Established in Hull in 1992 — Fire & Security Systems Across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire & the Humber

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Commercial CCTV camera
CCTV camera guide

Which CCTV Camera for Which Job?

Turret, dome, bullet, panoramic, PTZ, thermal and ANPR cameras explained: what each does, where it works best and the typical features to expect. Brand-neutral advice from local engineers.

Camera finder

Which CCTV camera is right for your site?

Choose a camera type to see what it does, where it works best and the typical features to expect. We confirm the right mix for every position at a free site survey.

Illustration. We install and maintain all leading brands.

Our most-fitted camera

Turret cameras

A compact, adjustable camera for walls and ceilings, inside or out. There is no glass dome, so there is no infrared glare at night, which gives the clearest all-round picture for most commercial sites.

  • 4–6MP typical
  • Infrared to about 30m
  • Person and vehicle detection
  • IP67 weatherproof
  • Built-in mic option
Best for
Entrances, offices, yards
Typical range
Identifies a face to about 6m with a 2.8mm lens
Watch out for
Wider lenses trade distance for coverage
Ask about turret cameras for your site

Illustration. We install and maintain all leading brands.

Discreet and vandal-resistant

Dome cameras

The lens sits behind a tough dome, so it is hard to see where the camera is pointing and hard to tamper with. Motorised zoom versions can be adjusted remotely after installation.

  • 5MP typical
  • Remote zoom
  • Infrared to about 30m
  • IK10 vandal-rated
Best for
Receptions, corridors, public areas
Typical range
2.8–12mm motorised zoom
Watch out for
The dome needs keeping clean to avoid night-time glare
Ask about dome cameras for your site

Illustration. We install and maintain all leading brands.

Visible deterrent

Bullet cameras

A clearly visible camera with long-range night vision. Used along fence lines, building elevations and car parks where you want people to know they are being recorded.

  • 4–6MP typical
  • Long-range infrared
  • Person and vehicle detection
  • IP67 weatherproof
Best for
Perimeters, car parks
Typical range
Infrared typically 30–80m
Watch out for
Easier to knock or spray than a dome
Ask about bullet cameras for your site

Illustration. We install and maintain all leading brands.

One camera, wide view

180° panoramic cameras

Two lenses stitched into one seamless 180° picture, replacing two or three standard cameras on a corner or open area. Many include lights, a siren and a speaker for two-way talk.

  • About 8MP stitched
  • 180° view
  • Infrared and warm light
  • Two-way talk
Best for
Building corners, playgrounds, yards
Typical range
180° coverage, infrared to about 25m
Watch out for
A wide view means less detail at distance
Ask about 180° panoramic cameras for your site

Illustration. We install and maintain all leading brands.

Large open areas

PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras

One camera that pans, tilts and zooms to follow activity across a yard or car park. Auto-tracking versions lock on to a person or vehicle and follow them automatically.

  • 25x optical zoom
  • Infrared to about 150m
  • Auto-tracking
  • IP67 / IK10
Best for
Yards, depots, estates
Typical range
25x zoom, infrared up to about 150m
Watch out for
It only sees where it is pointing
Ask about ptz (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras for your site

Illustration. We install and maintain all leading brands.

Detection in darkness

Thermal cameras

Detects people and vehicles by body and engine heat, so it works in total darkness, fog and smoke. Many also detect overheating and fire. Paired with a standard lens for a usable image.

  • Works in total darkness
  • Person and vehicle detection
  • Heat and fire detection
  • IP66–67
Best for
Perimeters, remote and high-risk sites
Typical range
Tens to hundreds of metres
Watch out for
Not for identifying faces
Ask about thermal cameras for your site

Illustration. We install and maintain all leading brands.

Vehicles and access

ANPR number plate cameras

Reads number plates at entrances and exits, checks them against your lists and can open a barrier for approved vehicles. Available across most leading camera manufacturers.

  • Lane-specific lens
  • Infrared for plates at night
  • Allow and block lists
Best for
Car parks, gates, yards
Typical range
Plates to about 30m at up to 70mph
Watch out for
Camera angle and lighting are critical
Ask about anpr number plate cameras for your site

We install and maintain cameras from all leading manufacturers, including NDAA-compliant ranges for public-sector and high-security sites.

Image detail

How much detail do you need?

Every camera position is designed for a purpose. We agree the purpose of each one at survey, then choose the camera, lens and position to match.

  1. 1

    Detect

    About 25 px/m

    See that a person or vehicle is there.

  2. 2

    Observe

    About 62 px/m

    See what someone is doing and how they are dressed.

  3. 3

    Recognise

    About 125 px/m

    Recognise someone you already know.

  4. 4

    Identify

    About 250 px/m

    Identify a stranger beyond reasonable doubt. SPS designs these views to 120% screen height.

Pixels per metre (px/m) is the amount of image detail across one metre of the scene.

FAQs

Camera questions

Long-standing Home Office guidance is that a person should fill at least 100% of the screen height to be identified; modern standards express this as about 250 pixels per metre. SPS designs identification views to 120%. We agree the purpose of each camera (detect, observe, recognise or identify) at survey.

Yes. Cameras switch to infrared black and white in the dark, or stay in colour where there is enough light or the camera has its own white light. For evidence-quality footage at night we often recommend extra lighting or colour-at-night cameras.

Yes. For public-sector and high-security sites we supply NDAA-compliant cameras and recorders.

With remote health monitoring, your system is checked every hour. If recording stops, a camera goes offline or a hard drive starts failing, we are alerted and act on it, rather than you finding out when you need the footage.

Not sure which cameras you need?

We'll survey your site and recommend the right camera for every position.

Accreditations

Why trust SPS Technical

Independently certified, working to British Standards. Check every accreditation on the official register.

SSAIB

Registration HUMB018

Intruder alarms to PD 6662, CCTV to SSAIB Code of Practice SS2003, access control to SS2002, and fire alarm systems

Verify at ssaib.org

BAFE SP203-1

Certificate 104302 · Organisation ID 303286

Fire alarm design, installation, commissioning and maintenance to BS 5839-1

Verify at bafe.org.uk

ISO 9001 and ISO 14001

1208-QMS-001 · 1208-EMS-001

Quality and environmental management, certified by Alcumus ISOQAR. ISO 9001 held since 1997

Safety and procurement

CHAS-0004703 · Constructionline 92018 · SafeContractor PE5040

SSIP health and safety approval, procurement registration and Paxton Gold Installer status

Police-response intruder alarms

For intruder alarms, SPS Technical is an approved installer of police-response systems with the following forces, so your intruder alarm can be issued a police Unique Reference Number (URN) under the NPCC Police Requirements for Security Systems.

  • Humberside Police
  • Lincolnshire Police
  • North Yorkshire Police
  • South Yorkshire Police
  • West Yorkshire Police
  • Nottinghamshire Police
  • Derbyshire Constabulary
  • Greater Manchester Police

Police approval applies to intruder alarms only.

Since 1992

Established in Hull

1,750+

Systems maintained

2,850+

Scheduled service visits a year

4

Regional offices: Hull, Grimsby, Lincoln, Sheffield

Trusted across universities, NHS and healthcare, local authorities, schools and academy trusts, logistics and industrial sites, transport, and stadiums and venues.

Reviewed by the SPS Technical team · Last updated October 2026

Full accreditation details