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Head cam 1080p vs 720p: Which one is better for video conferencing?



720p models are adequate for many users, and cost about the same as more sophisticated cameras. Those featuring 1080p require more storage and bandwidth, but also provide greater detail for not too much higher a price.




head cam 1080p vs 720p



1080p signifies high definition: 1920 pixels in width and 1080 in height, or a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. 720p cameras feature older technology, though legacy installations can be easily integrated with newer systems.


Every area to be monitored demands unique camera specifications, depending on size, shape, and other factors. Smaller, well-lit spaces with a clear field of view can be effectively covered by 720p systems, while larger spaces require an upgrade.


Real-time video streaming to a mobile device will be easier with 720p quality due to its lower bandwidth requirements. Most internet connections can easily stream at 1080p without issues, but a slowdown may cause lag with higher-resolution cameras.


Even when recording continuously for one week, a 1080p camera will consume only 113 gigabytes (GB) of space. Many modern cameras also have advanced features such as motion sensors and video analytics. Since these are activated only when movement is detected, they extend memory, storage, and battery life.


A higher-resolution camera packs more pixels into an image, so it aids with recognition and identification at greater distances. 1080p footage, therefore, is better for deciphering identifications from longer ranges and bigger properties.


No specific system can capture every scene, however a higher-resolution security camera provides a slightly better chance of collecting important details. Stiffer competition has lowered the price of 1080p cameras comparable to 720p models. An upgrade could be worth the slightly higher cost.


When choosing High Definition cameras, one of the most fundamental questions is what of the two common resolution levels one should choose: Do you use 720p or 1080p cameras? The fundamental alternatives are familiar to any user who has bought a TV in the last few years. However, how do you choose when buying network cameras?


The main case for 1080p cameras over 720p ones is that a 1080p camera has over twice the resolution (i.e., pixels) than a 720p one. A 1080p camera has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (2.07 MP) while a 720p camera resolution is 'only' 1280 x 720 (.92 MP). Because of that, marketing people often conclude that a 1080p is equivalent to (2) 720p cameras.


In this test, we choose two very similar cameras from the same manufacturer - one that was 1080p (Sony CH210) and the other that was 720p (Sony CH110). As you can see in the sample image below, from the outside the cameras even look identical:


[Note: this is just the latest of our comparison tests of cameras with different resolution. We routinely test SD vs 720p vs 2MP vs 5MP etc. (for other comparisons, see our indoor camera shootout, our parking lot shoot, WDR camera shootout, etc.)]


Within Sony's line, all the 720p X series (entry level) cameras (like the CH110) use the generic CMOS sensor. However, all the 1080p X series and all other HD mid level and premium level camears (like the E and V series) do use EXMOR. Finally, while the EXMOR-R [link no longer available], the latest version of EXMOR has gained attention, none of the production Sony network cameras support that.


Note that the FoV between the two cameras is slightly different because the 1080p CH210 has a roughly 10% wider FoV. However, the CH210 also has 50% more horizontal pixels. The effective advantage in pixels per foot for the 1080p is roughly 40%.


That old 720p webcam is the same basic type of camera Apple has been putting in laptops for years, and this isn't the first time we've complained about it. A lot of Windows laptops are barely better, many with similar resolutions, but at least some have better light sensitivity, color accuracy or depth sensing for facial-recognition logins. However, the tide is shifting, and more Windows laptops are joining the latest Macs in adding better webcams.


One option is to use your phone's camera. Either the front or back cameras will be better than any laptop you have. For TV appearances from my work-from-home office, I sometimes use my phone mounted from an eye-level tripod clip. Other times I'd use EpocCam software from Elgato, which runs on my phone and allows me to use the phone as a wireless 1080p camera for my MacBook. The Pro version costs a few bucks, and won't work for every scenario, but is a reasonable solution if you're using a compatible app like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.


Among current MacBooks, the M1 MacBook Air and 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro both have that 720p webcam. But the MacBook Pro 14 and Pro 16 have excellent 1080p cameras, along with the 2021 24-inch M1 iMac. Previously, you could only find that in the discontinued $5,000-and-up iMac Pro and 27-inch iMac. The M2 MacBook Air is the biggest game-changer, if you ask me, as it has an excellent FHD webcam, and is just a great all-around laptop.


My colleague Brian Cooley has many more general webcam setup tips, including some good headset mic suggestions -- although your phone headset or AirPods should be fine for anything short of a live hit on CNN.


Full face and body performance capture is streamlined when you use Faceware Shepherd with your Mark IV headcam. Shepherd automates headcam recording functions and integrates with body motion capture systems, like Vicon and Optitrack, to synchronise facial and body mocap recordings on PCs and Windows tablets.


As a new user, it may take 10 to 15 minutes to properly fit an actor's helmet, build the headcam, and frame and focus the actor's face. Once you've mastered this process, it'll get much faster. It takes roughly 5 to 7 minutes per actor for Headcam operators to do this process. Once the actor has a helmet and camera fit and framed, things go even faster. For example, coming back from a break or lunch takes about a minute to get the Mark IV back on them.


Like its predecessor, the 720p VHolder ContourHD, the Contour 1080p struggles with such basic tasks as white balancing, managing exposure, and maintaining consistent colors. That said, the Contour 1080p lets you capture dramatic POV video at a decidedly reasonable price point, and especially if you put in a bit of post-processing work with a good video editing suite, the results can be very impressive.


Weighing less than five ounces, battery included, the Contour 1080p is about the size of an ultra-compact point-and-shoot digital camera, making it seemingly the perfect helmet-mounted cam for outdoor videographers both pro and amateur. But note the qualifier there. In putting together that short video of Telluride, I spent a full week battling the quirks and limitations of the Contour 1080p. The camera delivered daily frustrations, forcing me to junk shot after shot. Yes, it is possible to get stunning results with the Contour, but you're going to have to work for it.


When my 1080p arrived, I immediately grabbed my old 720p ContourHD, held them side by side, and shot footage walking in and out of my apartment on a sunny day. My initial reaction? I was delighted by the 1080's improved resolution (1920x1080 progressive pixels versus 1280x720). The 1080 seemed to capture richer, more accurate colors, and its higher bitrate made for a sharper, more realistic picture. The lens seemed sharper as well, with visibly less distortion than its predecessor.


The 1080p cam improves lens sharpness and distortion over its predecessor via a clever trick that isn't immediately obvious: in 1080 mode, it reduces the angle of view from the 720p's 135 to 110. Cropping from the center of a cheap lens gives you a better picture because a lens tends to perform worst toward the edges of its field of view.


And as if that weren't enough to muck things up, the 1080p cam shows noticeable shutter roll whenever you hit a bump or whip your head. This happens because the camera's sensor is "slow": rather than capturing the entire frame simultaneously, the sensor scans in a "sweep" across the frame. If there is little motion in the frame, no problem. But if either the camera or the subject is moving, the sensor records different parts of the scene at different times, resulting in very obvious distortion.


You can absolutely reduce the obviousness of shutter roll by shooting at 720p instead of 1080p. This costs you resolution, obviously, but restores the more favorable angle of view and results in less apparent camera shake. Ultimately, this is the solution I've adopted: for any motion-intensive sport, I always shoot with the Contour in 720-60p mode.


Exposure was the bane of my original ContourHD helmet cam. I had high hopes that the new 1080p model would cure its predecessor's ills, especially given the camera's new, user-settable exposure and contrast settings. In this hope I was disappointed. Contour simply seems unable or unwilling to provide us with a camera capable of correctly exposing high-contrast scenes.


Much as I love still photography, video adds a dimension that static frames alone can't match. The Contour 1080p can and will produce some of the most pitiful crap you've ever seen. But, with time and obsessive testing and tinkering, you might just get some unforgettable clips of your own, making the Contour 1080p well worth your time and money.


The V50 Pro's 4K video benefits from basic electronic image stabilization (EIS) tech that does work better as you drop down to 2.7K/30fps and 1080p/60fp, but 4K video is always watchable. There are tons of modes, from slo-mo and fast-mo to time-lapse file length limits (to one, three or five minutes).


Mark is TechRadar's Senior news editor. Having worked in tech journalism for a ludicrous 17 years, Mark is now attempting to break the world record for the number of camera bags hoarded by one person. He was previously Cameras Editor at Trusted Reviews, Acting editor on Stuff.tv, as well as Features editor and Reviews editor on Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he's contributed to titles including The Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in a former life, he also won The Daily Telegraph's Young Sportswriter of the Year. But that was before he discovered the strange joys of getting up at 4am for a photo shoot in London's Square Mile. ","contributorText":"With contributions from","contributors":["name":"Andrew Williams","link":"href":"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/author\/andrew-williams"]}; var triggerHydrate = function() window.sliceComponents.authorBio.hydrate(data, componentContainer); var triggerScriptLoadThenHydrate = function() var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = ' -8-2/authorBio.js'; script.async = true; script.id = 'vanilla-slice-authorBio-component-script'; script.onload = () => window.sliceComponents.authorBio = authorBio; triggerHydrate(); ; document.head.append(script); if (window.lazyObserveElement) window.lazyObserveElement(componentContainer, triggerScriptLoadThenHydrate); else triggerHydrate(); } }).catch(err => console.log('Hydration Script has failed for authorBio Slice', err)); }).catch(err => console.log('Externals script failed to load', err));Mark WilsonSocial Links NavigationSenior news editorMark is TechRadar's Senior news editor. Having worked in tech journalism for a ludicrous 17 years, Mark is now attempting to break the world record for the number of camera bags hoarded by one person. He was previously Cameras Editor at Trusted Reviews, Acting editor on Stuff.tv, as well as Features editor and Reviews editor on Stuff magazine. As a freelancer, he's contributed to titles including The Sunday Times, FourFourTwo and Arena. And in a former life, he also won The Daily Telegraph's Young Sportswriter of the Year. But that was before he discovered the strange joys of getting up at 4am for a photo shoot in London's Square Mile. 2ff7e9595c


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