The Definitive Guide to IP Vandal-Proof Dome-Style Security Cameras: An In-Depth Comparison of the NSC-Series Vandal Domes

Vandal Domes Everywhere!

Are you having a hard time deciding on a certain vandal dome camera? Can’t choose between 2MP, 4MP or 8MP? Varifocal or Fixed lens? Well today we are giving an in-depth post on comparing all of our IP vandal dome security cameras to give you the answers that you're looking for.

Dome, Bullet, Turret Comparison

First, we must answer this important question: why choose a vandal dome?

Vandal domes are our top selling style of camera compared to the bullet- or turret-style. Why? A couple of reasons. First, it’s much more difficult to spot where the camera is pointing. With bullets and turrets, you can easily see the direction of the camera. With domes, you cannot see where the camera is pointing unless you get right up to it.

Second, vandal domes get their name for being "vandal resistant." They are encased in a clear cover which protects against most acts of vandalism and weather conditions. This will ensure quality footage regardless of tampering or bad weather. Bullets and turrets, on the other hand, are more vulnerable to vandalism and tampering.

Now that we have talked about the benefits of vandal domes, let’s talk about the different models that we carry. First, we'll take a look at the three resolutions that we offer. Second, we'll show the differences between our fixed lens and varifocal lens vandal domes.

Resolution Comparison

We offer three resolutions with our vandal domes: 2MP (fixed lens), 4MP (fixed or varifocal lens), and 8MP (fixed or varifocal lens).

2MP Vandal Domes

Our 2MP cameras are 1080p. This is the lowest resolution that we offer. You can see in the picture below that even though the colors are a bit faded and the image isn't very sharp, it definitely gets the job done. At 30fps, you'll be able to see everything that's happening.

4MP Vandal Domes

Our 4MP cameras are 1440p. You can see here that there's a huge difference between the 4MP and the 2MP. The colors are clearer, the image is sharper, and everything just looks nicer. 4MP is really the sweet spot when it comes to resolution.

8MP Vandal Domes

Both 2 and 4MP pale in comparison to our 8MP models, which is 4K. As you can tell, everything is so much crisper and clearer and the color quality is great. Nothing else can even come close when it comes to 4K. This is the way to go if you're trying to get the highest resolution possible.

Which Resolution is Right for You?

There is a big difference between the three resolutions. The 2MP quality is much lower than the 4MP quality. But when you see the 8MP, it just blows the other two out of the water.

Based on the shots above, you might be tempted to go straight for the 4K resolution. But the 2MP and 4MP are still great cameras that do their job, and do it well. It all just comes down to your unique situation.

Digital vs. Optical Zooming

Now that we've seen all three resolutions, let's take a look at the difference between our fixed lens and varifocal lens vandal dome. It all comes down to the zoom. Our fixed lens vandal domes are limited to one distance with its 2.8mm lens. Our varifocal vandal domes have a focal range of 2.8-12mm.

That means if you want to zoom in on an image with our fixed lens domes, your only option is digital zooming. This is when you digitally enlarge a portion of the image itself. In turn, this enlarges the pixels, which reduces the image resolution and the overall image quality.

Check out this image of our back lot at Nelly's Security. We zoomed in on the cars, which makes the picture fuzzy and pixelated. This is where resolution comes back into play. You can see the 2MP image is affected by the digital zoom much more than either the 4MP or the 8MP. However, there will always be quality loss with digital zoom, even at 4K.

Our varifocal cameras, on the other hand, have a true zoom lens. It optically zooms, which means means the camera mechanically moves it’s lens in and out. Since the zoomed image holds it’s full resolution, these cameras produce much better quality images.

4MP Varifocal Lens Vandal Dome

8MP (4K) Varifocal Lens Vandal Dome

Side-By-Side Comparison

Which Lens Type is Right For You?

The varifocal cameras produce a much better quality image when it comes to zoom. So this leads to the inevitable question: why not just get a varifocal camera every time? The zoom quality is much better, but there are a couple of drawbacks. First is the size. Varifocal cameras are larger and bulkier than fixed lens cameras.

Second is the price point. You'll definitely pay the difference for the varifocal lens.

There are some benefits of using a varifocal camera. You can adjust the view of the camera on a specific area of concern, such as a doorway, the end of a driveway, or the other side of a parking lot or a large room. They also have built-in alarm and audio I/O and an integrated junction box.

But most customers end up getting a fixed lens camera with a wide field of view. This works just fine in most cases. But again, it all depends on your situation.

Durability Test

One of the biggest pros of the IP Dome Camera is its durability. According to the spec sheets for these cameras, they can withstand quite a beating, whether from vandals or hurricane-force winds. It's one thing to read about its durability, but we wanted to test this claim for ourselves. Kyle gave it a few good smacks with our Nelly's "safety stick." He barely scuffed the dome, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break the thing open.

Final Thoughts

If you're interested in a vandal dome camera but having trouble deciding on a particular model, I hope this blog post helped you with that decision. Whatever your unique situation calls for, whether it's a basic 1080p vandal dome or a varifocal 4K vandal dome, we carry both and everything in between at Nelly's Security. If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact us anytime.