ZoneMinder Forums

Hi

I've read several doc about TVL definition and resolution definition but there is still something I don't get. How the capture card digitalize the signal from the camera ?

If the following is correct:
- The camera has a number of TV lines: 540 TVL gives finer details than 480 TVL.
- most PC capture card can capture up to 720x480 in NTSC or 720x576 in PAL mode.

Does it means that if I configure the pc card to capture in full D1 in PAL mode, the pc capture card will digitalize the analog signal from the camera with a D1 resolution, and the fact that the camera is 480 tvl or 540 tvl will just change the picture quality ?
And that any PAL camera will be compatible with a PAL capture card ?

In this case, why some vendors give camera characteristics such as 540 TVL and PAL resolution 768x576 ?
Should this camera work with any PAL capture card ?

Best regards,

I have 480tvl cameras and some 420tvl, plus 2 higher 500ish. They all record at 320x240 though. It's a limitation of NTSC and the interlacing issues.

If you want higher res than that, you'll need to go up to IP cameras from what I have read.

"Does it means that if I configure the pc card to capture in full D1 in PAL mode, the pc capture card will digitalize the analog signal from the camera with a D1 resolution, and the fact that the camera is 480 tvl or 540 tvl will just change the picture quality ?"

Yes!

And that any PAL camera will be compatible with a PAL capture card ?

Yes! Plus most capture cards allow you to capture both PAL and NTSC cameras, you just change the setting in the DVR software.