Types of CCTV Cameras

Dome cameras

Dome cameras sit inside a tinted dome, which makes the lens direction hard to see and the camera harder to tamper with. They suit receptions, corridors, retail floors and covered entrances. Most are vandal-resistant and mount on ceilings or walls. Because they are discreet, they deter less than a visible bullet camera.

Typical uses include offices, schools, hospitals, shops and reception areas, where a low-profile camera suits the space.

Bullet cameras

Bullet cameras are long and cylindrical, pointing in one clear direction. They suit car parks, perimeters, loading bays and long outdoor views, and their visible shape acts as a deterrent. They need a sturdy mount and a position that is hard to reach, as they are easier to knock out of alignment.

Longer lenses on bullet cameras give useful detail at distance, which helps along fences, driveways and yard perimeters.

PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras

PTZ cameras can be moved and zoomed remotely to follow activity across a large area, such as a yard, estate or car park. They are best when someone watches live or when preset tours are useful. A PTZ only sees one direction at a time, so it is normally paired with fixed cameras.

Many PTZ models also carry long-range infrared, with night vision up to 200m on some cameras, so distant activity stays visible in low light.

PTZ cameras can follow preset tours when nobody is watching and return to a home position, so key areas are still covered.

Turret (eyeball) cameras

Turret cameras have a ball-shaped lens in an open mount. They are easy to aim, do not suffer from dome reflections at night, and suit both indoor and covered outdoor positions. They are less discreet than domes but harder to knock out of position than bullets.

Fisheye and 360-degree cameras

Fisheye cameras give a full 360-degree view from one ceiling position, which suits open-plan offices, shops and warehouse floors. The image is dewarped in software. Detail at the edges of the view is lower, so they are better for overview than for identifying people.

ANPR cameras

Automatic number plate recognition cameras read plates for car park control, site entry and security. They need careful positioning, the right angle and dedicated lighting or infrared to read plates reliably at speed and at night.

Plate reads can be linked to an allow list to open barriers automatically for staff and visitors, with a record of every vehicle in and out.

Thermal imaging cameras

Thermal cameras detect heat rather than light, so they see people, vehicles and hot equipment in darkness, smoke or fog. They suit perimeters, industrial sites and fire risk monitoring. They do not show faces or number plates, so they are used alongside standard cameras. See thermal imaging CCTV installation.

Kent EnviroPower’s Allington site is one example: ACCL replaced its thermal imaging cameras and upgraded the fibre behind them.

Day/night and infrared cameras

Day/night cameras switch from colour in daylight to black and white with infrared at night. They suit areas that need watching around the clock without extra lighting. Infrared range, reflections from nearby walls and glass, and the position of other lights all need checking at survey.

Day/night cameras are the usual choice for car parks, yards and building exteriors that are not lit all night.

Wireless cameras

Wireless cameras send video over Wi-Fi or a wireless link, which helps where cabling is difficult or the site is temporary. They still need power, and the wireless link has to be planned for range and interference. For most permanent sites, cabled IP cameras are more reliable.

Wireless suits car parks, gates, temporary sites and outbuildings where trenching for cable would cost more than the camera system itself.

IP or analogue?

IP cameras send video over the network and are usually powered by PoE through one cable, so the structured cabling and switch power budget matter. They give higher resolution, remote viewing and analytics. Analogue cameras need their own coaxial cabling and recorder, and are now mainly found on older systems.

Most new business systems are IP, because one network can carry cameras, recording and remote viewing, and cameras can be added as the site grows.

Resolution, lens and placement

Choose the resolution and lens from the job each camera does. Detecting movement needs far less detail than recognising a face or reading a number plate at a distance. A varifocal or optical zoom lens lets the view be set on site. Placement matters as much as the camera: height, angle, backlight from windows and lighting at night all change what the camera can see.

Recording and monitoring

Footage is recorded on an NVR or video management system, with retention set by the site’s needs. Some sites watch live on site, others use remote monitoring or alerts to a phone. See remote versus on-site monitoring and our CCTV maintenance guide.

Indoor, outdoor and vandal ratings

Outdoor cameras need a weatherproof rating such as IP66 or IP67, and cameras within reach should be vandal-resistant, often rated IK10. Temperature range matters for unheated sites and cold stores.

Lighting and low light

Lighting decides image quality more than resolution does. Backlight from windows needs wide dynamic range, dark areas need infrared or extra lighting, and colour at night needs low-light sensors or white light. We check light levels at survey, ideally at the times the cameras matter most.

How many cameras you need

Start with the areas that matter: entrances and exits, reception, tills, stock areas, car parks and perimeters. Each position gets the camera type and lens for its job. Our guide to how many CCTV cameras a business needs goes into more detail.

Privacy and the law

Business CCTV must respect privacy and data protection rules: cameras should cover what is needed, signs should tell people CCTV is in use, and footage must be stored securely and kept no longer than necessary. Read our guide to CCTV in the workplace and employee rights.

Mixing camera types on one system

One recorder or video management system can run domes, bullets, turrets, PTZ and thermal cameras side by side, so each position can use the right type. Choosing cameras that work with the same recording platform keeps management simple.

Upgrading an older system

Older analogue systems can often be upgraded in stages. Existing coaxial cabling can sometimes be reused with HD analogue cameras, while new IP cameras need network cabling and PoE. See our guide to CCTV camera upgrades.

CCTV, the network and access control

IP cameras run on the building network, so cameras, PoE switches, cabling and recorder storage are planned together. CCTV can also be linked with access control, so door events and video can be reviewed side by side.

Storage and retention

Storage is set by the number of cameras, resolution, frame rate, recording mode and how long footage must be kept. Recording on motion and using efficient video compression extends retention without extra storage.

Choosing a CCTV installer

Ask whether the installer surveys each viewpoint, recommends cameras position by position, installs the cabling as well as the cameras, and hands over login details, drawings and a maintenance plan. ACCL is SSAIB certified for CCTV and access control and installs CCTV with the cabling behind it.

The government publishes recommended standards for the CCTV industry; ask any installer how their design meets them.

Camera placement

Mount cameras high enough to avoid tampering but low enough to capture faces, usually 2.5 to 3 metres for identification. Point them along corridors and at doors rather than into windows or bright sky, overlap views at entrances and exits, and cover the routes people take as well as the rooms.

Remote viewing and alerts

Modern systems let authorised staff view live and recorded footage on a phone or computer, with alerts when a camera detects movement in a set area or goes offline. Access should be limited to named users with strong passwords and two-factor sign-in where the system supports it.

Keeping CCTV working

Cameras need regular checks: clean lenses and domes, confirm the views have not moved, check recording and retention, and keep firmware up to date. Our CCTV maintenance guide and 12 common CCTV problems explain what to look for.

Video analytics

Many IP cameras can detect people, vehicles or line crossing and send alerts, which reduces false alarms from moving trees or headlights. Analytics work best when the camera position, lens and lighting are planned for them from the start.