When searching for the right cameras for your home or business, there are a lot of factors to consider – where you plan on installing them, how discreet you want your security to be, whether they will be easy to mount and adjust, and more. Read on to learn the differences between camera designs, and hopefully, to find the cameras that work best for your surveillance needs!
Bullet Cameras
You probably see bullet cameras everywhere – they are ubiquitous sentinels of public areas and the outsides of security-equipped homes. Bullets are a popular surveillance camera choice due in large part to their affordability. In general, bullet cameras are less expensive than other types of cameras and are also simple to install, making them an easy (and totally worthy) investment for homeowners and business owners looking to protect their property. Additionally, the pointed design of a bullet camera is likely to catch the eye of passersby, alerting them to the fact that they are being monitored. As most people will naturally avoid being caught committing infractions on camera, simply having bullet cameras installed will dissuade many would-be trespassers and troublemakers. Something to note: All of LaView’s current selection of bullet cameras have a narrower more focused viewing angle than their dome counterparts – this has to do purely with the size of the camera lens and is not necessarily a characteristic of bullet cameras in general.
Dome Cameras
Dome cameras are arguably the most popular type of surveillance camera out there (they are the LaView Store’s reigning top-seller), though they tend to be slightly more expensive than bullet cameras. Dome cameras are everywhere as well, though you might not always notice them due to their discreet design. With the camera hidden behind a smooth, opaque shell, domes often look like ceiling lights and blend very well with most interiors. This, along with the fact that one cannot see which direction the camera is pointing, is a reason why many people prefer domes for their conference rooms, spaces for entertaining, and other interior settings. While bullet cameras can be useful in drawing fearful attention and deterring criminals, dome cameras excel at guarding a space in a non-intrusive way. With a dome camera, you have the assurance that the room is being monitored thoroughly – without causing others the discomfort of a security camera in plain sight, being aimed directly at them. It’s a win-win situation! Well, almost – dome cameras are a tad bit trickier to install than bullet cameras, and you have to position the camera direction right the first time, as you’ll need to unscrew, remove, and re-screw on the shield every time you want to adjust the camera. As noted before: You may notice that all of LaView’s dome models have a wider viewing angle than the LaView bullets, and this is simply due to the size of the lenses used.
Turret Cameras
A less popular but wonderfully convenient camera is the turret camera. You can think of turret cameras as a cross between bullet cameras and dome cameras – and as often seen with hybrids, it incorporates the best of both worlds. The actual camera on a turret is embedded in a sphere that can be moved around like a ball-and-socket joint. Without a dome shell encasing the camera, the turret’s direction can be easily adjusted as needed. Also, the lack of a dome shell means that there is no possibility of glare effects from that. With all pros come cons, however – no dome shell means turret cameras are not quite as solidly vandal-proof as dome cameras. In terms of aesthetic design though, the turret is more similar to a mini-dome with its rounded shape and no protruding parts. This makes the turret camera ideal for settings in which a bullet camera would be too aggressive and intrusive. Turret cameras typically cost just slightly less than dome cameras.
Point-Tilt-Zoom Cameras
Equipped with remote-controlled motorized functions, PTZ cameras are truly the powerhouse cameras of the bunch. They will also, unfortunately burn a much deeper hole in your wallet than other, more common surveillance camera types. However, if you can afford to purchase just one, a single PTZ camera can do the work of several cameras by scanning a vast area through either preset motions or live remote control. All PTZ cameras offered by LaView are also armed with optical zoom, which is far superior to the digital zoom feature of most other camera models. Digital zoom simply enlarges an area of the screen, inevitably causing some pixilation, while optical zoom is akin to actually moving closer to an object in real life. PTZ cameras are most often seen in supermarkets, warehouses, and other large, high traffic spaces.
Matrix IR Cameras
Matrix IR cameras are essentially bullet or turret cameras that have more advanced night vision capabilities than regular versions of those models. (As of now, there are no matrix IR dome cameras on the market.) Matrix IR cameras utilize a different type of LED light which enables brighter night vision, diminished “halo effects” (a hazy ring sometimes seen on the outer edges of a camera’s view), and lengthens the IR lifespan by increasing energy efficiency. LaView’s matrix IR cameras can see up to 100 feet in the dark. Surveillance camera shoppers with an emphasized need for dependable after-hours protection may find matrix IR cameras to be a worthy investment, as long as paying 10 – 20% more for the special feature is not a hindrance.
Want to know more about different camera types? Need further details on a specific LaView model? Email your questions to sales@laviewusa.com to speak to a surveillance camera expert!
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Let’s Talk Cameras: Bullets, Domes, and More!
Feb 20, 2017