Color produces a more natural, richer image than black &
white and may keep the
operators' interest for longer periods of time. It also makes it easier to detect
subjects.
For example, with a color system a viewer can easily distinguish a red car from
a green one,
while on a black & white system both cars would appear a similar shade of
gray.
In retail applications, a color system can help security personnel identify
shoplifters
and their clothing more easily and convincingly. Color accuracy is extremely
important
in gambling casinos, where hundreds of dollars can ride on the ability to recognize
the
difference between a maroon chip and a red one. While the use of color cameras
is growing,
black & white cameras continue to offer some distinct advantages. Black
& white cameras
are better suited for extremely low light situations.
The ability to capture
good quality images in low light situations increases the cost
of both black & white and color cameras. Before purchasing cameras, organizations
should consider the crossover point between lighting costs and camera costs.
It's possible that low-light cameras (which are expensive) will cost less than
paying
to increase the lighting in a parking lot.