Given the nature of video these days, it's no surprise that greater numbers of security cameras and the kits they come with are moving to high definition, just as televisions have been moving to high-definition for several years.

These new security systems – like TVs – now are able to handle both 720p and 1080i, which is the standard for high-def video.

Basically, "1080" refers to the number of horizontal scan lines that the video device can display.

This is a huge increase from older standard definition video monitors and TVs which could at most, display 420 horizontal scan lines and low refresh rates.

The "I" in the 1080i means "interlaced". Interlaced is defined as a process where the frames are mixed together to prove a smoother picture and less flicker.

Most security video camera kits are come in either 720p or 1080i. 720P, if not figured out by now, designates 720 horizontal scan lines, while the "p"stands for "progressive."

It can sometimes mean "non-interlaced."720p is excellent at eliminating flicker, which is normally a problem when it comes to horizontal scan lines, the lower down the ladder (from 1080 to 720 to 420) one gets.

Because 720 does so well at dampening flicker, the resolution of the picture can actually approach that of 1080i, the true high-definition standard for video (1080p is true high-def for televisions).

This is one reason why security camera manufacturers go with 720p, because it can approach the level of true high-definition yet not cost anywhere near as much.

Environments that call for extreme levels of security can also benefit from security camera systems featuring 720p capabilities.

They have an ability to capture images and then display them that are much more "real time,"meaning the time lag between the image being captured by the camera and translated into signals that can be decoded by the security monitors will be super short.

Keep in mind that both 720p and 1080i systems are priced as high-definition systems, meaning they'll cost more than older-style standard definition sets.

A standard kit, with four cameras (nicely rigged with CCD cameras (CCD stands for "charge coupled device") and infrared capability along with a tuned digital video recorder and TV cables is likely to cost twice as much (or even more) than a comparative standard definition system that uses an equal number of cameras.

There are plenty of advantages to a 1080i and 720p digital security camera system, for sure. They can capture and display much higher quality pictures under even no-light conditions (when equipped with infrared) and their ability to "see"and then display detail is truly impressive.