Ideal Application: internal areas where a more discrete installation is required and where the environment offers good lighting for the required recording periods and where consistent temperature is maintained.

The 205 camera is a highly compact, but versatile little device. Designed specifically for internal mounting, the flat profile of this camera means it sits neatly on any wall and is particularly discreet. This is a recent generation of camera released late in 2003 and incorporates a huge amount of technology for the investment. It has already scooped many awards for its design and innovation.

Ideal Application: internal areas where a more discrete installation is required and where the environment offers good lighting for the required recording periods and where consistent temperature is maintained. The 206 is very similar to a 205 but can operate in lower light. The 206M is a higher-resolution version of the 206 series chassis offering very high detail from a remarkably small unit. The 206W is, essentially, a 206 unit further incorporating a wireless networking interface.

Based on the 205 chassis, these cameras are designed specifically for internal mounting as the flat profile of this camera means it sits neatly on any wall and is particularly discreet. The 206M (1.3 megapixel) offers enhanced imagery over the 205 and 206W and is aimed at applications requiring a higher level of close-up detail or a broader, wide-angle, view- such as an installation above a cash register.

Where appropriate, the 206W offers wireless networking (802.11b). Suitable more for office spaces where the aesthetics of the installation are more important and where consistent wireless network connectivity is available.

Ideal Application: internal areas where a very high quality image is required and where the environment offers good lighting for the required recording periods and where consistent temperature is maintained. This unit is more suited to slightly lower light conditions than the 205 and 206-series above.

The 210 camera became available in April 2004. Also designed specifically for internal mounting, this camera employs the use of 'progressive scan', MJPEG and MPEG-4 formatted data for exceptional quality digital imagery. Also incorporating built-in motion detection, this is a new generation of camera that will ultimately replace the 2100 unit (see below) as a preferred choice in many installations.

This unit is not suitable for any external installation since direct sunlight can damage its image sensor (see how a camera works for more information).

Ideal Application: internal areas where quality imagery is required and where the environment offers good lighting for the required recording periods and where consistent temperature is maintained. This unit has the added benefit of supporting audio.

The 2100 was among the first generation of cameras produced by Axis. Suitable as an indoor-only device, it is a fully featured camera nonetheless. The 210 cameras listed above have, in many ways, superceded this unit - not least because of their more compact packaging, superior image sensor and greater frames/sec capability. However the 2100 remains a great workhorse for monitoring internal spaces and has the added benefit (over the 205,206 and 210) of supporting audio module connectivity without running to the expense of the 211A camera.

This unit is not suitable for any external installation since direct sunlight can damage its image sensor (see how a camera works for more information).

Ideal Application: internal/external areas where quality imagery is required and where the environment offers good lighting for the required recording periods and where consistent temperature is maintained. This unit can be mounted externally in an enclosure and has the added benefit of supporting audio.

Of the same generation as the 2100, the 2110 is an ideal choice for indoor and outdoor applications. Whilst fully capable of indoor work, the unit is also the most basic of the external-capable units. Incorporating a manual focus and zoom and slightly lower resolution than other, more feature-rich, units. Most recently superceded by the 211-series but still a decent camera nonetheless.

This unit is suitable for external installation when enclosed in a temperature-controlled enclosure. How a camera works

Ideal Application: internal or external areas where audio capability is a requirement.

The 211A camera is the market-leading 211 fixed-position IP camera extended further to include the functionality of the 2191 audio module - all wrapped in a compact design. This camera employs the use of 'progressive scan', MPEG-4 and MJPEG formatted data for exceptional quality digital imagery. Also incorporating built-in motion detection, this is a new generation of camera that will ultimately replace the 2110 unit (see above) as a preferred choice in many installations.

Additionally the 211/211A support power-over-ethernet (PoE) - enabling the camera to receive power and network traffic over a single Cat5 data cable from a powered switch device. See power-over-ethernet.

This unit is suitable for external installation when enclosed in a temperature-controlled enclosure. How a camera works