Best 180-Degree Outdoor Security Camera

Most general-purpose security cameras (especially ones with a bullet or turret style chassis) have a relatively narrow horizontal field of view (FOV), covering up to 110 degrees horizontally. For 180-degree coverage, the obvious solution is to utilize a PTZ camera however they cannot cover a 180-degree angle in a single shot/frame.

Therefore, for continuous 180-degree coverage, we need a different set of cameras. These include cameras with either a very wide-angle fixed focus lens, a camera with multiple image sensors, or a fisheye lens.

Below, we will discuss these three types of 180-degree outdoor cameras and list our top picks and alternatives.

Best 180-Degree Outdoor Security Camera

180° Wide Angle Fixed Lens Security Cameras

The ease of installation is the main selling point of 180-degree fixed lens cameras. Unlike multi-sensor panoramic cameras and fisheye lenses, these are usually more compact and include an easy-to-install bullet-type chassis.

On top of that, these cameras perform better in low light because the footage is not stitched together from multiple image sensors. Also, they are more feasible for homeowners because of their low cost for each standalone system.

Unfortunately, these cameras are not suitable for the commercial and industrial sectors because they need constant maintenance and can accumulate monthly fees for online subscription services, especially when dozens of cameras and systems are involved.

Our top pick is the Arlo Ultra 2 Spotlight Camera. It is a battery-powered wireless camera with dual-band Wi-Fi and optional AC power.

The camera system includes a 1/2" image sensor with a fixed focus lens, and the 8MP sensor implies that the camera can record 4K footage at 3840x2160 resolution.

There are both infrared and spotlight-dependent full-color night vision, and the camera prioritizes cloud storage while offering MicroSD and USB local options as a backup. Therefore, almost all smart features such as object detection and remote viewing are locked behind a paywall.

Our runner-up is the Swann SWIFI-CAMW, a budget-friendly alternative with wireless data transmission. The camera supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and includes a rechargeable battery and support for solar panels.

The fixed-focus lens and 2MP camera (recording at 1080p) may not be very impressive, but it is one of the few budget-friendly cameras with continuous 180-degree horizontal FOV.

Like many modern consumer-friendly security cameras, many smart features and app functions are locked behind a paywall. Also, the local storage option is limited to eMMC, which is used to complement the cloud storage during a network failure. Therefore, unlike a MicroSD card or USB flash drive, the user cannot retrieve the footage locally.

180° Multi-Sensor Security Cameras

Multi-sensor security cameras, (as the name suggests) utilize multiple narrow-angle lenses to create an unobstructed 180-degree horizontal field of view. In other words, it stitches the footage of each lens in real-time before exporting it.

The benefit of these types of camera arrays is that the exported frames contain more vivid details at high resolution compared to fisheye lenses and wide-angle fixed-focus lenses. You also don't have the distortion of a fisheye lens.

These cameras are more suited to commercial applications and are bulkier and more expensive than conventional bullet-type cameras.

Our top pick is the Hikvision DS-2CD6924G0-IHS, a multi-sensor panoramic camera with PoE capabilities.

For maintaining a continuous 180-degree frame, this device utilizes a four-camera system. Each camera in this array includes a fixed focus lens that records footage at 2MP 1080p resolution. Therefore, the final result is 180-degrees of continuous coverage at a maximum 8MP resolution.

This multi-sensor camera works best with a compatible NVR. Nonetheless, it offers several alternatives such as MicroSD (256GB maximum capacity), NAS, and FTP. Also, there is support for ONVIF and RTSP.

The camera housing is primarily built from an aluminum alloy and includes an official IP67 weatherproof rating.

The Hanwha PNM-9031RV is a multi-sensor camera with a dome-style chassis. The camera array has four cameras placed horizontally to cover a 192-degree FOV, and the system stitches the footage from these four cameras to export it at a maximum resolution of 6720x2240.

This camera system can process footage with True WDR and supports a maximum of 20fps for the H.264 and H.265 codecs. (For MJPEG, the maximum fps is only 15.) Unfortunately, the camera can only output a single stream via PoE.

There are slots for two 256GB MicroSD cards (for a total of 512GB) along with support for ONVIF and RTSP protocols.

Pelco’s 12 MP Optera™ Multi-Sensor Panoramic IP Camera is an expensive feature-packed multi-sensor security camera and it uses PoE as the shared medium for power and data transmission.

Each camera in this four-camera array utilizes 1/3.2" CMOS sensors with fixed focus lenses. The maximum resolution of the stitched image is 2048x1536 (2K res), and this footage covers a continuous 180-degrees horizontally.

There is True WDR processing for the footage with a maximum supported framerate of 30fps. On top of that, this is one of the few panoramic security cameras that include starlight sensors for recording full-color night vision.

The Vivotek MS9390-HV is a dome-style multi-sensor camera with PoE functionality. It has a dual-camera configuration with fixed-focus lenses that export 8MP(4512x1728) resolution stitched footage.

There is support for True WDR, and the camera system can export up to four simultaneous video streams, each with a different framerate and resolution. The maximum supported framerate is 30fps at the highest 4512x1728 resolution.

The system supports ONVIF (S, G, and T profiles) and RTSP protocols and includes MicroSD/SDHC/ SDXC support alongside NAS, FTP, and NVR.

The housing for the camera is water-resistant at IP66 and can endure temperatures ranging from -4F to 131F.

180° Fisheye Security Cameras

Security cameras with fisheye lenses are another alternative for recording 180-degree footage. The great thing about fisheye lenses is that they can compact the 180-degrees (or 360-degrees) footage in a circular frame, making it easier to monitor multiple artifacts in the frame. (These can be humans, vehicles, or objects.)

Unfortunately, this fisheye effect can also be a disadvantage because most object recognition algorithms and human vision are more familiar with the conventional rectilinear format.

Our top pick is the AXIS M3057-PLVE Network Camera. This fisheye lens security camera uses PoE for power and data transmission with additional options for a MicroSD card, NAS, and FTP. (Also supports ONVIF and RTSP protocols.)

The maximum resolution of the exported footage is 6MP (3072x2048), and the fisheye lens allows for a complete 185-degree horizontal and vertical FOV. On top of that, the footage is processed using True WDR and supports a maximum framerate of 30fps for overview and dewarped footage at maximum resolution. (It can also export 1080p footage at 60fps.)

This fisheye lens camera has IP66 protection and includes an operating temperature range of -40F to 122F.

The Dahua 12 MP Network Fisheye Camera is an IP-based device with PoE for data transfer and optional DC/AC power.

The maximum resolution of the 9MP camera is 3000x3000 and covers 185-degrees horizontally and 180-degrees vertically.

Unfortunately, the system does not support True WDR. Instead, it relies on Digital WDR/HDR to improve the clarity and contrast of the footage. This system can export three separate streams, with the primary stream uploading 12MP (4000x3000) footage at 25fps.

The storage options include NVR, NAS, FTP, and MicroSD storage with 256GB onboard capacity. On top of that, it supports multiple interoperability protocols such as ONVIF, RTSP, CGI, and P2P.

The HIKVISION DS-2CD63C5G0E-IVS is a high-end fisheye security camera. It is an IP-based device that relies on PoE for electrical power and data transmission. (Including the optional DC power option.)

The 12-megapixel camera allows the fisheye lens to record footage at a maximum resolution of 4000x3000. On top of that, the fisheye lens covers a complete 360-degree FOV that includes post-processing features allowing it to seamlessly dewarp the fisheye effect.

The camera system can transmit two separate video streams. The primary stream (that prioritizes image quality over accessibility) includes the maximum 4000×3000 resolution at 20fps, while the substream handles 20fps footage at

either 720p (720x720) or 480p (640x480) resolution. (For faster remote viewing.)

Also, this is one of the few cameras to include an official IK10 rating.

The AvertX 9MP IR 360° Dome Camera has a fisheye lens with 3000x3000 (9MP) maximum resolution and a fixed focus lens.

The camera can export two separate audio streams, with either of these having the maximum possible framerate of 20fps. Also, the system supports only H.264 and H.265 codecs and processes footage using Digital WDR, the software-based version of True WDR.

This IP-based system relies solely on PoE for power and data transmission. Therefore, you will always need a PoE switch or PoE compatible NVR for this fisheye camera to work. (Class 3 48v 15W medium power PoE.)

The Avigilon H5A Fisheye Camera has a complete 360-degree FOV and records everything in a crystal clear 2K resolution of 2048x1536. The device is IP-based and includes a DC power receptacle on top of the existing class 3 PoE.

This camera records 2K footage at 2048x1536 resolution, and since it is a fisheye lens, the horizontal FOV is 360-degrees. The footage is processed using 120dB True WDR and compressed with H.264, H.265, or MJPEG codes. It exports three separate streams, each with a maximum framerate of 30fps.

Apart from NVR support, the device includes two MicroSD card slots. However, they need to be class 10 full HD-compatible cards.

Decision Factors when Choosing a 180-Degree Outdoor Security Camera

Budget

As you’ve figured out by now, there are three options when it comes to continuous 180-degree horizontal FOV. (Wide-angle lenses, multi-sensor cameras, and fisheye lenses) Each type has its moments, but as a general-purpose 180-degree outdoor camera: any of these will do just fine. However, you don’t need to use a $1000 fisheye camera to monitor your backyard, especially when there are wide-angle cameras for less than $300. So make sure to consider your budget and the installation location. 

Power Options

Most multi-sensor and fisheye lens security cameras need PoE for transferring footage. Most of them include the optional DC power adapter, but a few rare devices only offer a PoE interface. Therefore, we highly recommend taking note of the available power options. Otherwise, you will have to acquire an NVR or PoE switch. (Which is not a bad investment if you hope to expand in the future.)

IP rating

The IP rating is crucial for outdoor security cameras because this will decide the security camera’s resistance to dust and water. We suggest making it a habit to check the IP rating of every camera you come across. We always recommend going for either an IP66 or IP67 rating for outdoor cameras.

Storage Options

Another reason why you might need to purchase an NVR (apart from providing PoE electrical power for the cameras) is storage. Most multi-sensor and fisheye lens security cameras store footage with higher resolutions and include a separate stream (most often with lower resolution and framerates) for remote viewing. So before deciding on a device, make sure to check the storage options. Local options such as MicroSD are more cost-effective, but you won’t have access to remote viewing without an NVR or cloud storage. 

Night Vision

This is an essential requirement for outdoor security cameras. Since all security cameras include infrared, make sure to check for the specs, such as the maximum IR distance and minimum illumination for color. (On average, 33ft range and 0.01lux.) Full-color night vision is better than infrared, but some cameras may not include it or perform poorly without external ambient lighting. (For more about security cameras with full-color night vision, check out our list of the top-ten starlight/low-light security cameras.)

Conclusion

So there you have it, our list of the best 180-degree outdoor security cameras. In this lineup, we’ve gone over cameras with a single wide-angle lens, ones with multiple camera panoramic systems, and even cameras with fisheye lenses. Each type differs in how they record and export the footage, but all these cameras have a 180-degree horizontal FOV on every frame regardless.

Did we miss out on any noteworthy 180-degree outdoor cameras? Let us know in the comments.