Comparison · 5 min read
4MP vs 8MP.
Is 4K worth it?
Marketing says 4K everywhere. Storage bills say otherwise. Here's where the extra pixels change what you can identify — and where they just fill a hard drive.
What the numbers mean
4MP is roughly 2560×1440. 8MP is 3840×2160, or 4K. That's about 2.2× the pixels. On a driveway 8 metres from the camera, that's the difference between 'a man in a dark coat' and a face you'd recognise.
| 4MP | 8MP (4K) | |
|---|---|---|
| Identification distance | Faces to ~5–6 m, plates to ~8 m | Faces to ~9–10 m, plates to ~15 m |
| Storage per camera/day | ~20–40 GB | ~40–80 GB |
| Night performance | Larger pixels — often slightly cleaner in low light | Excellent on ColorVu; more noise on budget 8MP |
| Cost | Lower camera and NVR cost | Higher, plus bigger drives |
| Best for | Side, rear, interior, secondary positions | Drive, entrances, plate capture, yards |
The honest recommendation
8MP on the two or three positions where you need to identify a face or a plate. 4MP everywhere else. You'll spend the saving on colour night vision where it counts, which does more for identification than pixels do.
Don't forget the recorder
8MP cameras need an NVR that records 8MP on every channel at once — cheap NVRs quote '8MP support' but drop frame rate when all channels are full. And storage doubles: see the storage guide.
Identification positions: 8MP. Awareness positions: 4MP. Never 1080p on a new professional system.
Your property decides. Not the logo.
Questions
Good to know.
Is 8MP better at night?
Not automatically. A 4MP ColorVu often beats a budget 8MP infrared camera at night. Sensor and lens matter more than pixel count.
Do I need a 4K monitor?
No. The recorder scales for whatever screen you use; the detail is there when you zoom into playback.