Webcams fall into a poorly defined area between digital cameras and video camcorders. Nowadays, webcams can take both high-quality images and high definition videos. Due to the webcams falling into this gray area, there is no set standard for describing the functions of the individual webcams. One webcam can be listed as 2.0 megapixels and another as 1080p. This webcam has a normal aspect ratio, but this has an aspect ratio of 16: 9. At this point you may be wondering how the Double Rainbow Guy. What does it all mean? In the following, the confusing terminology is broken so that you know exactly what each camera can do.
HD or high definition
720p and 1080p are high-resolution resolutions, with 1080p being the best available. What does the "p" mean, you might ask. It is short for "Progressive Scanning". For example, 720p means 1280 x 720 pixels, with 1280 representing the number of horizontal pixels and 720 representing the number of vertical pixels. A 720p television gradually scans 921,600 pixels (1280x720) on the screen every 1/60 second. The more pixels that can be scanned step by step on the screen, the better the video quality.
Megapixels
Megapixels are descriptions of the image quality that are usually associated with digital cameras. In our last example, with 1280 x 720 or 921,600 pixels, this would result in 0.9 megapixels (MP) or 1 megapixel if you round up (Mega means one million). As you can see, the formula for the two resolution descriptions is identical and is only described differently.
There are two main reasons why webcams are described either in megapixels or in HD resolution. The first reason is that some consumers can easily identify with a product whose resolution is given in megapixels, unlike HD resolution and vice versa. The other reason for the two different descriptions for video resolution is a separate measurement: the aspect ratio.
Aspect ratio
Aspect ratio is a common reason why a webcam is described either as HD or in terms of megapixels. HD webcams or webcams with a resolution of 720p or 1080p have an aspect ratio of 16: 9 (widescreen).
With a webcam with a normal aspect ratio, the resolution is more likely to be specified in megapixels. If you see a webcam for which the video resolution is given in megapixels, you have to expect that the image is as high as it is wide.
VGA
VGA is a type of sensor that typically refers to a resolution of 640 x 480, which is the resolution of a standard-definition television. VGA webcams are not considered high-resolution webcams. These are entry-level webcams that record videos with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels or 0.3 megapixels or less. This type of webcam comes from early technology, whereas most high-resolution webcams now have CMOS sensors.
Photo interpolation
You may find that a webcam may not have excellent video quality but can still take high-quality photos. This is not necessarily related to the webcam itself. The software supplied with the webcam digitally improves the quality of the images. If you find that a webcam can take up to 20 MP interpolated photos, it means that the webcam itself does not have this feature, but the software can update the quality of the photos to 20 MP.
Frame rate
The frame rate is an extremely important specification to be recognized. The frame rate is usually given in frames per second (FPS). The higher the frame rate, the smoother the streaming video becomes. You can find webcams with a video resolution of 1080p in HD quality, but better video quality with less skipping or jerking at 720p at 30 fps. This is because the webcam and CPU have to process much more information at 1080p than at 720p, which lowers the frame rate to 10 fps or less, which in turn results in less fluid video.
Most webcams with a built-in H.264 video encoder can process videos at a much faster speed, which means less stress on the CPU and webcam, while maintaining the fluidity of the video and the image quality. If you find a webcam with an H.264 video encoder, you will most likely be able to record real HD video.
HD or high definition
720p and 1080p are high-resolution resolutions, with 1080p being the best available. What does the "p" mean, you might ask. It is short for "Progressive Scanning". For example, 720p means 1280 x 720 pixels, with 1280 representing the number of horizontal pixels and 720 representing the number of vertical pixels. A 720p television gradually scans 921,600 pixels (1280x720) on the screen every 1/60 second. The more pixels that can be scanned step by step on the screen, the better the video quality.
Megapixels
Megapixels are descriptions of the image quality that are usually associated with digital cameras. In our last example, with 1280 x 720 or 921,600 pixels, this would result in 0.9 megapixels (MP) or 1 megapixel if you round up (Mega means one million). As you can see, the formula for the two resolution descriptions is identical and is only described differently.
There are two main reasons why webcams are described either in megapixels or in HD resolution. The first reason is that some consumers can easily identify with a product whose resolution is given in megapixels, unlike HD resolution and vice versa. The other reason for the two different descriptions for video resolution is a separate measurement: the aspect ratio.
Aspect ratio
Aspect ratio is a common reason why a webcam is described either as HD or in terms of megapixels. HD webcams or webcams with a resolution of 720p or 1080p have an aspect ratio of 16: 9 (widescreen).
With a webcam with a normal aspect ratio, the resolution is more likely to be specified in megapixels. If you see a webcam for which the video resolution is given in megapixels, you have to expect that the image is as high as it is wide.
VGA
VGA is a type of sensor that typically refers to a resolution of 640 x 480, which is the resolution of a standard-definition television. VGA webcams are not considered high-resolution webcams. These are entry-level webcams that record videos with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels or 0.3 megapixels or less. This type of webcam comes from early technology, whereas most high-resolution webcams now have CMOS sensors.
Photo interpolation
You may find that a webcam may not have excellent video quality but can still take high-quality photos. This is not necessarily related to the webcam itself. The software supplied with the webcam digitally improves the quality of the images. If you find that a webcam can take up to 20 MP interpolated photos, it means that the webcam itself does not have this feature, but the software can update the quality of the photos to 20 MP.
Frame rate
The frame rate is an extremely important specification to be recognized. The frame rate is usually given in frames per second (FPS). The higher the frame rate, the smoother the streaming video becomes. You can find webcams with a video resolution of 1080p in HD quality, but better video quality with less skipping or jerking at 720p at 30 fps. This is because the webcam and CPU have to process much more information at 1080p than at 720p, which lowers the frame rate to 10 fps or less, which in turn results in less fluid video.
Most webcams with a built-in H.264 video encoder can process videos at a much faster speed, which means less stress on the CPU and webcam, while maintaining the fluidity of the video and the image quality. If you find a webcam with an H.264 video encoder, you will most likely be able to record real HD video.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment