Monitoring Camera

The above example shows a Monitoring type of image.  This type of camera view is primarily used to identify vehicular movements, linking perpetrators to vehicles and determining means of penetration of a secured area from an insecure area (such as a parking lot, lot, etc.).  Even using the digital zoom and image enhancement features of your DVR, this type of shot should not be expected to yield any personnel identification or facial recognition data.

Detection Camera

The above photo shows a Detection type of image. This camera view will enable you to see that a person is walking around within the area being viewed and will show some actions such as a fight or a brick being thrown. You will not see smaller details such as a weapons, contraband, and etc. Using the digital zoom and image enhancement features of your DVR, this type of shot could be able to yield basic personnel identification (rough build, clothing color, etc.).

Recognition Camera

The above shows an image used for Recognition applications. This size of image will identify the sex of most subjects. It will also give a little more detail of their actions for example that you can see hand movements and determine roughly what the subject is focusing its field of vision on. Law enforcement may be able to recognize a known criminal although it is doubtful that this type of images (even with digital enhancement and zoom) would be admissible in a Court of Law as proving a persons identity.

Facial Identification Camera

The above image could be used for Facial Identification purposes. This is the size of image that should be accepted by a Court of Law to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt a person’s identity. Digital zoom and enhancement can be used to get in closer to a person’s face and would be even better. Any camera positioned to look at an entry way should produce an image of this quality.