CCTV Camera Types Explained: Dome, Bullet and Turret
How to match a security camera to the spot it has to watch
The main CCTV camera types are dome, bullet, turret and PTZ. Domes are discreet and hard to tamper with; bullets are visible and good at looking down long drives and boundaries; turrets combine the easy aiming of a bullet with a compact body that avoids night vision glare; PTZ cameras pan, tilt and zoom to follow activity across large sites. The right type depends on what the camera has to see and where it will be mounted.
Buyers often focus on resolution, but the shape of the camera, its lens and its night performance usually matter more. A high resolution camera pointing at the wrong area, or one whose infrared bounces off its own dome at night, records very little of use.
We install and repair CCTV across Kent and South East London, including Hikvision and other professional ranges. This guide explains the main camera types in plain terms so you can follow what an installer recommends and why.
What You Will Usually Notice
- You have seen quotes listing domes, bullets and turrets and do not know the difference
- Your current cameras show a wide view but you cannot identify faces
- Night footage is washed out or shows a white haze
- Cameras keep getting knocked or turned by people passing
- You need to cover a large yard or car park
What Normally Causes It
Dome cameras
The camera sits behind a clear dome, so it is hard to see where it points and difficult to knock out of position. Domes suit shops, receptions and low ceilings, though dirt on the dome can affect night images.
Bullet cameras
Long, visible bodies that act as a clear deterrent and suit looking along drives, fences and boundaries. They are easy to aim but more exposed to tampering if mounted low.
Turret cameras
A ball shaped camera in an open mount. There is no dome to reflect infrared, which helps night images, and it can be aimed precisely. Turrets are a popular all round choice for homes.
PTZ cameras
Pan, tilt and zoom cameras cover large areas and can follow activity, either manually or automatically. They suit big yards and car parks, usually alongside fixed cameras.
Lens and night vision
Wide lenses see more but show less detail; narrower lenses identify at distance. Infrared gives black and white night images, while colour night vision cameras such as Hikvision ColorVu need some ambient light.
Before You Book: Common Questions
CCTV Camera Types Explained: Dome, Bullet and Turret: common questions
Not sure which cameras suit your property?
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Safe Checks You Can Do Yourself
Decide what each camera must identify
Overview cameras show movement across an area; identification cameras capture faces or number plates at a pinch point such as a door or gate. Most systems need a mix.
Look at mounting height and reach
Low mounted cameras within reach suit tough dome housings. Higher positions under eaves suit turrets or bullets that are easy to aim.
Think about lighting
Note any street lights, security lights or completely dark areas. That shapes whether infrared, colour night vision or extra lighting is needed.
Check the view from indoors
If you have existing cameras, look at their footage at night and in bright sun. It quickly shows which positions need a different type of camera.
When to Stop and Call an Engineer
Keeping it from coming back
Choose cameras for the job each position has to do, and review them after the first few weeks of footage. Keep domes and lenses clean, trim foliage that grows into the view, and have the system serviced so image quality does not quietly decline.
Next Guides in This Series
- How Long Does Burglar Alarm Installation Take?
- Burglar Alarm Keeps Going Off or Beeping? Causes
- What to check when your keypad screen is blank or buttons do nothing
- Why Is My CCTV Camera Not Recording?
- Hikvision Camera Night Vision Not Working? Fixes
- Working through the handset, the release path and the lock itself to find where the fault sits
Ready for an installer rather than another fix?
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