No matter the environment or the requirements, there’s a CCTV camera out there suited to the job. While the differences between types of cameras can be straightforward, understanding their advantages and disadvantages will help you get the most out of your security system.
Fisheye Cameras
Fisheye cameras offer a superior field of view (FOV) compared to conventional CCTV cameras and are capable of capturing the entire scene around it. With their compact and low-profile bodies, these cameras are often favoured in enclosed environments or those where space is at a premium.
The natural advantage of Fisheye cameras is their excellent FOV. This allows them to be mounted in places that are unsuitable for most other standard security cameras. An example of this might be retail stores, where high shelves (or low ceilings) would obstruct the view of alternative CCTV cameras.
In comparison to a surveillance system with multiple cameras and angles, Fisheye cameras are much better at capturing seamless footage of moving targets.
Great for: Enclosed or tight spaces, retail stores, hallways, seamless surveillance, offices, trains & busses, discreet installations, discrete & low-profile installations
Disadvantages: Limited IR capabilities, often poorly suited for outdoor use
Dome Cameras
Dome cameras are excellent for a wide variety of applications and are one of the most popular thanks to their versatility. These CCTV cameras are characterised by their use of a dome-shaped casing to protect the camera inside.
The durability of this casing varies between models and is often tinted or reflective to hide where exactly the camera is facing. To avoid optical distortions, most dome cameras have no IR capabilities or a limited IR distance.
Dome cameras can be packed with any number of features to suit almost any situation and price range.
Great for: Home security systems, indoor & outdoor use, offices, vandal & weather resistance, retail stores, discreet installations, schools, hotels, etc
Disadvantages: Typically has no IR capability
Turret Cameras
Turret cameras and dome cameras share most of the same attributes, with the main difference being the lack of a dome casing. This enables turret cameras to more freely use IR tech, but typically at the cost of durability and vandal resistance.
Turret cameras tend to start at a lower price range than dome cameras. This makes them ideal for most lower-budget or home security systems. This also makes them a popular choice for most applications where vandalism and impacts on the cameras are not a concern.
Great for: Home security systems, low-budget setups, indoor & outdoor use, offices, weather resistance, retail stores, schools, hotels, night-time surveillance
Disadvantages: Less resistant to impacts and tampering
Bullet Cameras
Bullet cameras often see used in many of the same areas as Dome and Turret cameras, but with a few key distinctions.
Bullet cameras have a less discrete profile than the previous styles, allowing them to act as a more obvious visual deterrent. This also makes it more obvious to see where the surveillance camera is facing, which may or may not be desirable for some CCTV systems.
They also tend to have poorer resistance against vandals and tampering, but have greater weather resistance.
The longer shape of the bullet camera allows it to be more easily equipped with larger lens sizes than comparable cameras. This makes it a better option for surveillance from greater distances or where the camera may only need a narrow field of view.
Great for: Indoor & outdoor use, weather resistance, home & business security systems, backyards, industrial sites, roadways, entrance monitoring, cash register monitoring, night-time surveillance, visual deterrence
Disadvantages: Less discrete, can be easily tampered with (if within reach), often better options for indoor monitoring
PTZ Cameras
PTZ cameras share a similar appearance to turret cameras but tend to be larger to accommodate the more complex internal components.
“PTZ” stands for Pan, Tilt, and Zoom. Compact motors within the frame allow for horizontal control (panning) and vertical control (tilting) over the camera angle. This essentially gives the camera a 360-degree range of motion which is useful for a variety of reasons.
In addition to being easily adjustable, monitoring/patrol instructions can be issued. This can include patterns like visually sweeping the surrounding landscape.
This tends to make PTZ cameras more pricey than their counterparts. However, PTZ cameras are invaluable for monitoring large areas and enabling remote control of the camera’s perspective.
Great for: Indoor & outdoor use, weather & vandal resistance, industrial sites, parklands, airports, night-time surveillance, remote adjustments, high-end security systems
Disadvantages: More expensive, larger profile / less compact
No matter your requirements or budget, iCam Security has a CCTV camera to suit your needs. iCam Security offers everything from Hikvision security cameras to high-end Dahua PTZ cameras and affordable HiLook security systems, and much more.
