^^ Agreed. I'm guessing what you're really asking is the difference between analog and megapixel. In the simplest terms of catching your crook, murderer, neighbor behaving badly, local drug dealers, and general asswipes, it's a crap shoot either way. Analog can be perfectly capable of giving you the absolute ID shot. Megapixel tilts the odds in your favor with higher resolution. Either system has to be well thought out and implemented or both systems can fail to deliver the 1-2 punch. If you think purely in terms of dollars and cents, you're setting yourself up for failure. You can be budget savvy and make smart purchases for the good of your needs and come out ahead, or better. But in the end, all of it takes a back seat to the first decision- what are your objectives; what do you need to see and how well do you really need to see it. From there, if you stay true to what you really need, everything else will become obvious.