Before choosing a dome camera, however, systems integrators should verify the image quality of the built-in lens. One way to do this is to set up several camera models in a bench test to determine which one has the best image quality, advises Roger Fox, founder of Remote Video, a group of systems integrators with offices in Irvine, Calif., and several other major U.S. cities.
Depending on the installation, traditional box cameras, which require the purchase of a separate lens, can sometimes offer more flexibility than cameras with built-in lenses. A high-power zoom lens, for example, cannot easily fit into a domed housing. Additionally, some clients don’t want a camera that blends in with its surroundings, instead preferring people in the coverage area to know they’re under observation.