PPF vs Lighting Variances

Author: John Honovich, Published on Oct 08, 2012

A major flaw in using Pixels Per Foot (PPF) to specify surveillance cameras is how easily the metric is undermined. Theoretically, you should specify a PPF number, say 50, and know that you will be able to capture facial details regardless of the camera or situation.

The great hope of PPF is that it is an independent, cross industry metric. Unfortunately, it is not. In this note, we show a practical example where even modest lighting variances undermine the accuracy of the metric.

*** ***** ***** ** **** * **** ****** **** * manufacturer **** ** ***** ******** *********. ** **** ****** ** and ********* *** ***** ****** *** *** ******** ** *** scene (* *** *) ** *********** *********** ** ****** ***** quality. **** * ****:

--

*** ** ******** ******* ******** **** *****. ********* **** *** *** ** ******* *** ***** ******* of ********* ******** ** *** *****.

****** *** *** ****** ******* ** **** * *** **** more ******** **** ***** ** **** *, ******* **** * having **** **** **** **** *.

***?

******* *** ********* ** **** *** ****** ** ***** ** the ***** *** *** ******** ** ***** ****** *** ***** of ****. ***** *** ***** ** * ***** ** ** fairly ***** ********** - *** *** ***** *** ***** **** direct ******** - **** * ** ******, ******** ***, ***** zone *, ********** *** ****** ** ******.

****** **** ******* *** ****** **** ****** ** ***, **** common *********, **** ******** ***** ********* ** ***** *******, ********** of * *** *************.

Hurts ********* **** - **********

***** *** ****** ***** ******** *********, ********* (********** *****-*********) **** are **** ****** ** **** **** ** ** * ********* problem. ***** ********* ******* ***** *** **** ** ******** ****** areas, ******* ** ** ******* ******* ** ****** **** ***** lenses, *** ****** *** **** *******, *** **** ******** ********* are ******. *** ******* ***** ***** **** **** ** * hand ****** ************ ********* ******, **** ********* *** ***** ****** details ******** *******.

What ** **?

*** ****** ***** ** *********** *** *** ***** (*.*., ** instead ** **, ***.) ** ****** **** **** ***** ** a ***** **** **** ** ******* *** ***** ** ****** projected *** ** ******** *********. **********, **** ** *** **** a ******** ****** ******* *** * *********** **** ** *** PPF *********** (****** ******* **** *** ****** ** *** ** night **** ******* *** ******** **** ******** ***** ********).

****, ** ******, **** *** ***** **** ******* **** **** demanding **********, **** *** ***** ** ****** ********. *** ****** **** ******* *** ****.

Lessons **** **** *****

**** ***** *** ****** ** ** ********* ********** ****** * class ** *** **** ******** ************ ****** (*** *** *** for ******* *** *** ******** ******* *****).

******* ** *** ******, ** ***** *** ********* ********:

ppf results

*** ***** ****** ** **** *** ****** ********** **** *** many ****** *** **** *** **** ** ******* * **** until *** ********** *** ***** **********. *** ******* ***** ** an ********* ******* ** ****. *** ***** **** '***** **** pixels ** **' ** ********** * ****** ****** (*** ***** instead ** *****) *** **'* ***** ** ********* (*** *********** inefficient) *** ** ***** **.

*************, **** ***** **** ***** ** ** **** *** *** if *** **** ** **** ******* **** ******* ******* *** not '*****' ******. ********* ********** **** ********** *** ******* *** right ******** ************ ** *********.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports on PPF

Introducing Effective PPF (ePPF) - Improving Video Surveillance Designs on Jun 11, 2018
Pixel density (PPF / PPM) is the best metric the industry has to define and project video quality. It allows simple communication of estimated...
Bosch IVA Video Analytics And Motion+ VMD Tested on Jun 06, 2018
Bosch's video analytics now ship on nearly every model, from indoor domes to high-end 5MP starlight cameras.  In this test, we evaluate Bosch's...
Dahua Intrusion Analytics And VMD Tested (Poorly) on May 21, 2018
Dahua ships basic analytics on practically all their cameras, ranging from low cost to high end. To see how these analytics work in real world...
Axis 12MP Stereographic Camera Tested (M3058-LVE) on May 10, 2018
Axis has released the M3058-PLVE, a 12MP sensor, stereographic panoramic camera and Axis' first with integrated IR claiming images "sharp to the...
Dahua 4K Micro 4/3 Camera Tested (IPC-HF8835F) on Apr 03, 2018
Dahua is going big. Their new 4K HF8835F Micro Four Thirds sensor is one of the largest now on the market. Dahua is claming: Starlight...
IPVM Camera Calculator User Manual / Guide on Mar 09, 2018
Learn how to use the IPVM Camera Calculator. The guide below includes instructions, images, gifs, and videos demonstrating and explaining the...
Hikvision 6MP Camera Tested (DS-2CD4565-IZH) on Feb 27, 2018
In the next installment of our ongoing testing of 5MP/6MP cameras, we test the Hikvision DS-2CD4565F-IZH, a 'Smart Series' vandal dome combining...
Hanwha ExtraLux Camera Tested on Jan 11, 2018
Hanwha has released the latest in their Wisenet X line, the "extraLUX" series, claiming to "capture crystal clear, true-color images in low-light...
Dahua Multi-Imager Tested (PDBW8800-A180) on Nov 28, 2017
Dahua has released their latest generation of multi imager models, including the PDBW800-A180, a 4x1080p dome model claiming 30m/~100' IR and Smart...
Hikvision 4K IR PTZ Tested (DS-2DF8836IV-AELW) on Nov 10, 2017
The IR PTZ trend continues, now with 4K resolution, with Hikvision releasing its DS-2DF8836IVAEL-W camera, a 4K 1/1.9" PTZ model specifying 200m IR...

Most Recent Industry Reports

July 2018 IP Networking Course on Jun 22, 2018
  This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance professionals. Register now. Lots of network training exists...
Installation Hardware for Video Surveillance - Indoor Fasteners on Jun 22, 2018
As part of our Installation for Video Surveillance series, in this note, we cover drywall anchors. A key part of installing security hardware is...
Hikvision ColorVu Integrated Visible Light Cameras Examined on Jun 22, 2018
When it comes to low light, infrared light has become the defacto standard in surveillance. But IR is limited to monochrome images, making colors...
'Secure Channel' OSDP Access Control Examined on Jun 21, 2018
Despite claiming to be better than Wiegand, OSDP's initial releases did not address the lack of encryption between reader and controller, leaving...
Most Wanted Improvements In Manufacturer Technical Support (Statistics) on Jun 21, 2018
5 key areas of improvement and 1 clear wanted support feature were voiced by 140+ integrator responses to: What improvement in manufacturer...
GDPR / ICO Complaint Filed Against IFSEC Show Facial Recognition on Jun 20, 2018
IPVM has filed a complaint against IFSEC’s parent company UBM based on our concern that the conference violates core GDPR principles on...
IFSEC 2018 Final Show Report on Jun 20, 2018
IPVM attended the IFSEC show for the first time this year. The Chinese took over the show, centered on Hikvision, flanked by Dahua, Huawei and a...
Mobotix Releases 'Move' Into 21st Century on Jun 20, 2018
For years, Mobotix stood resolutely against, well, every other manufacturer, selling it as a virtue: MOBOTIX equipment is designed with no...
Cybersecurity Startup VDOO Disclosing 10 Manufacturer Vulnerabilities Starting With Axis And Foscam on Jun 20, 2018
Cybersecurity startup VDOO has uncovered significant vulnerabilities in Axis cameras along with many others not yet disclosed. In this report, we...
Axis Guardian - Cloud VMS And Alarm Monitoring - Released on Jun 19, 2018
Axis has struggled to deliver a cloud-based managed service video platform. Video service providers have utilized AVHS for over a decade, and have...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact