Both CCD and Monitor Resolutions are often given in terms of "TV line resolution," which is a test performed using an EIA Test Pattern target. Unfortunately, this specification has no physical units of measurement (such as mm or inches) and can therefore be rather ambiguous. To convert TV line resolution into lines per mm (for example), the following conversions can be used:

We recommend you use electronic components of increasing or equivalent resolution as components are added to the camera. Resolution, as well as contrast, is higher in monochrome systems due to lower signal degradation. Contrast is determined in discrete increments by using an EIA Gray Scale Pattern target.

Many of our customers are concerned with pixel count resolution. Like TV line resolution, pixel count resolution can be misleading if not interpreted correctly. Most CCD's do not offer perfect rows and columns of pixels and often contain dead spaces in between. Even cameras that have no dead space can yield imperfect center to center pixel resolution. Factors such as signal-to-noise and pixel jitter all contribute to the camera's actual spatial resolution. Where pixel resolution proves to be the most beneficial is in the use of video capture devices. When using video capture devices, the only way to match the capture board's capabilities with that of the camera's is to compare the pixel count.