You’ve finally settled on installing security cameras in or around your home – congratulations! You'll feel safer knowing you'll have an eye on your home at all times.
Now you need to pick out the camera that best fits your needs. Easy enough. You’ve already narrowed it down to a dome or a turret camera.
You pull up your browser again and dive into your research. Little by little, you dig through link after link. You read every blog from top to bottom and watch every video you can find.
But before you know it, you have what feels like a thousand tabs open. None of them have the succinct answer you're seeking. If anything, you're even further from a decision than before.
Here at Hive, we specialize in installing home automation, including security. But at the end of the day, we want you to choose the best security camera for your needs, even if you don’t choose us to install it.
By the end of this article, you’ll be able to pick one or the other and buy the perfect security camera for your needs. To help you start finalizing your choice, let’s start with how these two options are similar.
Both turret and dome cameras have the same general setup:
● The cameras are hardwired through your home using a cat5 or cat6 cable.
● They connect to the head end (where your technology is)
● The network video recorder (or NVR) inside your head end stores your data.
They function in the same way, too. They can be set to record continuously, or you can only have them activated when they sense a change in the environment.
Daytime footage is in color, but nighttime footage is black and white. The cameras use infrared light to see in the darkness; more on this when we compare the two types of cameras.
They’re also similar in that they both:
● Can be either indoors or outdoors
● Range in price from under $100 to over $1000, depending on your security needs and
budget
● Have similar resolutions within each class. In other words, a higher-end turret camera
and a higher-end dome camera have comparable resolutions.
● Come in the same range of colors
Now that we have the similarities out of the way, let’s take a look at the differences. We’ll break it down into the following categories:
● Appearance
● Security capabilities
● Location concerns
Appearance
Dome Cameras
As the name suggests, dome cameras have a camera covered by a glass or plastic dome.
Turret Cameras
Turret cameras have a camera behind a flat plane.
Security capabilities
Dome Cameras
Dome cameras prevent potential intruders from seeing which way the camera is pointing. If they can’t tell if someone is watching, they’re less likely to break in. Or, if they decide to go for it anyway, you’ll be more likely to see their faces and follow up with law enforcement.
The camera is also much more difficult to tamper with; an intruder can’t change its direction without cracking into the glass dome.
Turret Cameras
Turret cameras are more vulnerable in two ways: anyone can see where the camera is pointing and can turn it away from a particular area. While it’s easier for you to move the camera and cover a different area of your home or property, someone else could do the same if it was within easy reach.
The same goes for the direction the camera is pointing. You can get a sense of what area you’re covering, but so can everyone else.
Location concerns
Dome Cameras
The dome’s shape is a drawback at night. The glass or plastic can interfere with the camera’s infrared array and distort the clarity of the recording.
Dome cameras might not be the best choice in wet or humid climates. Condensation can form on the inside of the dome in certain weather conditions, obstructing the view – something we’re familiar with as a Tampa Bay-based company.
Turret Cameras
The turret camera has a leg up at night, as its shape doesn’t interfere with the infrared light array necessary to see in the dark.
Of course, it all depends – you know your property best. But here’s a quick summary of what we’ve covered:
A dome camera might be for you if:
● You’d like a highly tamper-resistant camera
● You'd like to conceal the direction your camera is facing
● Your camera is in a well-lit area or you don't need to record as much at night
But a dome camera might not be for you if:
● You live in a humid area and plan to put your camera outdoors
● You’re planning to record mostly at night
A turret camera might be a better fit if:
● You’d like a camera that can be easily adjusted
● You live in an area that gets damp and humid
● You need reliable nighttime security
By now, you have enough information to finally close up most of those tabs you opened. Based on what you already know about your property, you probably have a good idea of the camera that works best for you. Now all you need to do is buy the best camera in your price range.
If you’re ready to improve your home’s security and you’re based in the Tampa Bay area, Hive can help. You can contact us by filling out a form here for a free estimate.
