In short: Choosing a Dahua IP camera comes down to four decisions: resolution, AI tier (WizSense or WizMind), lens type, and form factor. This guide covers each, with links to the models we stock. For the full technology explainers, see our range guides: WizSense, WizMind, Smart Dual Light, TiOC & Active Deterrence.
We stock Dahua IP cameras from 2MP up to 12MP. As a starting point:
2MP-4MP — general coverage: entrances, car parks, warehouse floors. Most of our range sits in this band, and it is enough for most sites.
5MP-6MP — a step up in usable detail for identifying faces or vehicle number plates at a reasonable distance, without a large jump in file size.
8MP (4K) and above — for wide areas covered by a single camera, or footage that may need cropping in after the fact and still hold up.
Higher resolution means more storage per camera — check your recorder's drive capacity and incoming bandwidth budget before specifying a whole site at 8MP.
WizSense or WizMind?
Both Dahua AI camera tiers run detection on an independent chip. WizSense handles detection and classification — is this a person, a vehicle. WizMind adds more processing power on top for recognition, people-counting and richer event metadata. If you mainly want reliable alerts and a searchable timeline, WizSense covers it; if you need recognition and reporting, WizMind is the tier to specify.
Lens type
A fixed lens (typically 2.8mm or 3.6mm) is cheaper and gives a set field of view — fine when the mounting position and distance are known in advance. A motorised vari-focal lens (commonly 2.7-13.5mm on our range) can be zoomed and focused remotely after the camera is up, which is worth the extra cost wherever the exact distance to the subject isn't fixed, or where one model needs to cover several different positions across a site.
Camera shape
Dome and eyeball housings are discreet and difficult to reposition by hand once mounted — a deterrent against tampering. Bullet cameras are the most visible, which makes them a stronger visual deterrent and the easiest to aim precisely on installation. We also stock fisheye and multi-sensor panoramic models for covering a wide area from a single fixed point, and mobile/vehicle-certified cameras for transport applications.
Frequently asked questions
What resolution do I need?
2-4MP for general coverage, 5-6MP for identifying detail at distance, 8MP+ for wide single-camera coverage or footage that may need cropping.
Should I choose WizSense or WizMind?
WizSense for detection and classification; WizMind adds recognition, people-counting and richer metadata on top.
Fixed lens or vari-focal?
Fixed is cheaper and set on installation; vari-focal can be remotely zoomed and focused after mounting.
Does camera shape matter?
Mostly discretion and tamper-resistance (dome/eyeball) versus visibility as a deterrent and ease of aiming (bullet).
