How to make sure the sensor resolution

[dingweed]

I'm trying to buy a bullet camera for my camcorder. But I've read that there are a lot of dirty players in that area. Some of them say that they are selling a X lines of resolution camera but it is not it is usually lower.

So I was wondering is there a way to verify thier claims when I do get the camera? I assume that the camera has a composite out. So if I connect the camera to "composite in" on the computer and capture it with, let's say, WinDV. Will WinDV give me the resolution of the camera or will it give me a standard NTSC resolution?

[edDV]

I'm trying to buy a bullet camera for my camcorder. But I've read that there are a lot of dirty players in that area. Some of them say that they are selling a X lines of resolution camera but it is not it is usually lower.

So I was wondering is there a way to verify thier claims when I do get the camera? I assume that the camera has a composite out. So if I connect the camera to "composite in" on the computer and capture it with, let's say, WinDV. Will WinDV give me the resolution of the camera or will it give me a standard NTSC resolution?

You Print out an EIA Resolution Test chart and point your camera at it. Match the corner arrows to the edge of the rastor. This allows measurement of luminance resolution in various parts of the chart. Repeat at various zoom settings to test the lens.
http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/respat/#EIA1956



WinDV is for IEEE-1394 connection only. Composite or S-Video need a capture card or capture device. Composite will give the worst result. S-Video will keep luminance "Y" separate from the NTSC encoded "C".

[redwudz]

Here's the company I deal with most for security cameras and equipment. http://www.supercircuits.com/index.asp They sell a lot to the government and have a good reputation. Hi-res covert cameras are a little more difficult to find, especially in color versions. The common cheap ones are 320 lines and the better ones are 400 to 600 lines. I believe they all output composite video.

This is a lo-res camera:



Great test patterns, edDV, I'll definately bookmark that page. Thanks.

[dingweed]

Thanks edDV for your response. IMHO this should be pinned, I think I'm not the only one who wants to know the *true* resolution of thier cameras.