Resolution Usage Statistics 2016

Author: John Honovich, Published on Feb 02, 2016

In the past few years, 4MP, 6MP, 4k (8.3MP) and 12MP cameras have become increasingly commonplace.

By contrast, our 2014 resolution usage statistics showed that the most common resolution used then was only 1MP / 720p. How much has this changed in the past 2 years?

This note shares those statistics plus detailed color commentary from 150 integrators who explained what and why they are using.

** *** **** *** *****, ***, ***, ** (*.***) *** 12MP ******* **** ****** ************ ***********.

** ********, ******* ********** ***** **************** **** *** **** ****** ********** **** **** *** **** 1MP / ****. *** **** *** **** ******* ** *** past * *****?

**** **** ****** ***** ********** **** ******** ***** ********** **** 150 *********** *** ********* **** *** *** **** *** *****.

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

2016 **********

Compared ** **** - ***** **** **** ** *****

*** **** ******* ********* ****** *** *** *** **** ******* **** *** *****. ** ****, the ***** *** ~** / ** *** ***** / **** respectively, *** ** ** *** ********. ************, ** ***** ***** almost ***********, **** *** - *** ******* ** *************, ****** still * *****. ******, ***+ ******* * **** ***** ********** of ******* ******* ****.

1MP ******* - ********* / *******

*** **** ****** ****** *********** ****** *** *** ******* ** storage / ********* **************:

  • "** ***'* **** ** *** *** **** ** ********** **** to ** **** ***** **** **** ******** ******* *** ********* etc."
  • "*** ** *** ********* ****** **** **** *********** *** **** frame *****, ***** **** *** *** **** ** *** ******* and *******"
  • "******* **************... *** ********** ********* ******** *** *** ****** ******."
  • "**** ******* ******** ***** ** **** ** ******* **** * 1-2 ** **** *****."
  • "*********, *******, *** ***** ** ****"
  • "*********, ****, ****** ******** **** ***"
  • "**** ** **** ***** *****"

*************, *********** ********* *** **** **** *** ***** ****** ** cite *** / ***** ******* ** ********* ** ***** ********** selection.

2MP ******* - ******* / *****

*** **** ******* *********** *** *********** ******** *** / ***** was **** ** *********** * **** ******* ******* *******, *****, storage, ***.

  • "**** ******* ****** **** **** ************* ** * **** ***** point - *** ***** ** ** * ***** **** *** camera ****** ***."
  • "***** **** ** ******** ******* ** * ***** ****, *** storage *** *** ***."
  • "** **** ****** ******* **** *** ***** ** *** **** important, ******** ****** ******* *** ***."
  • "*****/******* ** *** **** ******"
  • "*****, ** ** ********** **** *** *** ********* ** ***** sold, *********/*******, ******* ** ***** ********"
  • "**** ***** *** **** *********** ** * ******** ******** – average **********, ****** *******, **** ** ********** ** **** ******** and ********** *** *****."
  • "******** ***** ***** ******* * ******* ******* *********** *** ****."
  • "** **** ** **** * ***** ***** **** ***** ******** great ***** *******."

***********, * ****** ** ***** *********** ******** (*********) **** *** differential ** ***** ******* **** *** ***** *** ****** ** minimal **** ** *** **** ** ******* *** ***** *******:

  • "***** *** **** **** ** ****, *** **** *** ***?"
  • "**** ** ******* ** *** ********** *** *** ***** ***** days."
  • "******* *** ***** ********* ******* * *.* *** * ** very ******* *** *** *** **** ** **** *** **** a ****** **** ******."
  • "* *** **** ******** ****** *** **** *** ****** ******, especially ***** *** *** **** ** ******* ********* *** ******* and *** **** **** ******* ** ********** ** *** *******."

3MP *** ***

****** *********** ********* *** - *** *** ***** * ******** minority (**** **% ** *********** **********), **** **** ** ******* from **** **% *** ***** ***.

*** **** ******* ****** *********** **** ****** ** *** (*** 4MP) ** *** ******* ****** **** *******:

  • "** ****** ** ** **** **** ***, ***** ** **** right"
  • "**** *** **** ** ******* ****** **** *** ********* *** able ** ******** **** ** **** *** **** ****** ********* placement ** ******* ** *** * **** ******** ****."
  • "*** ***** ***'* ************* **** **** ********* **** ****** **."
  • "** *** *** ******* ** * **** ********** *****, ** they *** *** '****' ***** ******"
  • "** *** *****-****** ***** (***, *****, ***.) ***** **** ** be *** **** *** (*:*) ******* ********* **** ***** (**:*), and *** *** ****** *** **** * ***** **** ******."

************* *** ***********, **** ** ********* **** ********** **** *********** using ******* ******** ** ***** ************* **** **** ******* ** ***** and **** *** ***** *** *** *** *** **** *********.

***********, ***** ******* *** - *** **** **** ****** ** emphasize *** ********** ** ****** ** ****** / ***:

  • "******** **************. ******** ** ****** ****** ** ***** ** ****. Pixels ** ******"
  • "****** ******** *** *********** **** ** ********* **** *** ** in ******* ***********"
  • "** *** *** ** ** ** **/** *** ************** ***** video ** ******** *** ******** ******** **."
  • "** *** ******** ** **** **** ** **** *** ********** we **** ** *** ***** ** **** **, *** **** everything **** ****** ****."

**** *** ********* *** ** ******* ***** ******* ****** (*.*., 50ppf ** ***** *** **** *******), *** **** *** **** pixels **** **** ********** ****** ****** ******* **** *****.

5MP+ ***** **** *****

**** * *** ** *** *********** **** **** **** ***+ cameras ** *** **** ****** **********. ** ****, ** ** ***** that ***+ ** ******* ***** ** ******** *** '********' ** 'benchmark' ********** *** ***** ************ ************. ** *** *****, ** are **** **** ***** ** ***+ ** ** ******* ***** 2014, *** **** ** ***** ******* * ******** ***** ******** to *** **** ****** ** ***-*** ******* ***** ********.

Outlook - ***** ** ** *** / ***

** *** **** * *****, ** ****** ** *** *********** decline ** *** *** ** **** / *.*** ******* ** 3MP *** *** ******** *******. ** ****, *** *** *** will ****** ***** ** ******* ***** *****. **** ** ****** driven ** *** ********** ************ ** *******, *** **** *** and *** *******. ** *** ***** ****, ** ****** ** cameras ** ******** ** ** * *****, **** ******* ******** in *******, **** ***** *** ***** ******* * ******** ******** due ** *** ***** ******* *** ***** *******, ********* / storage ********** *** **** ** ******** ******* ************ *** ***** to ****** **** *****.

Comments (9)

Alexander Ryltsov

02/02/16 06:18pm

Is it possible to map statistics for 2016 / 2014 with historical data in the Camera Finder?

Right now there are 2666 samples, and filtering resolution by your criteria they are roughly 10 / 30 / 30 / 25 / 5 %. Unfortunately it is not possible to filter cameras by announcement date or something alike.

So, if it is possible to sort out outdated cameras, if it possible to predict figures from 2018? Just sort out old data and most recent, till you get your current figures (1 / 28 / 50 / 20 / 1), and calculate "adaptation period".

PS: thank you once more for that great tool

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Alexander Ryltsov | 02/02/16 07:33pm

It is not possible to do that with sufficient accuracy so I would not want to try.

Luke Maslen

IPVMU Certified | 02/03/16 09:43am

Hi John,

Thank you for your New Year's Resolution article!

In Australia, I have found distributors have dropped many 720p camera models from their product lines so 1080p is the often the minimum resolution available. In cases where 1080p is overkill, I set the camera to 720p to conserve bandwidth.

This isn't too bad as the low light performance of newer 1080p cameras has improved and the prices are more affordable than ever.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Luke Maslen | 02/03/16 10:51am

Luke,

I suspect the rollout of 4MP cameras is contributing that, effectively shifting 1080p into the position 720p used to hold.

Btw, as for setting your 1080p cameras to 720p, you might want to try this, from our Resolution vs Compression Test:

If you take a higher resolution camera (say 1080p), increase its compression level (say to ~40), it will look similar to a 720p camera at default compression levels, like so:

The big benefit we found was that the 1080p / high compression video was, on average, 50 to 75% lower bandwidth than the 720p / default compression one.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 02/03/16 11:53am

..you take a higher resolution camera (say 1080p), increase its compression level (say to ~40), it will look similar to a 720p...

Cox cable seems to be a fan of this technique; they have been upgrading many of their 720p channels to 1080p. Though to do it without increasing total bandwidth, it would appear that they are compressing a good deal more (increased resolution but increased artifacting also).

Luke Maslen

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 02/03/16 12:53pm

Thanks very much John, that's a great tip!

Thumbnail ph200

Max Shumeyko

02/12/16 04:27pm

Should we expect that in the year 2018, the most popular resolution will be 3 to 5MP?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Max Shumeyko | 02/12/16 04:30pm

Yes, 3MP and 4MP specifically will be, most likely, most common. This is being driven by our manufacturer product availability with 4MP already ramping up right now.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

03/07/16 11:20pm

This might be Moore's Law of Surveillance tech progression in the making.

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

ISC East 2018 Mini-Show Final Report on Nov 16, 2018
This is our second (updated) and final show report from ISC East. ISC East, by its own admission, is not a national or international show, billed...
Magos Radar Company Profile on Nov 12, 2018
Magos America General Manager Yaron Zussman admits when he first came across Magos, he asked himself: "What's innovative about radar?" Be that as...
Video Surveillance Hard Drive Size Statistics 2018 on Nov 08, 2018
What is the most common hard drive size for video surveillance? 150+ integrators answered: What size hard drive do you most commonly use? What...
Kogniz Silicon Valley AI Startup Profile on Nov 07, 2018
Kogniz is a Silicon Valley company that aims to bring AI analytics to security and surveillance, centering on their own smart cameras: We spoke...
Dahua Dual Imager Dome Camera Tested (HDBW4231FN-E2-M) on Nov 07, 2018
Dahua has introduced a dual-imager dome model, the HDBW4231FN-E2-M, with two independently positionable sensors including integrated IR, not found...
Favorite Video Surveillance Hard Drive Manufacturer 2018 on Nov 06, 2018
Who is the favorite hard drive for video surveillance use? 150+ integrators answered: What is your preferred brand/model of hard drive for...
Winter 2019 IP Networking Course on Nov 05, 2018
This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance professionals.  Lots of network training exists but none of it...
Network Cable Shootout - Belden, Hikvision, Honeywell, NavePoint CCA, Windy City Wire on Nov 05, 2018
Every IP camera install needs UTP cabling. But how much of a difference is there between dirt cheap generic cables found online and the bigger,...
Worst Products on Nov 03, 2018
Security integrators periodically report on their favorite and worst products to IPVM. These are known integrators who IPVM pays to answer surveys....
Video Surveillance Hard Drive Failure Statistics 2018 on Nov 02, 2018
Hard drive failures can be significant service problems but how common of an issue are they in video surveillance? How long do drives last when...

Most Recent Industry Reports

'Sticker' Surveillance Camera Developed (CSEM Witness) on Nov 16, 2018
The Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) has announced what it calls the: world’s first fully autonomous camera that can be...
ISC East 2018 Mini-Show Final Report on Nov 16, 2018
This is our second (updated) and final show report from ISC East. ISC East, by its own admission, is not a national or international show, billed...
Facial Detection Tested on Nov 16, 2018
Facial detection and recognition are increasingly offered by video surveillance manufacturers. Facial detection detects faces in an image/video...
Throughtek P2P/Cloud Solution Profile on Nov 15, 2018
Many IoT manufacturers either do not have the capabilities or the interest to develop their own cloud management software for their devices....
ASIS Offering Custom Research For Manufacturers on Nov 15, 2018
Manufacturers often want to know what industry people think about trends and, in particular, the segments and product they offer.  ASIS and its...
Hikvision Silent on "Bad Architectural Practices" Cybersecurity Report on Nov 14, 2018
A 'significant vulnerability was found in Hikvision cameras' by VDOO, a startup cybersecurity specialist. Hikvision has fixed the specific...
French Government Threatens School with $1.7M Fine For “Excessive Video Surveillance” on Nov 14, 2018
The French government has notified a high-profile Paris coding academy that it risks a fine of up to 1.5 million euros (about $1.7m) if it...
Integrator Credit Card Alternative Divvy on Nov 13, 2018
Most security integrators are small businesses but large enough that they have various employees that need to be able to expense various charges as...
Directory of Video Intercoms on Nov 13, 2018
Video Intercoms, also known as Video Door-Phones or Video Entry Systems, have been growing in the past decade as more and more IP camera...
Beware Amazon Go Store Hype (Tested) on Nov 13, 2018
IPVM's trip to and testing of Amazon Go's San Francisco store shows a number of significant operational and economic issues that undermine the...

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