Choose the shape first, then the specifications. A bullet shows that filming is taking place, a turret is small and easy to aim, a dome is barely noticeable and a PTZ follows what is happening. After that you decide on the resolution, the lens and whether the camera may take action itself with light and sound. Our catalogue now includes more than 550 Dahua IP cameras, so this article reduces the choice to a few questions that really matter.
The choice in four steps
1. Shape
Bullet, turret, dome or PTZ. This determines how visible the camera is and how you aim it.
2. Lens
Fixed lens for a fixed view, motorised zoom if you want to adjust the view later.
3. Night image
Infrared, white light or both. Smart Dual Light chooses what suits the situation.
4. Taking action
If you want the camera to give light and sound when it detects a person, choose a TiOC model.
Which shape suits which location?
| Bullet | Turret | Dome | PTZ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Driveway, facade, grounds | Facade and indoors, where it should not stand out | Shop, office, entrance | Large site or car park |
| Visibility | Clearly visible, acts as a deterrent | Compact and discreet | Recessed into the ceiling | Clearly visible and moves |
| Aiming | Tiltable on the bracket | Rotates in the housing, quick to aim | Inside the dome, fixed afterwards | Pan and zoom remotely |
| Sun shield | Built in | None, mount it under an overhang | None, intended for indoor use or under a canopy | Built in |
| Example model | HFW1431S1P 4 MP | HDW1431T1P 4 MP | HDBW1439E1P 4 MP | SD2A500NB 5 MP |
| Price | € 83,50€ 69,01 | € 83,50€ 69,01 | € 91,75€ 75,83 | € 119,75€ 98,97 |
Tip prices come live from our webshop. If you are unsure between a turret and a dome for outdoor use, choose the turret: it is easier to aim and the dome cover is more prone to collecting rain and cobwebs.
How many megapixels do you need?
More megapixels does not automatically mean a more usable image. What matters is how many pixels fall on the subject, and that depends just as much on the lens and the distance. For a driveway or a back garden, 4 megapixels with a 2,8 mm lens is usually more than sufficient. If you also want to distinguish a face or a number plate further away, choose a narrower lens or a motorised zoom rather than just a higher number. Also bear in mind that a higher resolution requires more storage on the recorder.
Should the camera take action itself?
The TiOC models from Dahua do more than record. If the camera recognises a person in a zone, it can switch on a white light and sound a siren, while you receive a notification. That is the difference between reviewing footage afterwards and letting someone know now that they have been seen. The HDW3849H-AS-PV is such a model, 8 megapixel in a turret housing, for € 319,50€ 264,05.
How does the camera get power and video?
With IP cameras, everything runs over a network cable. If you connect the camera to a recorder with PoE ports, the recorder supplies both power and the connection, and you do not need a power socket at the camera. This makes installation simpler than with coax, where you often run two cables. If there is no network cable and you cannot reach the location, there are Wi-Fi models, although a fixed cable remains more reliable.
Choosing a Dahua IP camera
What is the difference between a turret and a dome?
Do I absolutely need a recorder?
Can I watch from my phone?
Fixed lens or motorised zoom?
May I simply film at my home?
Choosing the right camera together
Secures is an official Dahua partner and a VEB-approved security company. Send a photo of the facade or a floor plan, and we will indicate where a camera adds the most value and which model suits it.
