Dome, turret or bullet? Choosing between Ajax TurretCam, BulletCam and DomeCam Mini
Ajax TurretCam, BulletCam and DomeCam Mini share the same resolutions (5 or 8 MP), lenses (2.8 or 4 mm), AI detection and detail distances. You are really choosing the body: TurretCam for most outside walls and soffits, BulletCam where you want the camera seen or need longer infrared, and DomeCam Mini for ceilings and short views. Then choose the lens, the resolution and whether you want colour at night.
Our turret, bullet and dome guide covers shapes across every brand we sell; this article sticks to the Ajax range and Ajax's own figures.
How do TurretCam, BulletCam and DomeCam Mini compare?
Ajax figures for the 5 MP, 2.8 mm models:
| TurretCam | BulletCam | DomeCam Mini | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size and weight | 103 × 98 × 98 mm, 475 g | 198 × 76 × 76 mm, 550 g | 113 × 60 mm, 360 g |
| Infrared reach | Up to 50 m | Up to 60 m | Up to 15 m |
| White light (HL versions) | Up to 50 m | Up to 50 m | Up to 15 m |
| Weather and impact rating | IP66, IK08 | IP66, IK08 | IP66, IK08 |
| Our price from, inc VAT | £122.89 | £122.89 | £122.89 |
Prices include VAT. Delivery is extra and prices can change.
All of them pick out people, pets and vehicles, handle line-crossing, have 120 dB True WDR, a microphone and a microSD slot, and run on PoE or 12 V. The dome's lights reach less than a third as far as the others, and it is not the tough one here: all three are IK08. Of the cameras we list, the IK10-rated one is the BulletCam HLVF varifocal (£262.60), which is also IP67.
Which shape goes where?
- TurretCam: soffits, eaves and walls above head height. The compact body sits neatly under a roofline. The TurretCam (5 MP/2.8 mm) is £122.89, or £164.29 for 8 MP.
- BulletCam: gates, yards and long side passages. It is plainly a camera, useful when you want it seen, and the standard 5 MP model (£122.89) lists infrared up to 60 m. For a distant view, the BulletCam HLVF's motorised 2.8 to 12 mm lens narrows from 111° to 31°, focuses itself, warns you if someone tries to move it, and adds alarm and audio connections for other equipment.
- DomeCam Mini: ceilings, porches, canopies and indoors. Smaller and lighter than the other two, at 360 g. Keep it to views within its 15 m light range, and fit it high if it would otherwise be in reach. The DomeCam Mini (5 MP/2.8 mm) is £122.89, or £164.29 for 8 MP.
2.8 mm or 4 mm: which lens do you need?
The lens trades width for detail. Ajax quotes DORI distances: how far away each camera can detect, observe, recognise and identify a person. Identification, telling who someone is, needs more detail than the other three.
| Camera | Horizontal view | Recognise up to | Identify up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 MP, 2.8 mm | 100° to 110° | 13 m | 6.5 m |
| 5 MP, 4 mm | 75° to 85° | 17.2 m | 8.6 m |
| 8 MP, 2.8 mm | 100° to 110° | 18 m | 9 m |
A worked example: a front gate 8 m from the camera. A 5 MP, 2.8 mm camera identifies to 6.5 m, so a face at the gate falls short. The DomeCam Mini HL with a 4 mm lens (£150.05) reaches 8.6 m but sees a narrower scene. An 8 MP, 2.8 mm TurretCam or DomeCam Mini (£164.29) reaches 9 m and keeps the wide view.
A 2.8 mm lens suits a wide garden, yard or room; a narrow approach suits 4 mm or a varifocal. Ajax makes a 4 mm version of each fixed-lens model here; the HL dome above is the only one we list at present.
Do you need an HL camera for colour at night?
HL models add white LEDs to the infrared, and Ajax lists colour images down to 0.005 lux. Colour helps when you need to describe a car or someone's clothing afterwards.
- Cost: £27.16 more at 5 MP. The BulletCam HL (5 MP/2.8 mm) is £150.05, against £122.89 for the standard BulletCam. At 8 MP, TurretCam HL and DomeCam Mini HL are £201.80, £37.51 more than the standard versions.
- Neighbours: a bright light coming on at night gets noticed, so aim HL cameras at your own property.
Indoors: IndoorCam or DomeCam Mini?
The Ajax IndoorCam (£191.69) works differently. It connects over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, with a 4 MP sensor, a 110° view, a PIR sensor that detects movement up to 4 m, infrared to 8 m, and a speaker and microphone for two-way talk. It is rated IP20, for indoor use only, and Ajax lists no memory card slot, so it records to an Ajax NVR or Ajax Cloud Storage.
Pick IndoorCam for two-way talk over Wi-Fi, and a wired DomeCam Mini for PoE, card recording or 8 MP.
What do you need to fit and record Ajax cameras?
- A recorder. The Ajax NVR (8-ch) is £199.22 and the 16-channel version £252.25. Each takes one SATA drive of up to 16 TB, sold separately (see our CCTV hard drives), and also records ONVIF and RTSP cameras from other makers.
- Power. Ajax lists no PoE ports on the NVR, so the cameras need a PoE switch (802.3af/at) or a 12 V supply.
- A junction box. The JunctionBox (118×59) (£25.87) is an IP66 box behind the camera, with a PG21 cable gland and a seal for one or two cables. Ajax lists it for TurretCam, BulletCam and DomeCam Mini.
- A wall mount. The MountCam A2 wall mount (£54.10) is 174 mm long, with pre-drilled fixings, room for cables and slots for pole straps. Ajax lists it for all three, but not for BulletCam HLVF.
- An alarm, if you want one. With an Ajax wireless alarm, a triggered detector can make chosen cameras record and send the clip to the app.
Microphones, neighbours and UK privacy rules
Each of these cameras has a built-in microphone that records sound once it is set to. Two pieces of ICO guidance apply:
- At home. The ICO's home CCTV guidance treats people's images and voices as personal information. Point cameras at your own property where you can. If they capture beyond your boundary, data protection law applies: you need a clear reason, a sign and regular deletion.
- At a business. The ICO's video surveillance guidance says audio should be off by default and used only in exceptional cases, because recording conversations is highly intrusive, and that each camera should focus on the space you need.
Our advice: leave audio off unless you have a specific reason.
Our take
For a typical house, a 5 MP TurretCam with a 2.8 mm lens at the corners of the roofline is a sensible start, with a BulletCam for a long drive or side passage and a dome in the porch or garage. Spend more on 8 MP or the 4 mm DomeCam Mini HL where you need faces further away, and on HL where colour after dark matters. Browse the full range of Ajax cameras and NVRs.
We are a supplier, not an installer, trading since 2012 from our Wolverhampton trade counter. We can recommend a qualified installer depending on the job and area.
Not sure which camera suits each spot? Call 01902 902251 or get in touch online. We ship nationally to England, Scotland and Wales.
Quick questions
Is the Ajax DomeCam Mini vandal-resistant?
It has the same IK08 rating as TurretCam and BulletCam. For IK10 among the cameras we list, look at BulletCam HLVF.
Which of the three sees further in the dark?
BulletCam. The standard 5 MP model lists infrared up to 60 m (50 m on the 8 MP and HL versions), against 50 m for TurretCam and 15 m for DomeCam Mini.
Can Ajax cameras record to another make of NVR?
Ajax lists ONVIF Profile G and S conformance for TurretCam, BulletCam and DomeCam Mini. Check the recorder's ONVIF support first.
Can IndoorCam go outside?
No. It is rated IP20 for indoor use only.
Source: Ajax Systems blog, Dome vs bullet camera, and Ajax product specifications. UK sources: ICO, Home CCTV systems; ICO, video surveillance guidance for organisations.
