How Many IP Camera Megapixels Do You Need?

If you are thinking about getting a Megapixel IP camera, you might be wondering how many megapixels should my camera have? IP camera megapixels come in a range between 1.3, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 and higher megapixels (depending on how old this article is when you reading it )

You need to decide how much video quality you are looking to get from your IP camera. The higher the camera megapixels, the higher the quality. Deciding on your IP camera megapixels would include the following questions:

1) Will I be mainly viewing recorded video? Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) IP cameras offer the ability to zoom in while you are viewing live video if you need to get a clearer view of a person or object however you cannot do this on recorded video. Megapixel IP cameras allow you to get better a quality picture when zooming in on recorded video than standard IP cameras. This gives you the advantage of being able to zoom in on recorded images to get higher detail when you cannot be viewing the IP camera live. The higher the camera megapixels, the better quality image you will get.
2) How far of a distance will I be needing to zoom in? The higher the camera megapixels, the further you will be able to zoom in with a good view.
3) Will I need to read license plates? If you are monitoring a parking lot or an area that will require you to view license plates, you will need to make sure the IP camera offers a good enough quality image so the license plates are legible. The more camera megapixels the IP camera has, the easier it will be to read license plates. If the area is large, a high megapixel camera would be recommended as this will give you the option to have a larger viewing distance and still have the ability for legible license plates.
4) Will I need to identify persons or objects? Traditional IP cameras can sometimes hinder efforts for facial recognition however megapixel IP cameras allow you to get a clear view of a persons face. A high megapixel IP camera is recommended for large areas such as malls, parking lots or any other location with a large viewing area.
5) Is this for a government building with regulations on video quality? Some government buildings have regulations on how detailed the video quality will need to be. A high camera megapixel rate would solve this issue as you would get a good clear image that would meet most regulations. This is something you should confirm to make sure the IP camera offers the quality required.
6) Is cost an issue? The more megapixels your IP camera has, the more it is going to cost. This is a given. Evaluate how much you can spend and don’t forget to include installation costs if needed.

Considering every IP camera installation is different, be sure to evaluate what you expect from your megapixel IP camera and how much you want to spend. Think about where the camera will be placed and how large of a viewing angle it will need to see. Once you have your expectations in line with a price, start shopping and be sure to check reviews on the camera. The camera megapixels will define the quality of the video so make sure you have enough for what you need.