Brent1971

I am the original poster. I am asking for very basic info that will help others also looking to equip themselves with better tech. Please, can we just stick to the subjects. I do have an unused NAS that can spool IP camera data. I believe it has one channel and can buy a license for additional cameras its a Synology DS110 so if I go digital, I just need cameras that are going to be worth it. By the way, in very approximate terms because I do know lenses and chips can vary quite a bit, but in general terms, how many megapixels equals D1 in image density. Still would like to see a few more examples of D1 DVR's, and megapixels cameras in the homeowner affordable range.

Hi I am an end user looking to go from 4 analog CIF cameras with dvr to more cameras and sharper image. the info has been helpful for sure. I CAN google "d1" "megapixel" type terms but as rumsfeld once said "you dont know what you dont know" or was that Yogi Berra. lol Anyway the links to actual producs helps. Particularly D1/4cif on the DVR and if I go megapixel, I need camera suggestions/links. One issue is my cametas are small lipstick and hidden so they dont detract from the looks but these ip megapixel units are quite larger. but i could prob install inside the walls with only the lens showing. so the products links and reccommendations are great so keep them coming

can u please post a few links of example products? would be a great help! Do your self a favor and buy IP megapix or HD-SDI lots of choices they are not expensive as u think As we used say in my old country "I am not that reach to buy garbage" if that make sense to you

OK my ORIGINAL post's goal was to find a reasonably affordable security DVR and camera system that would deliver higher resolution than my old style analog sytem that is NOT D1 or 4CIF. Also looking to raise my knowlege about the various technologies. Broadly, it looks from reading the posts that there are three general categories of DVR rising in picture quality: Analog CIF (old school) D1 and 4CIF - ballpark similar Megapixel Digital (various levels) I dont think I can afford IP/Digital Megapixel type technology, so my next step looks like D1/4CIF My cameras are mostly all more than 330 lines, I dont have the specs in front of me but one is 540 and one is 600 day night very small bullet cameras. I WAS under the assumption that plugging these into a "Full D1" DVR would greatly improve the image quality, and therefore identify an intruder farther away than the 20' or so I can now. But then there was the camera test post that calls that into question with a Super HAD II chip technology mentioned as the only really better technology of camera itself. So now I am in fact a bit confused. I would welcome example DVR's and cameras to go see that some of you might have experience with and can vouch for. Thanks all info appreciated.

This was a VERY helpfully informative post. I need to restate my question now. Were these camera tests done with the cameras connected directly to a monitor? Or was there a DVR compressing and then displaying the images? I will also ask a general question by itself. Thanks! In our camera tests over the years, we've found little apparent difference between "standard-chip" CCTV cameras with rated resolutions of 470-lines, 500-lines, 540-lines, 600(+) lines, and even cameras that use the Effio 960H chip. Perceived resolution remains approximately the same. We assumed that something else in our chain was the limiting factor: distribution amps? signal transport (coax and/or baluns)? our matrix? monitors? something else? We had resigned ourselves to the perceived limitations of our system until a little-unknown manufacturer brought us a demo of a new camera. The inMotion in11S3N2D uses a ⅓” Sony SuperHAD II CCD - considered to be a lower-grade sensor than the Effio. Still, we noticed a substantial improvement in both resolution and the ability to distinguish color differences. Are they the equivalent of megapixel? Hardly. Still, the difference to any other analog camera are substantial.

It is a plain vanilla hdd 4 channel analog hard drive unit. H264 compression I believe.

Hi, is this with a standard DVR like mine, or with a "Full D1" recorder? In our camera tests over the years, we've found little apparent difference between "standard-chip" CCTV cameras with rated resolutions of 470-lines, 500-lines, 540-lines, 600(+) lines, and even cameras that use the Effio 960H chip. Perceived resolution remains approximately the same. We assumed that something else in our chain was the limiting factor: distribution amps? signal transport (coax and/or baluns)? our matrix? monitors? something else? We had resigned ourselves to the perceived limitations of our system until a little-unknown manufacturer brought us a demo of a new camera. The inMotion in11S3N2D uses a ⅓” Sony SuperHAD II CCD - considered to be a lower-grade sensor than the Effio. Still, we noticed a substantial improvement in both resolution and the ability to distinguish color differences. Are they the equivalent of megapixel? Hardly. Still, the difference to any other analog camera are substantial.

OK Thanks. the youtube comparison is very helpful. Here is another one which shows 4CIF (640x480) VS 3 Megapixel digital if you select 1080p HD youtube viewing it really shaows a difference. The 3MP is much sharper still. There are so very many DVR's on amazon/ebay for example,but many have poor reviews. Can anyone recommend a affordable D1 DVR that actually works properly? Are there cameras specifically that can take full use of D1 resolution?