07:19am

"** **** ***** ***** ** ***** * ******* **********"

***** / ******** / *** ****** / *********? *** ***'* 'massive' ** ******* ***'* '********'.

Michael Goodwin

In reply to John Honovich | 02/11/16 08:36pm

*** ******* ***** **** *** ****** ********** ** *******?

***** ** *** ****** ** *** ******* ****'* *********, * will ***** **** ****** * ******* ******'* *** ****** "**** is *** *****"

**'* **** * **** ** ******* *** ***** *****, *** saying **** ****** *********** *** "*** ***** ******" ***** ***** like ********** ** ********* * ******** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Goodwin | 02/11/16 08:48pm

*******,

****** **-**** ** ******** ** ***. *** *******, "** **** ***** ***** ** ***** * ******* **********". * am ****** *** ** ************ ****. **** ** ***** ** the ******* **********. ****** / ************, ***. ******* **** *** mean ************** ***** *******.

Michael Goodwin

In reply to John Honovich | 02/11/16 09:04pm

*** ***** * *** ******, ** **** **** *** ***** angle ******'* *** **** **** ** ***** * **** **********, with *** ****** **** ******'* (*** * ** ****) ** tends ** ** **** **********, ******** **** *** ** *** quality ** *** **** ***** ******** ** ******** ******* ** a ****** ******** ** **** ***** ******?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Goodwin | 02/12/16 12:54am

*** *** *** ********** ** *******. * *** *** ** substantiate *** ***** * ************ ********. **** *** *****, **** 'guys' **** ** ** ** '****'.

**** *** ******* *** ********** ***** *** *** ********* ** evaluate. ** *** *** ***** ********* **** *******, * ** happy ** *******, ***** ** ********.

Michael Goodwin

In reply to John Honovich | 02/12/16 01:11am

**** *'* ********** ** ******, ** **** ****** **** ********* the ******** ******* ** ** ***** ******** *** ********, ******* that *** ***** ****** ** ****** ** ** ******** ** most *** ***** *** ** * ***** ***** ***, * would ******* **** ***** ****** *** ** *** **** ***** own *******.

**** ** *** ***** ****** **'** *** **** *********** **** we ********* ** ****** ********** *** **** **** ***** ** enough *** ******* ****'*.. "*** ***'* **** ** ***'*"

*** * **** **** * *** *** ***** ***** ****, even ** ***** ***** ****'* **** *** ****** *** ***** quality ******** ** **** *** ** ***** ****** ** ***** like **'** ** ********* * *** ** *** ****'* ********* indoors.

* ***'* ****** *** *** ***** ** ******* ** ***, even ****** **'* *** ******** ******** ****, * ***** ******* it(ever), ******* * ***** * *** ** ** ** **** that *** *** **** ***** ******* (** * *** ** them ** ******* *******) *** *** **** ******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Goodwin | 02/12/16 01:20am

"* ***'* ****** *** *** ***** ** ******* ** ***, even ****** **'* *** ******** ******** ****, * ***** ******* **(****), ******* * ***** * *** up ** ** **** **** *** *** **** ***** ******* (or * *** ** **** ** ******* *******) *** *** them ******."

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Michael Goodwin

In reply to John Honovich | 02/12/16 01:31am

**********, ** **** **'* ***** ***********, * ***** *** ****** of ****** ******* *** * ********** ****** ** ****** * higher ******* ***** **** * ****** *** (******* **** ** down)

**** ** *** ******** **** **** ***'* ******* **** ** the *** *** *** ***'* **** ** *****.

***** ** ********?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Goodwin | 02/12/16 01:36am

"**** ** *** ******** **** **** ***'* ******* **** ** the *** *** *** ***'* **** ** *****."

****'* **** ***? *** ***?

"***** ** ********?"

**, ******* **'** ****** ***+ ******* *** ****** ********** / PPF *** ****** ** ** * ***** ****** *********** **** image ******* ** **** *****. *****, *** ***** *** *** are *********.

***** *** **** * *** ********** *** **** *****, ******* **** ******** *** ******** **** ***, ********* *** *** ****....

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 02/12/16 04:04am

******

**** ***** ******* ********** ********* ********* ** *** *******.***** **********

Michael Goodwin

In reply to John Honovich | 02/12/16 10:19am

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Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Bazyk | 02/11/16 07:33am

** *****'* ****** **** * *****, **** ** **** ***** HD **** **** **** *** ******* ***-*** *** *********** ***.

** **** ****** **** ** *** '***-***' ** ******** *******, 8K?

Thumbnail profile picture john

John Bazyk

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/11/16 01:45pm

"** ******* *** ***** ***."

* ******* *** ***** ***** ********** **** ********* * ** camera ** **** **** ** *** ****, *** **** ***** to ** * ***** *********** ** *******.

*** **** ********** *** ** *** ******* *** **** *********** at **** ****.

"**** ****, *'** ****** ****** ** *******."

Michael Goodwin

In reply to John Bazyk | 02/11/16 08:42pm

****, *'* ******* ** *** ****** **** **** **** */*** did, * ***'* *** *** ****** *** ******* ***** *** different ********** ****, ** ** ****** *** **** ****, **** it's * ******* *****

Max Alfieri

In reply to John Bazyk | 02/15/16 06:57pm

* ********.

* **** ****** *** *** ******* (********* ***** **********, ********* targets,different *********) #* ******* (*** *******):

  • ** ****** ***-**** **** *-**** ****
  • *** ****** ***-*****- *.** ~ *.*** (*.**) ********* *********
  • *** *** ****** ***-***** - ***
  • *** ****** **** - ***-**** - *** **** *.***

* *** *** **** * ***** *** ** *** * found **, ** **** ********, **** ****** ** *** *** 2MP ***.

*** *** ** *** ****** ************* **: ******** - **** - **********. ************* **** ** *** ****** *** ******* * picture **** ********** *******. *** *** "***" ****** ****** **** varifocal **** *** *** ** ***** ******** * **** **** (the ******* **** ** *** ****** ****. ***** *** *** to *** ****** ******* ****** *** ****). ** *** ***** hand, *** ** ****** **** ** *** *********** ** *** the ******* **** ** *** ******* ******* ** ********** ***** of *******/******).

********, * ***** *** ** ********** ** *** *********** *** a ****** ****** *** ********* ******** *****. * **** ********* specific ******** **** ********* ******** *** **** ** ******* ***** up ** ****** ** **** ***** **** * **** **** level ** *******. *** ** ** *** ******** ********* ** my ******** ********** *** ***** ** ****. * **** *** the ****** ** **** ***** ******* ** * ****** "*****" environment (** *** * "****" **** *** **** -**/-**'******* **** in ******).

*** ********* ** ** ******** ****** *** ******* ** ****** such *********** (**** ** *** *** **** *-*-**** **** *** PoE ****** ** ***** *** **** ** ****** ***** ******* separating *** ******** ******* **** *** ******* *******).

**** ** ***** ** *** ** ******** ******, * ****** product *** ** ** ********. ******** ** *** ****** ********* to ** **********: ***.********.***). ** **** *****, * *** ***** the ******** ** ***** ** **** ** **** *** ***** my ******** **********.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Max Alfieri | 02/16/16 09:20am

***,

****** *** *** *******. * *** **'* **** ***** ** IPVM, **** ** **** *** ****!

"* ********...* **** ********* ******** ******** **** ********* ******** *** **** to ******* ***** ** ** ****** ** **** ***** **** a **** **** ***** ** *******. *** ** ** *** solution."

********, ** *****. ****'* *** ***** ** *** ******** ******* above. ** ** * ******** ***** *********** *** ***** / long / **** *****, ********* *** ** ****** ** **** enough *** *** ******** ********** ** *** ***** *** ** covering. ** ** ****** ******** ** *** ******* ****** *******.

**** **** ** ***** **** ******. *** *** ***** ****** also ****** *** ** *****, **** **** ******* **** ************ ********:

Max Alfieri

In reply to John Honovich | 02/16/16 01:52pm

** ****,

***** *** *** **** ******** *********.

******** * *** ********** ****** ********** *** ******** **** *** ** *********** ** *** ** great *** **** *** *** *** *** ** * **** alternative.

* ***** *** ** (***** **** *** ****** ****) * great *******. "*********" */**** ** *** ******* *** ******** * picture **** ***** **** ***** ** ******* **** ***** *** digital **** (**: ********** * **** **** * **** ********)

**** ******** *** ****** *******.

***** *** *** *** **** ******** ******** *** **********, *** most ** ***, ***** *** **** ******** *** **** ***** job.

Michael Goodwin

In reply to John Honovich | 02/16/16 08:21pm

*** ***-******** ***** ** **** *** ***** **** *** **-******* are **** *** **** **?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Goodwin | 02/16/16 08:25pm

**** *** **** **. **** ** *** ***** ***** **** new ********** / ***** ********** **** ********** ******* **** ******* variation ** ***********.

Michael Goodwin

In reply to John Honovich | 02/16/16 08:31pm

**, *** ***** *** ****** ** **** ********?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Goodwin | 02/16/16 09:57pm

*** ** *****************. **** *** ******** **** **** ******* ***** * ********* this.

**** ****, *** ** ****** **** ********** * ****** ** having '****' ** '*******' ********** **** *******.

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