Dome cameras use a rounded housing that supports a discreet appearance, while mini-dome cameras provide a more compact, low-profile option for locations with limited space or where a less noticeable installation suits the project. Bullet cameras use an elongated housing for visible, directional coverage, and turret cameras use an adjustable, exposed lens design that can simplify aiming during installation.

When selecting commercial security cameras, compare four-megapixel and eight-megapixel resolutions, then match fixed or motorized varifocal lenses to the viewing area and desired framing flexibility. For low-light coverage, look for features such as infrared night vision, Color at Night imaging with supplemental white-light LEDs, and wide dynamic range (WDR) to help manage dark areas, bright backgrounds, and challenging contrast.

Commercial security cameras typically connect to a wired Ethernet network, with Power over Ethernet (PoE) allowing compatible cameras to receive power and data through one cable from an active PoE switch or NVR port. Recording can use onboard microSD storage, with supported capacity up to 512 GB on many models, or a compatible multi-channel NVR for centralized video management, while some cameras also support standalone recording through a mobile app.

Commercial security cameras can send video over a Power over Ethernet (PoE) network to a video management system or network video recorder (NVR) for live viewing, recording, playback, analytics, and centralized administration. Cameras that support ONVIF standards can connect with compatible platforms, while access control integrations may associate video with door events, alarms, or other activity when the camera, recorder, and platform support those functions.