Dome VS Bullet Camera: Different Type of CCTV Camera Comparison
No one likes entertaining the prospect of a break-in and the hassle of dealing with the aftermath – all the trouble of filing a police report and making insurance claims on top of having your house broken into and valuables stolen! That’s not all. Some break-ins can also turn violent quickly, leading to injury or even death.
Evidently, the lesser evil here is just installing a security system. Commonly, that takes the form of a surveillance camera, the most prominent of which being either the dome or the bullet camera.
But what is the difference between dome and bullet cameras? Besides the obvious difference in shape, there are a couple subtler distinctions, which we’ll go through in this dome vs bullet camera comparison to help you figure out which is the best choice for you.
A bullet camera installed under the eaves of an office environment.
Bullet Cameras
Known for their iconic cylindrical shape, bullet cameras are called as such because they resemble the shell of a bullet casing. Having such a recognizable appearance does have its perks – bullet cameras are proven to be a visual deterrent for crime, as the presence of surveillance can make your property a less desirable target for would-be offenders.
Bullet cameras are also a more favorable option for some homeowners due to their ease of installation and the range of view they possess. The camera comes with a mounting handle that can be attached to a docking mechanism, and you can fit bigger lenses on top of that if you wish.
Owing to their relatively modular setup, bullet cameras can be installed inside the house or out. That being said, due to their long capture range, it is more common to see bullet cameras installed outside facing a backyard or a lawn. The top of a bullet camera also has an extended lip that provides some shelter from the elements, making it ideal for outdoor environments.
Advantages of a Bullet Camera:
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They have a fairly long viewing range of the surroundings
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They are easy to install
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They are weatherproof
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They can be a visible deterrent for break-ins
Dome Cameras
Like the bullet camera, CCTV dome cameras get their name from their semi-spherical shape. CCTV is short for closed-circuit television, which means that the entire surveillance system is enclosed within its own private network, so no signals are openly transmitted and there is a low risk of external tampering.
The camera body itself is encased within a transparent protective dome. Because of its relatively inconspicuous design, dome cameras are a popular choice for businesses who value the aesthetics of their spaces, such as restaurants, hotels, and retail stores.
Related: Benefits of CCTV Cameras for Businesses
The protective casing also shrouds the camera from view, making it difficult to tell which way the camera is pointing, at the same time, protecting it from acts of vandalism.
Advantages of a Dome Camera:
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They are discreet, allowing them to blend well with their surroundings
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Less susceptible to acts of vandalism
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It is difficult to tell which way the camera is pointing at
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They have a wide angle of vision, and can rotate accordingly to provide an even wider focal perspective
Difference Between Dome VS Bullet Cameras
Clearly, aside from how they look, dome and bullet cameras can provide different capabilities depending on where they’re installed and how they’re intended to be used. As someone who’s interested in getting one, you may want to consider some of the factors below:
Installation
When it comes to installation, dome cameras can be positioned either outdoors or indoors, on the ceiling itself or against the wall, whereas bullet cameras are typically set up against a wall. Dome cameras are a little more tricky, however, if you ever want to change the field of view; you would have to remount the entire camera altogether.
In comparison, bullet cameras can simply be manually repositioned without having to take the thing apart.
Further reading: CCTV Cameras Installation Guide in Singapore
Camera Range
Generally, bullet cameras are capable of accomodating bigger lenses compared to dome cameras due to their shape. While other factors such as the sensor chip and type of lens do play a role, the modular shape of the bullet camera allows it a much longer focal range, making it perfect for outdoor use.
Light
Although light can be a factor of comparison for some cameras, both dome and bullet cameras typically come with infrared LEDs that help ensure visual acuity even in low-light environments. As a result, light sensitivity is usually not a particularly important criteria for both cameras.
Durability
While bullet cameras are resistant against harsh weather conditions, they are not as impervious to acts of vandalism. [1] Their camera angles can be forcibly tilted away, and their lenses are open to exposure, unlike dome cameras which have theirs shielded inside a protective dome.
Guide for Choosing Dome Cameras vs. Bullet Cameras
While there aren’t too many differences between dome and bullet cameras, and you can very well substitute one with the other if it’s more readily available to you, there are certain features that may appeal to you, depending on your preferences. For example, the bullet camera may be a visual deterrent, but it is also susceptible to vandalism.
If you prefer something a little more covert, dome cameras would be more suitable. However, good security systems tend to be a blend of the two, and you should consider which spaces of your property are able to best utilize each camera’s strengths.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are very specific situations where you get more returns from either a dome camera or bullet camera over the other, but for the most part, they are highly interchangeable.
Before you decide to pick one up, be sure to do your due diligence by considering the places you’d like to have them installed and examine your preferences with regards to the type of security you’d like to have in place.
If there’s anything else you’d like us to talk about, let us know in the comments below. And for more informative articles on surveillance systems, make sure to follow us over at Security System Singapore, Singapore’s leading CCTV camera supplier and distributor.