Compare the view you need
| Choice | When to compare it | Check in playback |
|---|---|---|
| 4MP | A focused doorway or counter view. | Target detail at the actual distance. |
| 5MP | A middle option for scene detail and recording load. | Lens coverage and moving subjects at night. |
| 8MP / 4K UHD | More pixels for cropping a wider view. | Output dimensions, frame rate and NVR recording limits. |
5MP vs 8MP: which should you choose?
Compare 8MP when you need more pixels across the same view or want to crop recorded footage. Choose 5MP when its recorded detail already meets the task and it fits your recorder and budget. At the same aspect ratio and field of view, nominal 8MP has about 60% more total pixels than 5MP, or about 26% more pixels across each image dimension. That is not a 60% increase in identification distance.
4MP vs 8MP: where does the extra detail help?
Nominal 8MP has twice the total pixels of 4MP. At the same aspect ratio and field of view, that is about 41% more pixels across each dimension. A well-aimed 4MP camera can suit a close entrance; compare 8MP when the same wider view needs more crop detail. For a distant target, a narrower lens or another camera position may help more than a resolution change alone.
For either comparison, use the same target distance and framing. Review exported day and night clips with moving people; check focus, lighting, compression and the frame rate at the selected resolution. Higher megapixels alone do not establish better low-light footage.
Is 8MP the same as 4K?
In common security-camera usage, 4K UHD means 3840 × 2160: 8,294,400 pixels, or about 8.3MP per frame. This is commonly rounded to 8MP. An 8MP sensor label alone does not establish that the selected video stream records at 3840 × 2160.
- Read the width × height of the camera's selected main-stream mode, along with its frame rate.
- Check the NVR's simultaneous recording limits for your camera count. A 4K monitor output is a separate specification.
- Export a recording and inspect its dimensions. A lower-resolution sub-stream or cropped mode can differ from the main stream.
Add one camera or choose a complete kit
For replacement or expansion, compare the 605GP 8MP outdoor PoE camera or DM27SP 8MP dome PoE camera. Match the existing recorder, PoE power and required events to the selected model.
For a new system, compare the 4K PoE kit with 4, 6 or 8 cameras or the 5MP 605GP kit options. Select the camera quantity and HDD separately. Use the NVR storage calculator with actual average bitrate, camera count and recording hours; pixel ratios are not storage ratios.
8MP vs 12MP: should I go higher?
Compare 12MP if the intended wider view needs more recorded detail and the lens, lighting and recorder support that mode. Twelve megapixels means 50% more total pixels than nominal 8MP, not 50% more identification distance or a fixed storage increase. Choose from recorded results and the whole system budget.
Lens, night footage and technical references
Match focal length and target distance · Compare night-vision methods · Choose night lighting · Plan outdoor placement · IP camera buying guide · Plan a 4K recording system.
Browse PoE cameras and kits · Compare detection camera options.
The ITU UHDTV resolution definition specifies 4K UHD dimensions. Axis explains sensor size and low-light image quality.