It is far easier to keep your home and business safe from the opportunistic criminal element than make good of the aftermath of a security breach. When it comes to deterring the criminal, surveillance cameras have proven their worth time and time again.
Surveillance cameras are the best way to thwart criminal activity. This includes burglary, fraud vandalism, and more. Surveillance cameras deter opportunistic thieves and dishonest employees from carrying out their dishonest deeds. Closed Circuit TV, better known as CCTV, has been in use for the better part of a century. But CCTV technology has come a long way since its humble beginnings and today’s surveillance technology includes high-definition, motion detection, infrared cameras, and much more.
If you are looking for effective ways to boost the security of your residential, commercial or industrial location, the modern surveillance camera is just about the best way to begin. The two primary forms of surveillance cameras in use today include the dome and bullet-style cameras. But which is the best option for your location?
Read on to learn more about the important differences and advantages of these two highly-effective security systems.
Bullet Camera vs Dome Camera
Even though they serve a similar purpose, the different shapes of bullet and dome cameras provide different viewing angles, range of motion and suitability to different locations. To make the right choice for your location, it is essential to begin with a clear objective and understanding of your needs. Once you know what you really need in a surveillance system, you will be able to choose the best options for your situation.
Here is what you need to know about Bullet Camera vs Dome Cameras:
Bullet Cameras
Named for their distinct shape, bullet cameras typically resemble a cylindrical or rectangular tube protruding from a fixture typically on the roof or on a high vantage point on a wall. These are the most common form of surveillance camera. Their easily recognizable shape sends a strong message that “all activities in this area are being observed and recorded.
Indeed, it has been found that even the presence of these conspicuous surveillance systems is enough to deter criminal intent. There are actually bogus bullet cameras available to mount on walls and roofs that can be used to improve security. But they lack the functionality found in the genuine article. Bullet cameras are excellent security items for both indoor and outdoor use.
Specifics of Bullet Surveillance Cameras
Housing — because of their very recognizable shape, bullet-shaped cameras are easy to see and are the best choice to use when you want to send a clear message: “this location is being monitored”. However, because they are suspended from their support system, they can also be redirected and tampered with fairly easily if their positions are not carefully planned.
Long-Range Vision — If you need a camera that can monitor large distances like factory floors, parking lota and fields, the bullet-style camera offers telescopic vision. With HD technology, bullet type cameras can easily read license plates and provide clear identification of people even from very great distances.
Installation — because they are mounted on a support system, it takes nothing more than drills, anchors and screws to secure these items in their proper place. A top-quality option will have a mounting handle that can be positioned and directed to the angles needed.
Durability —being easily noticed is not always the best. A determined or destructive criminal will be able to tamper with or completely destroy a bullet camera by approaching the camera from an unmonitored angle, thus allowing them to carry out their misdeeds completely undetected.
Overt Use Cases — for best results, bullet cameras should be installed as part of an overt security system in high-traffic areas this minimizes the chances that they will be vandalized. Typically, bullet cameras are used to support additional security features rather than a standalone security system.
Dome Cameras
Just like the bullet camera, dome cameras also get their name from their shape. The camera is enclosed within a darkened glass dome that provides protections as well as hides the cameras angles and activities. Although dome cameras can also be used indoors and outdoors, many businesses will use dome cameras inside because their discrete design keeps their monitoring action completely hidden from criminals waiting for an unguarded moment to make their move.
Specifics of Dome Cameras
Discreet dome housing — while dome cameras are not nearly as ostentatious as the bullet type, they still provide impressive surveillance technology. This is especially useful for those locations where security is important but should be downplayed to a certain degree. For example, dome cameras are often used in churches, movie theaters and front entrances. Th dome housing keeps the angle and direction of the camera inside from being noticed so it is a great way to prevent shoplifters and dishonest employees from knowing if they are being watched or not. Protective casing also makes it more difficult for vandals to tamper with the camera.
Wide field of view — of course, top-of-the-line bullet cameras can also provide a wide-angle view of the area they monitor. But inside the dome camera, the motion of the camera is free to turn 180° or even 360° and this greatly minimizes blind spots within the field of vision.
Installation — the dome camera can be mounted on walls and ceilings and even suspended from eaves and rafters high-above the location being monitored. Installation is not nearly as easily as with the bullet style camera and once the installation is complete, it can be difficult to reposition. The good news is that most of the best dome cameras have a very wide range of motion and repositioning is rarely needed.
Durability — tucked away within its protective shielding, the dome camera is a far more durable option than most other types of surveillance cameras. This is because, unlike the bullet camera, tampering with the camera can’t be done quite as easily. Vandalizing or other affecting the function of a dome camera is even more difficult if a vandal-proof dome camera is selected. These vandal-proof cameras have higher IK rating (Impact Protection) which indicates their capacity to withstand an attack with brute force. For example, a dome camera with an IK rating of 10 (IK-10) should be able to withstand an impact of up to 20 joules.
Covert or Overt Surveillance — Because the dome itself is darkened; it is impossible to determine the direction of the lens. This is a great option for commercial or residential locations where people may feel uncomfortable having a camera pointed directly at them. Furthermore, intruders will never know if they are safely hidden within the camera’s blind spot. This will often discourage would-be marauders from taking their chances on an attack that could be monitored and thwarted.
Which is better for your situation: Bullet Camera vs Dome Cameras?
When choosing the right option for improving the security on your location, it is imperative that you know exactly what you are trying to observe and where the camera will be deployed. Here are some important questions to ask.
What type of area is being observed? What is the Distance and Width?
What grade of visibility is needed? 2MP – 4K resolution? Field of view?
What type of environmental conditions will the camera face? Extreme heat or cold? Wind and Rain?
What installation is required? Will this system need cables, system integrators or supporting structures?
As a rule of thumb, the bullet camera is a more overt option that is clearly seen by all and can prevent crime through its presence while the domed camera provides equally impressive security in a more covert presentation. Price is another consideration for choosing Bullet Camera vs Dome Camera. While the dome cameras are often a more costly option, the price balances out as more bullet cameras will be needed to perform the function of a single dome camera.