Security Camera Video - Why Such Poor Quality?

[grinningghost]

In this day and age of high definition, why are security camera videos so crummy? You know, they air a video of a bank robbery and you can barely make out that it's a human form, much less see the face or the details of the clothing.

Wouldn't it seem that security video should be of the highest quality? I don't get it.

 

[bicker]

Quality and price often have a direct relationship. Figure as time goes on, folks are choosing security cameras that are good enough, and benefiting by technical advancement in the form of paying lower prices.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Most Security Cameras tend to be protected by a dark shell, so people looking at them from the outside cannot see where they are pointed to.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Also in most places video is still stored on VHS tapes that are reused many many times. Which could contribute to the poor quality.

 

[ducklite]

I just posted on the Tiger Attack thread about security cameras. Part of my job is to get this equipment installed in the stores the company I work for owns. We did a big equipment upgrade about eight months ago after a string of burglaries and robberies. We've now got hi-def cameras and DVR's in all of our stores that are so clear that we can see a zit on someone's nose.

Total upgrade cost for the cameras, DVR's, wiring, and labor was about $2500 per location. Since then we've had several burglaries, and with every single one of them the police were able to identify and arrest the people responsible. We've been able to not only get our merchandise back, but also the guilty parties as part of their sentencing have only a certain amount of time after they get out of jail to pay us back for the cost of the broken glass/doors. The cost of the installation/upgrade paid for itself in those stores.

 

[Kimberle]

Like Ann said, they are not all poor quality. We have luxary items stores. Our cameras are very clear. We have one pointed at the register. If someone tries to charge us back or pass a bad check, we can produce a cd of them at the register signing their receipt, plus the merchandise that was placed in the bag.

 

[Piecey]

The bank i used to work for also had hi-def cameras and DVR's.. in all branches.

 

[bicker]

I suppose we should get ready for some link spam.

 

[tvguy]

Also in most places video is still stored on VHS tapes that are reused many many times. Which could contribute to the poor quality.

This is a large part of the problem. Another part of the problem is companies put security equipment in years ago for thousands of dollars and don't see a reason to upgrade (make that replace) everything even though it could be done in most businesses for under a $1,000.
And for a lot of businesses there is the reality that the cameras have done little to reduce the amount of crime. They don't care about criminals being caught, they want something that prevents them from being victims in the first place. Best evidence of that is in the newspaper on TV, almost everyday, video of some doof walking into a business with 16 security cameras, robbing the place, not carrying that they may get caught.

 

[Lintasare]

Holy Resurrected Thread Batman!