Martin Jensen is Global Product Manager for Dome Cameras at Axis Communications, and so is responsible for a critical product line within the firm’s world-class security portfolio. Here, he considers the respective benefits of two popular types of cameras: dome and bullet cameras, with a view to helping integrators make the right choice of camera for the given application.
Ensuring the safety and security of employees, customers and assets has never been more important and video surveillance cameras play a key role in this, and there are currently over a billion devices in place globally. In addition to monitoring your premises for threats such as intruders, violent or anomalous behaviour, security cameras are increasingly being used to support operational processes and forward planning.
As a result, delivering value and increasing return on investment (ROI) by using cameras which are already in place. However, deciding the type of camera you need to fit your circumstances can be tricky as there are many different categories on the market. Broadly, the most popular camera tends to fall into two different categories based on their design: dome and bullet.
The name ‘dome camera’ is derived from the shape of the external casing. This has been specially designed to protect against tampering such as moving or redirecting the camera away from an aspect of the scene, defocusing and vandalism. The casing also makes it harder to see in which direction the camera is facing so subjects feel less ‘watched’ in an environment. As such, these cameras tend to be unobtrusive and discreet, so as not to impact factors such as customer experience within a space.
‘Bullet’ cameras are named based on their cylindrical shape. These are designed to be highly visible and as a result, tend to have a deterrent effect for potential offenders. In addition, these cameras have an optical advantage due to possessing longer lenses which enable better zoom capabilities to support long distance surveillance. For example, bullet cameras can provide detailed images of subjects within a scene.
Monitoring activity within a space requires you to take certain factors into consideration. You need to consider the type of activity which typically takes place within the scene, the behavior of subjects and objects and how they could potentially interact with cameras.
In general, cameras mounted inside tend to be more accessible to tampering, as they are typically mounted on walls or ceilings.
In this scenario, dome cameras are suitable as they are discreet, vandal-resistant (for example, from blunt impact with an instrument) and offer a wide field of view to capture multiple activities within your space. These cameras are designed to blend in, while supporting your security and safety needs.
In contrast to dome cameras, bullet cameras are designed to be seen so that people are immediately aware that the area is being monitored. These are typically mounted in areas which are less accessible to people such as at the top of your surrounding fence or gate, alleyways and long indoor corridors at airports.
These cameras tend to be more suited for long-range surveillance needs, such as perimeter protection around or within a large compound or over busy roads. Although bullet cameras monitor activity over long distances, some of these can also zoom in on particular subjects or objects of interest, such as license plates, to provide even more critical information from the scene. These attributes, along with their high visibility, make them very popular for many security use cases across different industries.
While dome and bullet cameras have quite distinct attributes, it is likely that you will need both types of cameras within your premises to suit your total surveillance needs. For example, your warehouse could have dome cameras within the offices, but implement bullet cameras on the exterior of the building and along fences. Additionally, it’s important to be aware of the value each will bring, so that the right solution can be put in place to satisfy safety and security needs.
