The camera's body shape is about more than looks. It affects where the camera can be mounted, how easy it is to aim, how well it resists tampering and how obvious it is to the people being recorded. Settle the form factor first, then compare resolution, lens and features within that family.
Start with three questions
- Where will it be mounted? Wall, eave, ceiling, pole or inside a counter all point to different shapes.
- What does it need to see? A doorway, a whole room, a long fence line or a number plate at a gate.
- Should it be noticed? A visible camera deters. A discreet one blends in. Both are valid choices.
The main form factors
| Type | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet | Walls and poles outdoors, perimeters, car parks, visible deterrence | Easy to see and to knock out of alignment if mounted low |
| Turret | Eaves, corridors, entrances; a good all-round default | Open lens: no dome reflection at night, but less tamper-resistant than a dome |
| Dome | Ceilings, public areas, places where vandalism is a risk | Choose IK10 for impact resistance; keep the cover clean to avoid IR glare |
| PTZ | Large areas watched by an operator, city streets, yards | Only sees one direction at a time; pair it with fixed cameras |
| Fisheye | Whole rooms from one ceiling point: shops, lobbies, open offices | Detail at the edges is limited; higher resolution helps |
| Multi-imager | Panoramic views of car parks, yards and intersections | One mounting point and cable, but a larger, heavier body |
| Box | Special lenses, long zoom, custom housings | Lens and housing may need to be ordered separately |
| Cube | Desks, shelves, small offices, temporary placement | Mostly indoor; check power options |
| Covert | ATMs, kiosks, counters, places where a camera would stand out | Check local regulations on discreet recording |
Indoor or outdoor?
Outdoor cameras need a weather rating (IP66 or IP67/68 for exposed positions), an operating temperature range that covers your local climate, and usually built-in IR for night-time. Indoor cameras can be smaller and lighter, but still benefit from wide dynamic range where windows and doors bring in strong daylight.
Fixed lens, vari-focal or zoom?
A fixed lens is the simplest and most affordable option when you know exactly what the camera will see. A motorised vari-focal or zoom lens lets the installer set the field of view after mounting, often from a laptop, which saves ladder time and makes later changes easy. PTZ cameras add pan and tilt so an operator can follow activity.
Special cases
- Thermal imaging detects heat rather than light. It works in complete darkness and through light smoke, and suits perimeters and heat monitoring.
- Door stations combine a camera with intercom and card reading at the entrance.
- Body worn cameras record from the wearer's point of view for patrols and field staff.
- People counting cameras mount overhead and produce counts and alerts rather than general surveillance video.
Next step
Once the form factor is clear, read resolution and lens selection to decide how much detail you need, or send us your site plan for a recommendation.