Turret, bullet, dome, PTZ, ANPR, thermal — what each camera type is for, and which one belongs at which spot on your property.
A “CCTV camera” is a category, not a product. Each camera type is shaped, lensed, and mounted differently because each one solves a different visibility problem. Putting the wrong type in the wrong place is the most common reason a CCTV system disappoints. This guide walks through the seven types we install, what each does, and where it belongs.
What it looks like: a small, fixed dome mounted on a swivel ball, usually under an eave or in a ceiling. Compact, no visible lens housing.
What it’s for: the workhorse for residential eaves, indoor commercial overview, and most general-purpose CCTV. The swivel mount makes aiming easy; the recessed lens resists weather and fingers.
Where to use: front-of-house, back-of-house, side passages, internal hallways, indoor commercial.
Where to avoid: long perimeter shots (use a bullet), high-risk vandalism areas (use a vandal-rated dome).
What it looks like: a horizontal cylinder, usually with a visible sun-shroud over the front lens. More obvious than a turret.
What it’s for: long-throw or perimeter shots. The lens is typically longer focal length than a turret’s, giving you a narrower but further-reaching view.
Where to use: driveways viewed from the house, fence lines, loading docks, gate approaches, rear-lane coverage on inner-suburb villas.
Where to avoid: indoor general overview (turret is more discreet), close-up identification (lens is too narrow for face-height shots at short distance).
What it looks like: a hemispheric dome, usually larger than a turret. Vandal-rated variants (IK10) have a hardened housing.
What it’s for: indoor commercial spaces where vandalism risk or public visibility matters. The 360-degree dome obscures which way the camera is pointing.
Where to use: public-facing retail, hospitality, school corridors, lift lobbies, warehouse aisles.
Where to avoid: long-throw outdoor (use a bullet), residential under-eave (use a turret — cheaper and just as good).
What it looks like: a larger dome with a visible motorised lens that moves. Distinctly “security camera” in appearance.
What it’s for: wide-area surveillance where one moveable camera replaces several fixed ones. Good for sites with someone watching the live feed (school office, control room).
Where to use: large yards, school grounds, car parks, sports facilities, body-corporate basement carparks.
Where to avoid: homes (no operator, so it’s usually pointed the wrong way during incidents), small properties (a fixed camera does the same job better).
What it looks like: a specialist bullet or boxed camera with an IR-only illuminator and a narrow lens optimised for plate-reading.
What it’s for: capturing every vehicle plate entering or leaving a site, with a searchable record. The camera and software work together; a regular CCTV camera with high resolution is not the same thing.
Where to use: commercial gates, warehouse entries, body-corporate carparks, schools (visitor vehicle capture), industrial yards.
Where to avoid: homes (overkill unless you have a specific reason), sites where the lens-to-plate angle can’t be controlled (ANPR needs a near-perpendicular view of the plate).
What it looks like: a chunky bullet with a different (germanium) lens; no visible IR illuminators.
What it’s for: perimeter detection on dark, large, or rural sites where motion-triggered IR isn’t enough. Detects body heat against background, regardless of camouflage or low light.
Where to use: rural lifestyle blocks, large industrial yards, regulated-goods perimeters, isolated sites (substations, telecoms).
Where to avoid: almost anywhere a regular ColorVu camera would do the job. Thermal is a specialist tool, not a default.
Most useless CCTV footage shares a cause: a wide-angle camera mounted high on a corner. The fix is matching the camera type to the job for each location. Front door identification = turret at face height. Driveway from gate to garage = bullet with a longer lens. Public-facing retail floor = vandal-rated dome. Yard perimeter = ColorVu bullet with smart detection. Read the how-many-cameras blog post for worked plans.
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Indicative supplied-and-installed price for a Comsys CCTV system. Move the inputs to match your site — the calculator updates live.
This calculator is a guide only. Final pricing depends on the site visit — specific camera models, mounting access, cable routing, and any access control or alarm integration can move the number up or down. We always quote in writing after a free on-site assessment, with brand and model itemised so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.
