IP and CCTV Cameras- What's the Diff?

What are the distinctions between a CCTV (Closed-Circuit) and an IP camera? (a) the data interface, and (B) the internal software.

The camera hardware, housing, mount, power and other features may have interoperability. And although an IP camera could have a CCTV type of connection (a BNC, VA, or composite connector), a CCTV camera would not have a CAT-V network (LAN) connector, nor would it have an internal webserver.

A CCTV camera is designed to provide an analog video and audio signal to a receiver such as a DVR, or a monitor, or both.

Modern interfaces may include some digital output as well such as DVI. Could a CCTV camera be interfaced to *look like* an IP camera? Yes, interfaced to a computer, a CCTV camera could image and audio signal could be hosted on a webpage. It's not easily accomplished, and requires a host computer which can *serve up* the camera image to a webpage. But that's STILL not an IP camera.

Could an IP camera be interfaced to act as a CCTV camera? Often, yes, since IP cameras sometimes offer other connections - BNC, RCA, etc. It has limitations however- such as a potential loss of PTZ functionality, or a degraded, noisy image due to lossy analog signals.

Clearly the world is going digital, and Camera technology, while perhaps not leading the way, is certainly in the mix!