By the SightShield team · · 3 min read
Shape is about the job, not just the look
Most camera ranges come in three housings: bullet (a tube on a bracket), dome (a camera under a clear bubble) and turret (a ball-shaped camera in a cup, sometimes called an "eyeball"). Inside, the sensor and lens may be identical. The housing changes how the camera is mounted, how far it is likely to see, how well it handles night vision, and how easy it is to tamper with.
At a glance
| Bullet | Dome | Turret | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looks | Visible, obviously a camera — a deterrent | Discreet, blends into ceilings | Neat, less conspicuous than bullet |
| Typical mounting | Walls and poles, outdoors | Ceilings, indoors and covered areas | Ceilings or walls, indoors and out |
| Reach | Often longer lenses and IR range | Usually wide, shorter range | Wide to medium |
| Night vision | Good; IR is outside the lens window | Can suffer IR glare from dust or scratches on the bubble | Good; no bubble, so no IR reflection |
| Vandal resistance | Can be knocked or turned | Best; vandal-rated (IK10) versions common | Moderate |
| Rain and spiders | Sunshield helps with rain; spiders love the IR glow | Bubble can collect dust and water marks | Fewer problems; easy to clean |
| Adjusting the angle | Easy | Needs the cover removed | Easy |
Where bullets work best
- Boundary walls, driveways and long outdoor views where a longer lens or IR range is needed.
- Places where you want people to see there is a camera — the visible shape deters casual theft.
- Warehouse aisles and yards, mounted high and aimed along the length.
Where domes work best
- Offices, shops, showrooms, hotel lobbies and apartment lifts, where looks matter.
- Low ceilings within reach of people — a vandal-rated dome is hard to knock off aim.
- Places where you do not want people to know which way the camera is pointing.
Where turrets work best
- Home entrances, porches and balconies — neat and good at night.
- Covered outdoor areas such as car porches and verandas.
- Anywhere a dome would face IR reflection problems, such as dusty sites.
A typical mix
A villa might use turrets at the doors and porch, bullets along the compound wall and driveway, and a couple of domes indoors. An office usually has domes inside and bullets or turrets at the entrance and parking. A factory leans on bullets for the perimeter and yard, with domes in offices and stores. Mixing shapes is normal — choose for each location.
Plan the right camera for each location →Example: choosing shapes for a villa
For a two-floor villa in Whitefield, the shapes were chosen place by place. Bullets went on the compound wall corners and the side passage, where a visible camera deters and the long lens reaches the far wall. A turret went in the car porch, because its open lens has no dome cover to reflect infrared off the nearby ceiling. Small domes were used inside the entrance lobby and staircase, where a discreet, tamper-resistant shape suits the interior. The gate got a bullet with colour night vision aimed where visitors stop. Same brand and NVR throughout, but four different housings, each picked for the job.
Fisheye, panoramic and dual-lens cameras →Other housings you may see
- PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom): motorised domes that turn and zoom, for large open areas watched by an operator.
- Fisheye: one camera giving a 360° view from the ceiling of a room or shop floor.
- Cube or Wi-Fi cameras: small indoor cameras for homes, usually with built-in audio.
Quick answers
Which CCTV camera is best for outdoor use?+
Bullets and turrets are the most common outdoor choices. Make sure the camera is rated IP66 or IP67 for weather, and use a dome only where it is vandal-rated and sheltered from dust.
Why does my dome camera look hazy at night?+
Infrared light can reflect off dust, water marks or scratches on the dome bubble. Cleaning the bubble often fixes it; a turret avoids the problem.
Are dome cameras harder to steal or damage?+
Yes. Vandal-rated (IK10) domes are designed to resist hits and are hard to turn, which is why they suit low ceilings and public areas.
Why do dome cameras sometimes look hazy at night?+
Infrared light can reflect off the inside of the dome cover, especially if it is dusty or scratched, or off a nearby ceiling. Turrets avoid this because the lens is not behind a cover.
Can I mix camera shapes on one NVR?+
Yes. Shape is just the housing; cameras of the same brand and series work the same way on the NVR.
Which shape is best for a shop interior?+
Domes or turrets, mounted on the ceiling, are usually best inside shops; bullets suit outdoor walls.