IP-based cameras are not restricted to the lower resolution of analog cameras. A 5-megapixel IP camera gives you ten times more detail than an analog 4CIF camera.
Many analog cameras have a maximum resolution of 704 x 480 pixels (4CIF), but IP cameras can provide much higher resolutions, including HDTV (720p/1080p) and even up to 5 megapixels (2560 x 1920). This means you can either cover a much larger area, or get a highly detailed image to meet more demanding identification requirements.
Figure 1: A comparison of different resolutions. 1: 4 CIF (704 x 576) 2: SVGA (800 x 600) 3: HDTV 720p (1280 x 720) 4: HDTV 1080p (1920 x 1080) 5: 3 MP (2048 x 1536) 6: 5 MP (2592 x 1944) 7: 4K (3840 x 2160)
IP-based cameras also offer several different aspect ratios, making it easier to capture wide scenes and allowing you to focus your coverage where it is most needed.
Figure 2: Various aspect ratios makes it easier to focus your coverage where it is most needed. 1: 4:3 2: 16:9