Head to head comparisons

The specific choices people get stuck on, with the numbers that actually decide them rather than a feature grid.

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8 pages

• 4K vs 1080p Security Cameras

  4K has exactly twice the horizontal pixels of 1080p, which under EN 62676-4 DORI means it reaches an identify or recognise distance at twice the range.

• Bullet vs Dome Security Cameras

  A bullet camera aims where it points and looks like a deterrent. A dome hides its aim direction and resists tampering better on a reachable mount.

• Cat5e vs Cat6 for PoE Cameras

  Both Cat5e and Cat6 handle gigabit and PoE fine for a security camera. The real difference is conductor gauge, and copper versus copper clad aluminium.

• Local NVR vs Cloud Recording

  A local NVR writes footage to a drive you own with no monthly fee. Cloud recording holds your footage on someone else's server for a recurring price.

• microSD vs NVR Storage

  A high endurance microSD card holds a few days per camera on the camera itself. An NVR's hard drive centralizes storage for a whole system at once.

• NVR vs DVR

  An NVR takes IP cameras over Ethernet with PoE built in. A DVR takes analogue cameras over coax and needs a separate power run to every camera.

• PoE Switch vs PoE Injector

  An injector powers a single camera from a switch that has no PoE at all. A switch powers many cameras at once and is cheaper per port beyond a couple.

• PoE vs WiFi Security Cameras

  PoE cameras run power and video on one cable with no subscription. WiFi cameras skip the cable but add a battery, a signal and often a monthly fee.