Axis Dome IP Cameras are compact surveillance solutions. Built to last and packed with intelligent features, Axis dome cameras are trusted for critical security applications the world over.
But sometimes you need to replace the camera’s dome cover. Or perhaps you want to upgrade the cover that came in the box with the camera.
The important thing to know is this: dome covers are specific to camera models. A dome that fits one camera in all likelihood will not fit a different model of camera. You can’t just buy any old dome cover and expect it to fit your camera. Third-party camera covers are a total gamble and in all likelihood will not work.
Here’s a question we get pretty often:
Where do you find the dimensions for a dome cover?
In most cases, manufacturers don’t provide dimensions for their domes. Even if they did, fit could still be an issue because of how they mount.
There are numerous dimensions that are tough to measure. In particular, the height of a dome and its curve are extremely important and extremely difficult to match.
Even if you find a third-party cover that matches the dimensions perfectly, the way you attach it to the camera can be incorrect. Dome covers have specific screw holes or twisting attachment patterns. If you get a spare dome that needs to be attached with screws but the camera has a thread pattern for screwing the dome cover onto it, you are, well, screwed.
It is risky to use a cover that doesn’t fit, especially when it comes to environmental and vandal resistance. It doesn’t take much water or dust to ruin your video, let alone what someone with a hammer can do.
You must find the correct, compatible dome cover for your dome camera.
How to find the right cover for your dome camera
So how do you find the correct dome for your security camera? You have to go to the manufacturer.
We’d like to be able to provide you with complete, accurate, and up-to-date accessory information for every product. However, the complexity and changing nature of product lines as new devices are released, old devices go out of stock, and compatibility changes mid-cycle (which does happen!) means we can’t ensure 100% accuracy.
Always check the camera manufacturer’s website for up-to-date compatibility information.
Here’s an example of how we would find the right cover for an Axis dome camera.
Axis Q3626-VE is a recently released outdoor dome security camera with 4 MP video resolution, electronic image stabilization, natively intelligent features, and more.
If we were trying to find the right dome cover for this camera, here’s our process:
1. Visit the Axis Q3626-VE page on Axis’s website (external link) and click the “Accessories” tab:
2. Under Type, click “Housings & cabinets”:
3. You’ll see all the current compatible dome covers:
For this camera, there is only one available spare dome cover: Axis TQ3809-E. There’s your answer.
Now, this dome cover comes in two varieties: clear and smoked. Let’s go a bit deeper.
What kind of dome covers are there?
We just wanted to end with a bit of a surveillance camera dome cover glossary, so if you have options for compatible dome covers for your IP camera, you’ll know what the options mean.
There are two basic colors of dome covers: clear and smoked. The clear ones are, well, clear. Smoked dome covers are darker. They’re used to disguise the direction that the camera is pointing, making it more discreet.
Another term you might see is “hydrophilic.” Hydrophilic means that it attracts water, which sounds like something you wouldn’t want in a camera cover, but which actually means that the cover is designed to prevent waterdrops from forming. No waterdrops, better video. It also adds a self-cleaning effect to the dome, helping rain to carry away dust and dirt.
Some Axis domes add abrasion and/or chemical resistance, which are necessary in certain environments like manufacturing or oil and gas.
The covers might be IK rated against impacts, which means they’re tested for ruggedness and vandal-resistance. They might be useful in correctional institutions and other places where vandalism might occur.
Some domes are IR-shielded, which means that the dome is designed to prevent reflections from a camera’s built-in infrared (IR) lights.
Weathershields and sunshields aren’t strictly dome covers, but are very useful when the camera is mounted in an exposed location. They add a horizontal projecting shield, like a baseball cap’s visor, to protect the camera from rain or sunshine.