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, by Rob Pilkes Installation manual IP camera set
What is a dome camera?
- , by Rob Pilkes
- 1 min reading time
A dome camera gets its name from its shape. Dome literally means "cupola." This refers to the transparent dome over the camera lens.
The dome camera features a metal or plastic housing with a transparent dome mounted on top. Behind the dome are the lens and, if applicable, the infrared sensors and other hardware.
It's often thought that every dome security camera can rotate, but this isn't true. Only dome cameras with a Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) function can rotate.
Some dome cameras feature an adjustable lens. The lens can be adjusted either manually or with a motor.
Other dome cameras
Besides the traditional dome cameras with the plastic dome, there are also variations on this model that bear the name dome camera but no longer entirely meet the original description. Variations on the dome camera include the mini dome, flat-faced dome, and eyeball camera.
Mini Dome
A mini dome, as the name suggests, is a dome camera that has the same appearance as a standard dome camera, but in a more compact size. Due to its small size, the mini dome camera is less noticeable than other dome cameras. However, this compact design also has a downside. Because the mini dome is small, additional features such as a varifocal lens, PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom), and PoE are often missing.
Flat Faced Dome Camera
A flat-faced dome camera looks a lot like a standard dome camera, but it differs in the shape of the glass. In a flat-faced dome camera, the glass is completely flat. This type of dome camera is less commonly used because it's less vandal-resistant, but it can still be used in locations where there's less risk of vandalism. Another option is to mount the camera out of reach of vandals.
Mounting a dome camera
Dome cameras are easy to install and connect. Typically, a dome camera is mounted directly to the ceiling, but it's also possible to mount them to a wall with a wall bracket, and in some exceptional cases, you'll even find them on the floor. We don't recommend mounting dome cameras directly to a wall outdoors without a wall bracket.
