Final answer:
Interlaced footage typically has lower effective resolution than progressive footage with the same number of scan lines.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, interlaced footage typically has lower effective resolution than progressive footage with the same number of scan lines. In interlaced footage, the image is constructed by alternating even and odd numbered lines in two separate fields, forming a complete frame. This can result in a loss of detail and a perception of reduced resolution compared to progressive footage, where each scan line is displayed sequentially.
For example, consider two videos both having 1080 lines of resolution. In interlaced footage, each frame is composed of two fields, with each field containing only 540 lines of resolution. On the other hand, in progressive footage, all 1080 lines are displayed sequentially in each frame. As a result, the progressive footage will generally appear sharper and have a higher perceived resolution.
It is worth noting that interlaced footage was commonly used in the past due to its compatibility with older analog technologies, but progressive footage is now the standard in digital video formats.