IP vs Analog Security Cameras: What You Need to Know

June 22, 2022 by Anas Mustafa

Are you considering getting a CCTV security camera system? If so, you may wonder about the differences between IP and analog security cameras. We’ll answer each of the following questions when it comes to comparing IP and analog security cameras:

Which type of camera system has better video quality?
Which type of camera system would give me the most coverage?
Which type of camera system can I view from my smart device and receive notifications?
Which type of camera system is less expensive?

At Canadian Security Professionals, we’re here to help if you need a camera system. We can answer any questions you may have about what’s best for you regarding a camera system.

Which type of camera system has better video quality?

IP cameras provide much higher video quality than analog cameras. IP cameras transmit fully digital signals, so they are capable of offering far greater video detail – in many cases 10 times more detail than standard analog cameras. This allows IP cameras to cover a larger area or provide the video detail required to meet specific needs for facial recognition, detecting license plate numbers and more.

With IP security cameras you are not limited to the lower resolutions of analog security cameras. With higher resolution capabilities, IP-based cameras can give the user a crystal-clear picture and allow the user to zoom in on saved footage without losing a great deal of the picture quality.

IP cameras have true resolution capabilities all the way up to true 4K. Unlike analog cameras, the image from an IP camera will not lose any quality when the signals are transmitted over a distance.

Analog cameras have lower video quality than IP cameras but perform well in low light conditions. The frame rate of analog cameras is also very low so they are not ideal for areas that have a lot of motion or need to be seen in high detail.

When zooming in on replay footage, the picture will become very grainy and pixelated due to the lower image quality. The highest resolution on traditional analog security cameras is “D1” (704X480 pixels) which is significantly less than your standard IP camera. A newer technology, which is called high definition analog, can produce HD video recording but when comparing apples to apples there are still many more benefits to an IP security camera.

Which type of security camera system would give me the most coverage?

Higher-resolution IP cameras tend to have a larger field of view and have more options than analog cameras. Analog cameras typically have a maximum of a 90° field of view. IP cameras are similar but there are several camera options available that allow a field of view all the way up to 360°. With IP cameras, you can typically get away with fewer cameras as the cameras can be placed at better and higher angles and still obtain a better quality of picture.

How much wiring does each type of home or business security camera system need?

If you decide to go with an analog camera business security system, you’ll have to deal with a lot of wiring. Analog cameras must be fully wired as they must be connected directly to a recorder.

When it comes to wanting less wiring, your best choice is to go with an IP business security camera system. IP security cameras are simple to set up – all you have to do is connect them to power over an ethernet (POE) switch, and voila – you have power, video, and data all set up!

You don’t have to invest in new cabling, and thanks to power over ethernet, you don’t even have to have a power outlet close to your IP cameras. So if you’re looking for something easy to set up, then an IP business security system is your best choice.

With IP cameras, you don’t have to worry about having a whole bunch of additional wiring set up. Because their cabling requirements are less complicated than analog cameras, it’s much easier to scale up an IP business security system.

Which type of camera system can I view from my smart device and receive notifications?

You are able to remotely view IP and analog cameras from your smart device if your recorder has these capabilities. With analog CCTV systems, it may require more setup with your recorder and router/modem to make sure all of your settings are correct – and you tap directly into the IP address of the device to be able to access it remotely.

If your IP address changes at all, you may need to start this process over again. This is also somewhat unsecured as there is no encryption on your device to block or deter unwanted hackers. Analog camera systems do not normally have any notification options, although some newer HD analog cameras may offer motion notifications.

With an IP camera system, you are able to tap into the recorder through an app that is synced to your device directly, so any network changes or IP changes are automatically updated and do not require additional setup with your router/modem.

With IP cameras, the live stream is actually fully encrypted before transmission as it runs through the cloud servers of the manufacturer before presenting itself on your phone, it is not a direct tap into your recorder which makes it significantly more secure. IP cameras are basically small computers that compress and store video, and they can be programmed to provide all sorts of analytics.

They can detect motion, and people, count cars, and even detect and store license plate numbers that come into the view of the camera. They are also able to send smart push notifications to notify you of certain events like when a person or a vehicle is detected on your property.

Which type of camera system is less expensive?

Generally speaking, IP security camera systems are more expensive than analog security camera systems. The overall cost may be less than anticipated due to the lower costs for cabling, recording equipment and labour.

With IP cameras, you will only need to run 1 wire (Cat 5/6) per camera in contrast to analog cameras that require multiple wires per camera. The price of IP cameras has come down over the past few years and this trend looks like it will continue in the years to come. IP cameras are widely believed to be the future in the security camera industry, so it is encouraged to go with an IP camera system when possible.

How can Canadian Security Professionals help me with a CCTV camera system?

Now that you’ve read this post and learned about the many reasons you should choose a business security system or home security system that uses IP cameras, we can help you get started!

When we set up a business security system for you, we can offer all of the following equipment:

4MP Security Cameras – These cameras come with features including full-range colour in high definition with up to 2688p resolution, HDR video, and IR night vision.
8MP Security Cameras – These cameras come with features including full-range colour in high definition with up to 3840p resolution, HDR video, and IR night vision.
ColorVu Security Cameras – These cameras come with features including full-colour night vision, full-range colour in high definition with up to 3840p resolution, and HDR video.
Network Video Recorder (NVR) – This recorder is bandwidth optimized so that it won’t slow down your internet connection, and it even has an HDMI port for viewing saved footage locally on a monitor.

There are also plenty of WiFi-based IP camera options as well including:

Smart WiFi Indoor Cameras – These cameras come with features including high-definition, full-range colour 1080p resolution, Person/Vehicle/Animal/Object Detection, HDR video, night vision, two-way audio, cloud-based clip recording, and optional 24/7 onboard recording.
Smart WiFi Outdoor Cameras – These cameras are weatherproof and come with features including high-definition, full-range colour 1080p resolution, Person/Vehicle/Animal/Object Detection, HDR video, night vision, cloud-based clip recording, and optional 24/7 onboard recording. There is also a version that can also provide two-way audio as well.
Smart WiFi doorbell camera – With a smart doorbell camera, you can see who is at your door, record anyone who approaches your door, and talk to visitors at your door, from anywhere on your security smartphone app!

We’ll explain to you exactly how the setup for your Security camera system works and all the great ways you can benefit from a camera system. You can:

Access live video via your computer, tablet or smartphone.
Receive alerts via push notification or email.
Set up recording for 24/7 or trigger recordings based on motion detection.

In addition, we can even offer you a security camera system with video analytics. Video analytics is cutting-edge technology that can tell apart people from other things such as people and vehicles.

An IP Security Camera System Offers You So Many Great Advantages

You want only the best when it comes to your camera system. That’s why you should select an IP camera system from Canadian Security Professionals. With a CSP security camera package, you get:

Professional installation and wiring
Complete training
Great scalability – it’s easy to add more cameras to an IP camera system
Top-notch video quality
Excellent customer service and technical support

We’re here to give you the security system you need at Canadian Security Professionals. We can set up cameras indoors, and outdoors and even set up your analytics! You’ve got the option to view video remotely via your tablet or smartphone and receive alerts if anything happens.

Our team is here to help give you the best options and solutions for your home or business security camera setup.

Contact Us to Learn More About Business Security Systems

Whether you’re ready to get a security camera system set up or would just like to learn more about how IP cameras work, we’d love to hear from you! You can call us at 1-877-494-9911 or contact us online to learn more about all the excellent security a security system can offer you

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