top of page
CCTV Installer Leicesteshire

TURRET CAMERAS

Turret Cameras
RCS Technologies Turret Camera
RCS Technologies Turret Camera
RCS Technologies Turret Camera
RCS Technologies Turret Camera

A turret camera, also known as a mini dome, eyeball or flat-faced dome camera, has a ball-and-socket type of design. It is like a sliced sphere, which can be easily swiveled around in its "socket" once the base has been mounted.

Most outdoor and indoor turret surveillance cameras in the market now are PoE type, since it's quite challenging to add external antennas to make this type of security cameras wireless due to its unique structure.

Turret security cameras are becoming more popular than dome and bullet security cameras when used outdoors, including your doorway, backyard, front driveway, soffit, eave, etc. They don't have the spider web attracting qualities of a bullet style, not the reflection issues of a dome type.

The easy angle adjustment also makes turret security cameras overshadow bullet and dome cameras. Unlike dome security cameras with the glass housing, the lack of dome shell makes turret cameras free from glare effects. The price of turret security cameras is much more favorable than dome and PTZ security camera types.

​

Like the other sections below i would add a Pros and Cons list but to be fair their really isn't an cons to a turret camera. Some say they can be moved by vandals, this is true but only if they haven't been installed correctly or the vandal has the right tool to release the locking bolt.

​

Turret Cameras are available with WizMind, WizSense or TiOC technology

​

BULLET CAMERAS

DOME CAMERAS

Dome Cameras
RCS Technologies Dome Camera
RCS Technologies Dome Camera
RCS Technologies Dome Camera
RCS Technologies Dome Camera

Dome security cameras are easily recognizable for their circular, dome encasing. Dome surveillance cameras are highly versatile and can be used in both indoor and outdoor settings, providing unparalleled coverage for nearly any use case. Most dome security cameras have a vandal-proof dome encasing, IR for night vision, and a sturdy metal base to protect it from vandalism or tampering, making it an ideal solution for reliable surveillance in rugged conditions.

Types of Dome Cameras:

​

  • PTZ Dome Camera: Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) dome cameras make it possible to monitor large areas because of the ability to remotely adjust zoom and the direction of the lens. With PTZ dome cameras, security buyers are looking for security cameras that are highly rugged, flexible, and have the ability to be controlled directionally. PTZ dome cameras are ideal for areas like parking lots and guard stations, where security personnel may require the ability to move the camera in response to an incident.

​

  • Outdoor Dome Camera: Outdoor dome cameras are critical in deterring vandalism, preventing theft, and capturing footage of suspicious behaviors. It’s particularly important to find an outdoor dome camera that has infrared illuminators to capture usable footage in low-lights when witnesses or faculty isn’t present to respond to situations in real-time. In addition to night vision features, outdoor dome cameras need to be waterproof, ensuring the ability to monitor through sun, rain, or snow.

​​

  • 4K Dome Camera: 4K dome cameras are typically used indoors, in areas that require high resolution and incredible levels of detail. 4K dome cameras are ideal for those looking to have discreet monitoring blend into surrounding environments, such as high-end retail stores or point of sale systems. In comparison to dome cameras that offer 3MP, 4K dome cameras record at 8 megapixels, making image clarity much better.

Pros of Dome Cameras

  • Wider field of view, greater area coverage with fewer cameras

  • Can be mounted on the ceiling (if 3-axis gimbal)

  • Discreet and low-profile, can catch out burglars

Cons of Dome Cameras

  • Prone to degradation if subject to high humidity or poor weather (condensation)

  • IR performance issues in some models

  • Harder to install and orient initially

BULLET CAMERAS

Bullet Cameras
RCS Technologies Bullet Camera
RCS Technologies Bullet Camera
RCS Technologies TiOC Bullet Camera
RCS Technologies Bullet Camera

Bullet cameras are named after their elongated design which allows these cameras to accommodate a more telescopic style of zoom lens. With such a lens, varifocal bullet cameras can often achieve great image quality even when zoomed in to the max and situated far from the area of interest. This does, however, also result in a necessarily narrower field of view than a camera with a less telescopic lens would have (like a dome camera, for example).

The combination of great zoom range and a narrower field of view (which, incidentally, is part of what helps to preserve image quality when zoomed in further) makes bullet cameras particularly adept at capturing detail at key locations, for example when aimed directly at points of entry and exit to a building.

​

Bullet Cameras are available with WizMind, WizSense or TiOC technology

Pros of Bullet Cameras

  • High zoom capabilities

  • Resists loss of picture quality during zoom

  • Often strongly vandal- and weather-proof

  • Conspicuous - an effective deterrent

  • Good IR performance

Cons of Bullet Cameras

  • Narrower field of view - blind spots

  • Conspicuous (can be avoided by determined burglars)

PTZ CAMERAS

PTZ Cameras
RCS Technologies PTZ Camera
RCS Technologies PTZ Camera
RCS Technologies PTZ Camera
RCS Technologies PTZ Camera

Pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras are built with mechanical parts that allow them to swivel left to right, tilt up and down, and zoom in and out of a scene. They’re typically used to monitor wide open areas requiring a 180- or 360-degree view, and deployed in guard stations where active personnel can operate them through a remote camera controller. Depending on the camera or software, they can also be set to automatically follow motion-triggered activity or adhere to a pre-set schedule. PTZ cameras are generally implemented in tandem with a larger surveillance system, in which the PTZ tracks movement while a fixed camera takes detailed shots.

While “PTZ” indicates a particular type of camera hardware, “ePTZ” references a software feature. Electronic pan-tilt-zoom (ePTZ) security cameras do not physically move, but use digital zoom to give the pan-tilt-zoom effect on a fixed camera. This allows camera operators to magnify areas they would like to focus on, and prevents the gaps in coverage characteristic of traditional PTZ cameras. With some solutions offering 360° coverage, an ePTZ camera can be a powerful way to provide a PTZ-like experience while still recording the entire field of view.

​

PTZ Cameras are available with WizMind or WizSense Technology

Pros of PTZ Cameras:

​

  • Large Field of View: PTZ cameras are used to monitor a large area, and often recommended to use in conjunction with a fixed camera to avoid gaps in coverage. Depending on the model, cameras can move anywhere between zero pan/tilt and the full 360 degree pan/180 degree tilt. Some solutions also have digital pan and tilt, which allows for video to be adjusted after recording - though the resulting video would be grainer and lower res.

​

  • Motion-Based Auto Tracking: Auto tracking is a function that enables PTZ cameras to adjust their field of view to follow moving objects automatically. The use case for this function is typically best applied in quiet areas with minimal movement (for example, a museum after closing).

​

  • Time-Based Auto Scan: PTZ cameras can be configured with auto-pilot to scan pre-defined areas and move in patterns (tours). Preset positions can be programmed to change positions based on time. For example, a PTZ camera can be configured to pan, tilt, or zoom every 30 seconds to capture different areas of interest within the camera’s overall surveillance area.

​

  • Remote Camera Control: Conventional PTZ cameras can be manually and remotely adjusted to track suspicious activity. This allows users to change the camera’s field of view without having to go onsite.

​

  • Zoom Capabilities: Most PTZ cameras support optical zoom, which is used to view and capture faraway objects like license plates or faces. Optical zoom (ie: 20x, 30x, 40x) refers to the maximum focal length divided by the minimum focal length - the larger the number, the further the zoom.

​

Cons of PTZ Cameras

​

  • Limited View: PTZ cameras are unable to record areas that the camera isn’t specifically looking at, which is a major con leading to gaps in coverage. Cameras can pan, tilt and zoom to cover potentially huge areas, but not simultaneously. It is possible for incidents to occur and intruders to slip undetected from under the camera’s field of view (FOV).

​

  • Shorter Lifespan: Because PTZ cameras contain many moving parts (including motors to pan, tilt, zoom) prone to fail eventually, they are less durable than fixed solutions. Due to their high failure rate, the total cost of ownership tends to be higher than the initial camera price.

​

  • Surveillance Blind-Spots: PTZ cameras have a reputation to point the wrong direction, especially when set on “auto” or “home”. A camera may pan continuously to the next preset, regardless of what is happening in its field of view. The ideal way to use a PTZ camera is to have a guard manning the camera at all times, but blindspots are still a risk of human error if the controller is left in the wrong position.

​

  • High Cost: In many cases, a single or multiple fixed cameras (such as fisheye cameras) can give more coverage at a lower cost compared to one PTZ camera. A 4K fisheye camera, for example, may be configured to cover the same area as a PTZ camera and permit digital zoom on high-resolution footage, without running the risk of being repositioned incorrectly.

​

  • Latency Sensitivity: A common issue that many PTZ cameras face is high command latency. The command latency is the lag time between which an operator issues a command to adjust the camera FOV, to when the FOV changes on the monitor. It’s important to be aware that high latency can sometimes cause PTZ controls to malfunction and shift out of gear.

​

  • High Risk of Malfunction: PTZ cameras that are not properly installed can lead to trouble from both a mechanical and legal perspective. On the mechanical side, camera hardware that is not installed correctly could malfunction under changing weather conditions. On the legal side, PTZ cameras that accidentally include even an inch of private property in their field of view could land the installer and owner in deep trouble.

FISHEYE CAMERAS

Fisheye Cameras
RCS Technologies Fisheye Camera
RCS Technologies Fisheye Camera
RCS Technologies Fisheye Camera

When comparing the different types of surveillance cameras, one type of camera that may come up are fisheye cameras. These cameras are not commonly used, but they can have many benefits. But with anything, there are a few cons to keep in mind as well. The biggest benefit of fisheye cameras is that they are able to capture a wider view. There are different types of fisheye lenses, but all of them can capture angles of at least 180° and some can go up to 360°. Regular cameras are not able to capture panoramic images which means that they are more susceptible to having blind spots. In order to remedy this issue, more cameras would need to be installed to capture more angles. Since fisheye cameras have a wider angle of view, they have less blind spots which means less cameras needed.

​

Fisheye Camera Pros

​

  • PTZ Capabilities: PTZ stands for pan, tilt, and zoom. Since fisheye cameras are able to capture wider angles, users can pan, tilt, and zoom in on recorded footage to evaluate incidents. PTZ cameras do exist, but these features can only be used in real-time, not on footage that has already been recorded. Fisheye cameras can use PTZ capabilities on live or recorded footage.

​

  • Tamper Resistant: Like dome cameras, these cameras are protected by an external casing. Since there’s a covering on the lens, it is difficult for someone to get access to the camera inside and tamper with the angle. In addition, the dome shape prevents people from grabbing onto it and disconnecting it.

​

  • Night Vision: Since these cameras are able to capture a wider view, they are common for outdoor use to monitor parking lots and large areas. Because of this, most fisheye cameras are made to withstand harsh weather. In addition, many are equipped with infrared (IR) lights so they can function in darkness.

 

Fisheye Camera Cons

​

  • Lower Resolution: The main reason why people opt to use fisheye cameras is because their range of view is wider. However, a wider view means a lower resolution. This means that recorded images can look blurry or pixelated. Fisheye cameras do capture more areas, but in return, image detail is sacrificed.

​

  • Image Warping: A common issue with using fisheye lenses is that the image will appear warped. Since it captures a panoramic view, the image can take on a curved appearance and be distorted. In order to fix this issue, fisheye images will need to be dewarped.

​

  • Wrap Up: These types of cameras would be a good option for those that want to monitor large outdoor areas. However, you should remember that capturing a panoramic view will produce a lower quality and distorted image.

bottom of page