Сохранённая копия: The Types of CCTV Security Cameras Explained

CCTV security cameras, otherwise known as closed-circuit television, are a system of video feeds within a closed system available only to authorized users. Since their origin in the mid-20th century, CCTV cameras have evolved to offer high frame rates, allowing a user to follow the movement of someone on camera. Additionally, high resolution allows for full-color feeds and incredibly detailed pictures as well as night vision capabilities. There are a range of CCTV camera types and specifications on the market.

The name dates from the analog era, when cameras sent footage over cable to a monitor or recorder on the same site. Most new business installations now use IP cameras that record to a network video recorder or to the cloud, yet the term stuck, so CCTV covers both. C

Cameras are usually classified by the shape of their housing and by the technology they use to send footage, and four types come up more often than any others: bullet, dome, IP and PTZ. Turret and fisheye cameras, two newer designs, have since become common in offices and retail spaces, so they're covered here as well.

What are the 4 main types of CCTV cameras? #

The four most common types of CCTV cameras are bullet, dome, IP and PTZ cameras. Three of them describe the camera's housing, while IP describes how the camera connects, which means a bullet or dome camera can also be an IP camera.

Bullet cameras: long, cylindrical cameras aimed at a fixed area such as an entrance, and visible enough to act as a deterrent.

Dome cameras: ceiling-mounted cameras inside a dome-shaped cover, with a wider view and better resistance to tampering.

IP cameras: digital cameras that send footage over a network, so you can view it remotely and store it on a recorder or in the cloud.

PTZ cameras : motorized cameras that pan, tilt and zoom, so a single camera can follow activity across a large space.

Bullet cameras #

Bullet cameras are one of the two most common CCTV camera types. They have a long cylindrical shape, giving them their name and a distinctive look. This look is recognizable to nearly everyone and thus acts as a deterrent to unwanted individuals. If security cameras are visible, the hope is criminals and intruders go elsewhere instead. That being said, bullet cameras are more prone to vandalism because of their obvious look. Additionally, the shape of the camera is ideal for focusing on a fixed field, such as an entry or exit, but requires multiple cameras if a user needs to see multiple fixed views. Bullet cameras are easily mountable and can work indoors or outdoors. They feature a small lip on the end of the camera that adds weather protection and reduces glare.

The second most common CCTV camera type is the dome camera. Similar to the bullet camera, dome cameras have a specific shape but are less noticeable at first. Typically the cameras are mounted on ceilings, thus making them an indoor camera, but they can be used outside if needed and mounted on a wall. Most models include infrared night vision and motion detection, allowing for effective 24/7 surveillance. The dome camera has a wider viewing angle than the bullet camera and tends to be more resilient toward tampering and vandalism. Many business models carry an IK10 impact rating, the top grade on the scale used to measure vandal resistance, and because the lens sits behind a tinted cover, people nearby can't easily tell which way the camera is pointing.

IP (internet protocol) cameras are digital cameras that send footage over a computer network instead of the coaxial cable used by traditional analog CCTV. Unlike bullet, dome and PTZ, the term doesn't describe a shape but the way the camera connects, which is why a bullet or dome camera can be an IP camera too. Most business IP cameras run on Power over Ethernet (PoE), so a single cable carries both power and data, and they record to a network video recorder (NVR) or to the cloud rather than to the digital video recorder (DVR) an analog system relies on.

Among IP security options, there are wired, wireless, and wire-free cameras. Wireless cameras collect and send data over a wireless network. These security cameras connect to your wifi network and let you see the footage from anywhere. A common misconception is that wireless means the camera is wire-free. This is not the case as wireless cameras may still need a power cord. Wired security cameras are connected to a recorder directly which then connects to a router and the internet. Finally, wire-free cameras are completely cable-free and battery-powered. Although battery replacements are necessary, these are the easiest option to install and most store recorded footage in the cloud.

For a business, wire-free cameras suit temporary sites or spots where running cable isn't practical, but main entrances are better served by wired PoE cameras, since a dead battery or a dropped wifi connection leaves a gap in footage at the door you most need to watch. If your building already has analog cameras, you don't have to replace everything at once either. Analog systems are cheaper to keep when the coaxial cabling is already in the walls, although they offer lower resolution and fewer analytics, and hybrid recorders let older analog cameras and newer IP cameras run on the same system while you upgrade in stages.

PTZ camera (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) #

PTZ cameras, short for pan, tilt, zoom, work well for monitoring large spaces. The camera lens moves anywhere from no pan/tilt to a 360-degree movement and 180-degree tilt. The advantage of PTZ cameras is that only one is necessary to monitor a room, as opposed to several individual fixed cameras. The camera often has preset capabilities so that a user can easily aim the camera towards whatever location they would like, as well as zoom in and out. The trade-off is that a PTZ camera only records what it's pointed at, so while it's zoomed in on one corner, the rest of the space goes unwatched. For that reason PTZ cameras are usually paired with fixed cameras covering the entrances, or set to cycle through their preset positions automatically.

Other common types of CCTV cameras #

Beyond the four main types, two newer designs have become standard in offices, retail spaces and commercial buildings.

Turret cameras, sometimes called eyeball cameras, sit in a ball-and-socket mount that makes them easy to aim during installation and to readjust later. Because they have no dome cover, they avoid the infrared glare that can bounce off a dome's surface at night and wash out the image, which is why installers often choose them for entrances, hallways and reception areas. They're less resistant to tampering than dome cameras, though, so they work best mounted out of easy reach.

Fisheye cameras use an ultra-wide lens to capture a full 360-degree view from a single ceiling mount. Software flattens the curved image into standard views, a process called dewarping, so one fisheye camera can cover a lobby, an open-plan office or a retail floor that would otherwise need several fixed cameras. The wide view comes at the cost of detail toward the edges of the frame, which makes fisheye cameras better suited to monitoring activity than to identifying faces.

How to know what to look for in a CCTV camera #

Deciding which surveillance cameras will work best in a particular environment is easiest when the advantages and disadvantages of each camera are known. When comparing camera types and prices, keep the following factors in mind.

Image clarity and quality — Fit cameras to security needs. Cheaper options might be the right choice if high-resolution footage isn't an important factor for a user. Similarly, if clarity is necessary, many cameras are fitted with HD capabilities and night vision.

Field of vision —The area being monitored will likely be one of the easiest ways to determine which camera will best suit that environment. A narrow or wide field of vision is one of the first questions a user should consider.

Usage — Will the camera be used indoors or outdoors? Should it act as a visual deterrent or be discreet? What are the needed capabilities due to the area's light conditions? These are all things to keep in mind when selecting the right camera.

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Where a camera will be mounted shapes most of the other choices, starting with whether it has to survive the weather. Most security cameras can be used both indoors and outdoors. They typically have the same features like night vision or remote viewing, but they differ in durability. Outdoor cameras should be weather resistant and in some cases, completely waterproof. Cameras with an IP66 or IP67 weather resistance rating are sealed against dust and built to withstand heavy rain, which covers what most outdoor installations need (here, IP stands for ingress protection rather than internet protocol).

Bullet cameras tend to be among the most popular outdoor options because their design allows for minimum glare. In terms of detection, it is better to have a camera with AI object detection, which recognizes people and vehicles, as opposed to basic motion detection. This will provide more accurate and less frequent alerts because oftentimes the motion detection is set off by movements such as a tree blowing or an animal running by.

As a starting point, you can match each area of your building to the camera type that suits it. Entrances and exits are usually covered by bullet or turret cameras aimed at face height, because a fixed view of everyone coming through the door is what you'll want when you review an incident. Lobbies, open-plan offices and gym floors suit dome or fisheye cameras mounted on the ceiling, which cover a wide area without drawing attention, while parking lots and large outdoor spaces are where a PTZ camera, backed by fixed cameras at the entry points, earns its cost.

Connecting CCTV cameras with access control #

Cameras show you what happened at a door while access control records who opened it, so reviewing the two in separate systems means matching timestamps by hand. Kisi works with VORTEX by VIVOTEK cloud video to bring both into one view: clips attach automatically to access events in the Kisi dashboard, live streams appear alongside unlock activity, and you can unlock doors directly from the VORTEX platform. The integration also adds AI tailgating and line-crossing alerts, along with occupancy counts for camera zones you define.

If you already have cameras, you may not need new ones. Third-party IP cameras that are ONVIF-compliant can connect to a VORTEX NVR and appear in Kisi, although tailgating detection depends on the camera model, so official VORTEX cameras are the safer choice when that feature matters. Kisi also integrates with other video platforms, including Cisco Meraki , Eagle Eye Networks, Lumana, Rhombus and Spot AI.

When you're ready to compare specific systems, our review of the best security camera systems puts the leading brands side by side, and you can see how cameras and doors work together through video surveillance with Kisi .

Frequently Asked Questions #

How many types of CCTV cameras are there? #

There's no single official number, because cameras can be grouped by housing, by connection type or by special features. The four types cited most often are bullet, dome, IP and PTZ, and turret and fisheye cameras are widely used alongside them.

What does CCTV stand for? #

CCTV stands for closed-circuit television. The name comes from early systems that sent video over a closed cable loop to monitors on the same site instead of broadcasting it, and it's still used for security camera systems today, including networked IP systems.

What's the difference between IP and analog cameras? #

Analog cameras send video over coaxial cable to a DVR, while IP cameras send digital video over a network to an NVR or the cloud. IP cameras generally offer higher resolution, remote access and built-in analytics, whereas analog systems cost less to keep running in buildings that already have the cabling.

Which type of CCTV camera is best for a business? #

It depends on the area you need to cover, which is why most businesses combine several types: bullet or turret cameras at entrances, dome or fisheye cameras indoors and a PTZ camera for large outdoor spaces. Choosing IP models across the board means footage can be viewed remotely and connected to your access control system.

Ashley is obsessed with words, Chinese food and all things tech.