IP vs. Analog Cameras. Which one is for you?

1. Why IP but not Analog?

2. UTP cable
Coaxial cable
CCD/CMOS
CCD
Lens
Lens
AD Powerful DSP
AD Essential DSP DA
IP
Analog
• Image Processing
• Image Processing
• Compression
• Encoding
• IP Protocol
• Web Server
• Compression
• Encoding
NVR
• IP Protocol
• Web Server
DVR
As we can see from above, for both IP and Analog camera, the image was captured by Lens and converted to analog signal by CCD/CMOS
sensor at first. The analog signal from the sensor is then converted to digital form by an AD(analog-to-digital) converter and further processed
by the camera’s onboard digital signal processer(DSP).
For an IP camera the image is then compressed internally (encoded) and transmitted via an IP protocol(Ethernet) on UTP cable and is either
stored in the camera or on a network video recorder(NVR).
For an Analog camera, the DSP do image processing with out any compression or encoding, then covert to analog signal again to make it
possible to transmit on coaxial cable, during which losing of valid signal occurred. Compression, encoding, and even IP protocol was utilized
on a digital video recorder(DVR).
Primarily, the difference is where the video is compressed and what components it utilizes.
Difference on working principle

3. Due to the processing method of Analog camera, it losing
some valid signal in the last step of Digital to Analog, and
also in its transmitting process over cable. So Analog
camera can’t hold a high resolution.
Although today the Analog HD can still reach the 1080P
even 4K resolution, but the image quality still can’t be
compared with IP when declared at same resolution.
And in the future the Analog camera can not hold higher
resolution due to its principle.
Picture Quality – IP is better and IP is future
Analog Camera IP Camera
IP Camera never lose any valid signal during it’s process
after digitalized the signal. And during the transmitting
process, it has no losing too because of IP protocol.
So for higher resolution than 1080P, 4K, it is easy for IP
camera to achieve in the future.
1080P 4K 8K ……
1080P 4K
D1

4. Analog Camera IP Camera
Compression – Much more on IP
Analog camera don’t do any compression before
transmission, the compression are done in DVR or
Encoder. So the DVR will under high pressure of
compression work if there are lots of analog camera
connected. That’s why the compression can’t be very
deep as it will cost a lot of computing resource. Today
most analog system even don’t have H.265 featured.
IP camera do compression before transmission, so the
computing resource of compression are distributed all
over the cameras. NVR don’t have any pressure of
compression. That’s why the IP system can always realize
the lasted compression method, and do deep
compression to save the bitrates and storage space.
…… ……
H.264

5. Analog camera can not realize analytics on camera itself
because it don’t have any processing ability and output
interfaces. So normally you don’t have analytics with
analog solution.
To realize video analytics, you need a video analytics
server or video analytic built-in DVR. But the server will
undertake lots of pressure, it is not possible to handle
when camera quantity is high. If the server get down, all
cameras lose the video analytics ability.
Analog Camera IP Camera
It is easy to build-in various video analytics in IP camera
due to it’s strong processing ability of the CPU inside. So
the camera can be smarter more than a video capture
device.
Don’t need video analytic server, the pressure is in each
camera so it is easy to built a big project with big
quantity of camera.
Video Analytics – Built-in Analytics in IP Camera

6. Analog Camera IP Camera
Image Parameter Configuration – Much easier on IP
Analog camera don’t have any access interfaces, so user
have to configure the image parameters by OSD menu.
But the OSD menu is lack of items and really hard to use.
And if you have hundreds or thousands cameras need to
configure, it is really a huge word to complete all the
configuration of all the cameras.
IP Camera have network interfaces so it can be accessed
remotely and have web interfaces to do configuration
easily. You can configure the IP camera on web browser,
on NVR, on configure tools.
If you have abundant cameras need to be configure, it is
easy to use software tools to do batch configuration, and
it is easy to do the copy and paste of configuration.
IP

7. Analog Camera IP Camera
Cabling – Much easier to expansion for IP
In a modern building there may don’t have coaxial cable
if did not consider to build CCTV system in advance. One
day if you want to install analog cameras, it will be really
hard to wiring the coaxial cable all over the building. At
least it will be a huge cost.
In addition, if there already have coaxial cable and you
want to do expansion, it will be also very hard to pave
new coaxial cable.
In a modern building there must have UTP cable and IP
network as it is a basic infrastructure. So even at the
beginning there was no CCTV system built, and one day it
needed, it is easy to install IP video surveillance system
based on the basic IP network.
And it is very easy to do expansion for IP, it is very easy to
connect new IP camera to existing IP network without
additional wiring. And don’t forget for IP there have
wireless IP camera for choose.
…… ……

8. Analog Camera IP Camera
Compatibility – Unified Standards for IP
There are several Analog formats nowadays, besides
traditional CVBS, also including HD Analog: HD-SDI, AHD,
HD-CVI and HD-TVI. While each format features a unique
set of capabilities and compatibilities. At this time, there
is no “standard” format – or established “winner” – in
the HD Analog space.
With fast developing of IP Video Surveillance, the
standards Onvif are getting more and more mature, and
almost all the players in this industry are supporting
Onvif more or less. Onvif has actually been the unified
standard for IP security products. This will not only make
the IP cameras and back-end devices to get much easier
to be compatible with each other, but also make video
surveillance products to be compatible with other
products like Access control, Alarm and etc.

9. Analog Camera IP Camera
VMS Supporting – Support much more on IP
Analog camera don’t have IP interface, so it must
connect to DVR or Encoder first, then can get connected
to IP network. So to use analog camera with VMS, you
must have DVR or encoder first. And few VMS(Video
Management Software) were good at integrating the
analog camera via DVR or Encoder. VMS provider do not
like to integrate DVR so to use Analog camera with VMS
is not easy.
Most VMS provider based on IP technology, and they are
more willing to integrate IP cameras directly. So IP
cameras can work with most of the VMS software
without any internal devices.

10. Analog Camera IP Camera
Alarm trigger – Directly from IP Camera
Analog camera don’t have any alarm I/O itself, it have to
connect DVR or encoder, and the DVR or encoder do the
alarm trigging if there is alarm triggered.
If the central DVR get down, then all channels will lose
the alarm trigger ability.
IP camera have the IP network interface, so it can
directly send the alarm notification to the alarm devices
or alarm server. So even the internal NVR get down, the
IP camera can still trigging alarms. This will make the
whole system more reliable.
IP

11. Analog Camera IP Camera
Maintenance – Smarter on IP
Analog camera don’t have the ability to do detail
maintenance information storage. So when some
problems occurred on analog camera, the camera will
not tell to the user.
For example, when the camera get defocus, or someone
change the scene of the monitoring area, there will be
no alarm, during this may miss a lot of key clips.
Defocus
Scene Change
IP camera have the ability to built-in algorithm to detect
such kind of problems, and also have the interface to
send them out to back-end. So the user can know the
problems at the first time and do some responses. This
will make the whole video surveillance system to be
updated all the time.
Defocus
Scene Change

12. Analog Camera IP Camera
Firmware Upgrade – Much easier on IP
For Analog camera, if you want do an upgrade of
firmware, it will be very inconvenient. First you need a
serial flash tool, then you have to go to the site and open
the camera shell and connect the tool to on-board serial
port of the camera, and you must need firmware on your
hands, then use a specific software to do the flashing
firmware operation.
Due to the IP technology on IP camera, it is very easy to
upgrade IP camera remotely. You don’t need to climb to
get the camera off or even touch the camera, just
upgrade remotely by IP protocols. And nowadays you
even don’t need to have the firmware on your hands, the
camera will automatically get the firmware from internet
itself when you click upgrade.
Serial Flash
Tool

13. Analog Camera IP Camera
SD Card support – Recording on IP camera directly
SD Card
IP Camera
IP
NVR
①
②
③
IP camera support internal SD card, which means it can
do recording on camera directly, so the NVR is not
necessary if just record few time.
And if there is NVR to do the recording, the camera with
SD card can have the ANR feature, which means even the
network between IP camera and NVR get disconnected,
the video recording can be stored in SD card temporarily,
and transmit back to NVR when network reconnected.
Analog camera don’t support SD card, so to do recording,
it must rely on a DVR. Can not do recording itself.
And not like IP camera, when the coaxial connection get
disconnected, it will lose all the video recording due to
no SD card to do temporarily recording.
1. No SD Card, Must record to DVR
2. No SD Card, lose recording when connection get break
Analog Camera DVR

14. Analog Camera IP Camera
Video output interface – Various interfaces on IP
Analog camera have BNC video output interface only to
connect with coaxial cable. The user have to have coaxial
cable paved to connect the camera, don’t have any other
option.
We all know the main interface of IP camera is the
network to connect with UTP cable, but due to the
powerful chipset internally, it can support BNC output
too, and some IP cameras were integrated with optical
fiber module, so the camera can output the video to
much longer distance.
BNC output only
BNC output
UTP output
Optical Fiber output

15. Analog Camera IP Camera
Wireless – Only for IP
Analog camera don’t support wireless, must have coaxial
cable to connect the cameras. But in some application,
wiring the cable may not so convenient and may cost a
lot.
NO Wireless Support
IP camera support wireless connection. So UTP cable is
not necessary for wireless cameras. In some application,
wiring will not be so convenient, so user can choose
wireless IP cameras to do the installation.

16. Analog Camera IP Camera
Security – Various Encryption on IP
The signal from Analog camera is just analog wave, not
digitalized, so don’t have strong encryption. That means
if someone want to get the data from the coaxial cable, it
will be much more easier than to get from IP.
Can you Image that someone can easily get the video
data from the cable and all your cameras will be
exposure to others.
The signal from IP camera is digitalized, and a lot of
encryption methods can protect the data transmitting in
the cable. Even someone get the data from the cable,
they can’t do anything as all data are encrypted.
802.1x
HTTPS RTSP Authentication
Onvif Authentication

17. Analog Camera IP Camera
Large-scale networking projects – Unthinkable for Analog
Analog camera don’t connect to network itself, it must
connect to a DVR or Encoder first. So regarding flexibility
and scalability, analog camera is very bad.
For large-scale networking projects like safe city, it is
unthinkable for Analog.
Each IP camera in the network is a standalone IP host,
adding or removing a IP camera from the network is very
easy for IP video surveillance system. Lots of IP
technologies like Multicast make the video transmission
stable and easy. IP is much more suitable for a large-scale
project.