What is a Bullet Camera and How to Choose the Right One

Tired of guessing who’s outside your door or what’s happening in your backyard while you’re away? A bullet camera could be exactly what you need to feel more at ease. With its long, tube-like shape and easy setup, this type of security camera is great for keeping an eye on things day or night, rain or shine. This blog covers everything you need to know about bullet cameras. Keep reading to find the right fit for you.

What Is a Bullet Camera?

A bullet camera is a kind of security (CCTV) camera with a long, cylindrical shape. It’s called “bullet” because it looks like a bullet or tube. These cameras are mostly fixed in one direction. The design helps when you want a clear, pointed view at an entryway or long path. They often come with weatherproofing so they can be placed outdoors, and you’ll see them with infrared or color night vision modes to capture images even in low light.

What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Bullet Cameras?

Not every camera fits every space. Before picking a bullet camera, it helps to know what it does best, and what it doesn’t.

Advantages of Bullet Cameras

Bullet cameras shine in a few key ways:

• Long-Range Focus: Dueto their shape and lens design, bullet cameras are great for watching driveways, gates, or long stretches of yard. You get crisp details from farther away.
• Visible Deterrent:Because they’re easy to spot, bullet cameras often discourage trespassers. Someone seeing one tends to think twice.
• Weather Toughness:Many bullet models are built for outdoors — sealed against rain, dust, even extreme temps (look for IP65-to-IP67 ratings) so they keep working in rough conditions.
• Simple Installation and Aim:Mounting a bullet camera is generally straightforward. Once it’s fixed, you can angle it easily. It’s not a huge job to install, adjust, or maintain.
• High Resolution and Night Vision:Modern bullet cameras often support 1080p to 4K video and include infrared LEDs or low-light sensors for sharp images after d

Limitations of Bullet Cameras

There are trade-offs you’ll want to think through:

• Easy to Spot: Their visible shape can be a plus, but it also makes them targets for tampering. Installing them high or in sturdy brackets can help.
• Narrower Field of View: While theysee far, bullet cameras often cover less side-to-side area. To monitor wide zones, you may need more units or combine them with wide-angle cameras.
• Low-Light Challenges:Even with infrared night vision, cheaper lenses or small sensors may show noise in very dark settings.
• Regular Maintenance: The exposed lens of a bullet camera easily gathers dust, rain spots, or webs. Cleaning it regularly keeps footage sharp, prevents blur, and helps the lens stay in good condition.

Where Are Bullet Cameras Commonly Used?

Outdoors, they’re well-suited for parking lots, walkways, and perimeter fencing where seeing far ahead matters. On the business side, bullet cams show up at loading docks, building exteriors, and along long corridors in warehouses. They’re also used in commercial sites like gas stations or shops where you want visible deterrents. Public spaces aren’t left out: you’ll see bullet cameras around traffic intersections, airports, and hospitals where wide-zone surveillance and night visibility are essential. If you’re exploring broader choices for yard or driveway coverage, eufy’s Outdoor Security Cameras lineup offers several weatherproof models, making it easy to match cameras with your space. 

How to Choose the Right Bullet CCTV Camera for Your Needs?

Picking a bullet CCTV camera that matches your situation means considering more than just price. Think through what you’re protecting, where it will sit, and how good you need the picture to be.

1. Location and Field of View

First, ask where you’ll mount it and what you want to capture. If it’s watching a front door, driveway, or backyard, you don’t need a camera that covers everything. You want one that sees exactly what matters. The distance between the camera and the subject, and how wide or narrow that area is, will shape every other decision.

2. Resolution

Look at resolution, which is how sharp the image is. A 1080p camera is okay for many uses. But if you want to see faces clearly or read a license plate, aim for 2K or 4K. Just remember: higher resolution gives more detail, but it also demands more storage and stronger network performance.

3. Lens, Focal Length andField of View

The lens and its focal length influence how much of the scene the camera can see (its field of view). A wide-angle lens lets you see a broader scene, which is great for covering open ground. But if you want to zoom in on a far spot, a narrower lens (or one with adjustable zoom) helps you see distant things clearly. Fixed lenses are cheaper but less flexible—if your camera stays fixed, you’ll want the lens to match the location well from the start.

4. Night Vision and Low-Light Performance

Night vision and low-light performance are absolutely critical. A camera that looks good by day but turns into a blur at night is a letdown. Cameras often use infrared LEDs to light things invisibly in darkness. You’ll see a spec for how far the night vision can reach.

Also check how well the camera performs in dim light before it switches to pure infrared. A model with smart IR (which adjusts strength so objects close to the camera don’t get washed out) can make a big difference.

5. Durability

Because bullet cameras are often outdoors, durability matters a lot. Look for an IP rating—something like IP65, IP66, or IP67. The higher the numbers, the better it resists dust and water.

Also check the operating temperature: if winters or summers are extreme where you live, your camera must handle those temperatures. Strong outer housing and sealed joints help long-term survival.

6. Power and Connectivity

Power and connectivity go hand in hand. The slickest option is PoE (Power over Ethernet), where a single cable carries both power and data. If that’s not doable, you’ll see designs that require separate power wires or WiFi connection. Wireless is nice, but signal strength and reliability matter—no point in having a camera that drops off when something’s happening.

7. Storage and Recording

Recording video without storage is pointless. Some cameras save to an SD card or local recorder (DVR/NVR). That gives you full control and no subscription fees, but if someone steals the camera, you might lose the footage.

Cloud storage sends video offsite, so even if the camera is gone, the video is safe. But cloud usually costs money. A hybrid setup—local plus cloud—is often the best balance.

8. Smart Features

A “smart” camera helps reduce false alerts and makes life easier. Features like motion detection, person or vehicle detection, two-way audio, and “activity zones” let you focus on what matters and ignore the rest. If the camera can process data locally (called edge AI), it won’t send everything over the network—saves bandwidth and avoids clutter.

Recommended Bullet Security Cameras in 2025

If you’re after dependable security gear, eufy’s eufyCam series deserves attention. Every model in this line is built around a bullet camera design, known for clear imaging and solid outdoor performance.

eufy PoE Bullet Security Camera E40

The eufy PoE Bullet Security Camera E40 is a bullet cam made for crisp detail and steady recording. It is a dependable option for homes or small businesses that want simple installation and consistent performance.

• It captures 4K video with a wide 122-degree field of view, so you can see driveways, gates, or garden paths without blind spots.
• Color night vision, supported by a starlight sensor and optional spotlight, keeps images sharp even after dark.
• The camera also uses on-board AI to tell people, vehicles, and pets apart, cutting down on false alerts.
• Installation is straightforward, and the camera’s IP67 weather rating keeps it dependable even in heavy rain or dust.

eufyCam S4

To make home protection even stronger, the new eufyCam S4 blends a traditional bullet lens with PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) technology, giving you both steady coverage and smart tracking in one unit.

• It combines a 4K bullet camera on top with a 2K PTZ module below, letting you pan, tilt, and zoom on activity without losing the broader scene.
• Its LED spotlights support vivid color night vision, while radar and PIR sensors help the camera detect motion accurately.
• A rugged IP65 weather rating keeps the eufyCam S4 safe from dust, rain, and snow, making it ideal for porches, yards, or driveways.
• An 8x hybrid zoombrings distant details closer without blurring, perfect for spotting plates or faces.

Conclusion

A well-chosen bullet camera can make day-to-day monitoring far simpler, giving you clear views and steady protection without fuss. As technology improves, these cameras offer sharper resolution, better night vision, and smarter detection to fit different homes and budgets. When you’re ready to upgrade, explore eufy’s latest models and see how they can strengthen your home’s security.

FAQs

What is a bullet camera?

A bullet camera is a type of CCTV security camera with a slim, tube-like body. It’s designed to focus on specific areas, making it great for monitoring doors, driveways, or property edges. Many models handle outdoor weather, record in high resolution, and offer night vision so you can see clearly day or night.

Which one is better, a dome or bullet camera?

It depends on your space. Dome cameras blend into ceilings and are harder to spot, which works well indoors or in busy public areas. Bullet cameras are easier to aim and give longer-range views, making them a solid choice for yards, driveways, and building exteriors. Choose based on visibility needs and coverage distance.

Is bullet camera good?

Yes. A quality bullet camera offers sharp video, weather protection, and night vision, making it reliable for home or business security. It’s also simple to position toward specific spots, such as a gate or walkway. Look for models with strong resolution and good infrared or color night vision if you want clear footage after dark.

When to use a bullet camera?

Use a bullet camera when you need clear, focused surveillance over a set area, especially outdoors. They’re perfect for driveways, fences, parking areas, or hallways where you want a fixed view and an obvious deterrent. For wide spaces, consider pairing bullet cameras with other styles for complete coverage.