When building a home or business surveillance system, one of the first questions you're going to face is: What kind of security cameras do I actually need? With so many camera styles and features available today, it’s important to match the camera to the purpose and placement. At Montavue, we offer a wide variety of security cameras to fit every surveillance need—whether you're looking for basic coverage or specialized protection.
Let’s break down how to figure out where you want your cameras, and how to choose the right ones for those locations.
Step 1: Understanding Camera Styles
For relatively basic cameras, there are three styles to choose from, Turret, Bullet, and Dome. For example our Peak AI 3.0 Series cameras, the MTT8108-X, MTB8108-X, and MTD8108-X are all the same camera internally. Those three cameras are 4K 30FPS with SMD 4.0, just in different style housings. Keep in mind there are models of cameras that only come in one style or another like the turret MTT8106-SMD. There are other specialty styles such as PTZ and Fisheye that take on a different shape.
Turret Cameras
Turret cameras are a popular choice thanks to their compact design and flexible mounting options. They’re great for:
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Front and back doors
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Garages
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Interior spaces
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Outdoor areas with overhead eaves
Their design reduces glare from IR LEDs at night, making them ideal for nighttime visibility.
Bullet Cameras
Bullet cameras are a popular choice for both residential and commercial installations due to their distinct, professional appearance.
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Highly visible, which can act as a deterrent to intruders
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Sleek and directional—great for businesses wanting a clean, modern aesthetic
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Easy to mount on walls or ceilings, especially at entrances, perimeters, and parking areas
Dome Cameras
Vandal Dome cameras are sleek and often preferred for outdoor environments or public-facing businesses. Their vandal-proof durability provides peace of mind. At Montavue, we tested them ourselves thoroughly. We've hit them with bats, metal pipes, even threw large rocks at them and they were still in-tact. Seriously tough!
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Low-profile design is less noticeable
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IK10 rated Vandal-proof housing
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Ideal for higher crime areas, especially those prone to vandalism
Specialty Camera Features
Specialtiy cameras such as our Vari-Focals, Active Deterrence, and Panoramic 180 Degree cameras commonly appear as Turrets, Bullets or Domes. Other cameras like Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) and Fisheyes usually have very distinct shapes. Some cameras have multiple specialty features like our MTZ8250-AD which is a PTZ camera with Active Detterence.
Active Deterrence Cameras
Active Deterrence cameras take security a step further by actively warding off intruders with red and blue police style lights, sirens, and two-way audio. Check out our MTT8106-AD-AP!
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Ideal for driveways, yards, and loading docks
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Helps prevent crime before it happens
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Great for remote areas with lower visibility
- Allows you communicate through the camera
PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) Cameras
Perfect for monitoring wide areas like parking lots or large yards. PTZ cameras let you move the view and zoom in remotely. Some models such as our MTZ8250-X even have Auto-Tracking!
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Covers large areas with a single camera
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Can automatically track motion
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Great for active monitoring situations
- Other cameras motion detection can trigger PTZs to move to assigned presets via PTZ Linkage!
Panoramic 180-Degree and Fisheye Cameras
Need to cover a whole room or open area with a single camera? Panoramic and Fisheye are great options if you can't have blind spots.
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180° Cameras: Perfect for covering wide open areas like driveways, side yards, and hallways
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Fisheye Cameras: Offer full 360° panoramic views—ideal for ceiling-mounted installations in lobbies, retail environments, or a large living room. Available in 5MP 2K and 12MP 6K!
License Plate Reader Camera
Want to keep tabs on vehicle traffic? Our MTB4-ANPR-VF license plate reading camera is built specifically to capture plate numbers accurately, even at night or high speeds.
- Capture snapshots of License Plates and Vehicles which save in the NVRs database
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Monitor entrances/exits of properties
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Perfect for gated communities, parking lots, or business access control
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Designed to minimize glare and motion blur
Step 2: Plan Your Camera Placement
Before picking out your cameras, take time to walk your property and decide what areas need coverage. Ask yourself:
- Do you need 2K or 4K cameras? (2K is more affordable, 4K has better clarity)
- How many will be inside and/or outside?
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Do you want to monitor entrances, driveways, backyards, or blind spots?
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Are there high-traffic or high-value areas you want to keep an eye on?
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Are there long distances you need to see, or are you focused on tighter spaces?
Mapping out your coverage goals will help determine the number and type of cameras you need.
Final Thoughts: Build the Right System for You
At the end of the day, the best security camera system is the one that fits your specific needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, which is why Montavue offers a wide range of camera types and features. Whether you're protecting a small home or a large commercial property, the key is to:
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Map your high-priority areas.
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Match the right camera type to each location.
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Choose quality cameras that offer clear video, night vision, and smart features to suit your lifestyle or business operations.
Need help designing your system? Our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way—from planning to installation and beyond.
Contact Montavue today to get started with a customized camera solution that works for you! (406) 272-3479 or (888) 508-3110
