Do you get higher resolution by setting your cam to B&W?

[osity 0]

I have a few color cameras setup. These cameras have a Black & White setting on them.

 

Does it make sense to switch the setting to B&W in order to gain better resolution?

 

Would doing this this make a difference in making out peoples faces better?

[securitymonster 0]

You typically get a higher resolution when using B/W but really depends on the camera. Some cameras are True day/night cameras giving you a great B/W picture and some are Fake day/night cameras, which give you a grainy B/W picture as the color is digitally filtered out.

 

Getting faces is tough to do! You need to be strategic with both camera placement and camera selection. Ideally, for good facial recognition, you will want 40% of the monitor filled with the face.

 

What model camera are you using?

[osity 0]

I am using a few domes, and then a typical cube/rectangle one.

One of the brands of one dome is "eeper". Then I have some chinese ones that donr seem to have a name.

 

I though the lense was what made the difference not the camera itself?

[rory 0]

The lens can certainly make a difference, but the camera first has to have the number of pixels. The specs will specify what the resolution is in color and what it is in BW .. True Day night cameras are typically higher res in BW mode, from 570 to 600TVL, but you also need to check the Picture Elements or Effective Pixels .. if it doesnt specify a higher resolution in BW mode, then it more than likely is not a True Day Night camera ... see the Sticky under Security Cameras for links to Day Night related threads.

 

Basically no you dont get a higher resolution just by going black and white, as it depends on the camera itself.

[osity 0]

Yes, i know that it the cam must actually indicate that it will perform with higher resolution in B&W for it to work.

 

All the cams I have show higher rez for B&W, so perhaps it may be my best option for increasing the detail of my camera footage.

[kensplace 0]

I would do a quick test, flick the switch see if it improves.

 

Remember your resolution is also dependent on the weakest link in the system, you could have a state of the art high res camera, but it would give a bad pic with low quality or bad cables. A low res dvr or multiplexer can also limit your resolution, poor lighting can severely affect what you can see, so can incorrect settings on many devices from the camera itself, to the dvr etc.

 

Going b&w would obviously remove the advantages of colour, such as being able to identify the colour of clothing, cars etc.