C220 Fixed Domes vs C296 Pan-Tilt: Which ZOSI PoE Kit Fits?
A side-by-side comparison of ZOSI C220 fixed dome kits and C296 pan-tilt PoE kits.
Intro
Both kits record to a local hard drive and power every camera over one Ethernet cable, but they watch a property in different ways. The C220 kit puts ten fixed 4MP domes on a 16-channel 4K NVR with a 4TB drive. The C296 kit puts six 5MP pan-tilt cameras on an 8-channel 4K NVR with a 2TB drive. One stares, the other turns and follows.
Side-by-side
| C220 16CH 10×4MP Domes 4TB | C296 8CH 6×5MP PT 2TB | |
|---|---|---|
| Cameras | 10 fixed 4MP domes (2560×1440) | 6 pan-tilt 5MP cameras |
| Free channels at install | 6 of 16 | 2 of 8 |
| Expansion | — | 16 channels with an optional PoE switch |
| Drive | 4TB, up to 8TB | 2TB, up to 8TB |
| Field of view | 90° per camera | 355° pan, 140° tilt |
| Night vision | Infrared, black and white, 100ft | Starlight color, 100ft |
| Detection | People and vehicles | Faces, people, vehicles, pets, packages, sounds |
| Deterrence | — | Sound and light alarms |
| Zoom | — | 5X digital |
| Weather rating | IP66 | IP66 |
| Two-way talk | Yes | Yes |
A dash means ZOSI doesn't publish that figure.
Feature walkthrough
How they cover ground. A C220 dome holds one 90° view all day, which suits a front door, a porch or a garage. To cover a wide yard you place several domes. A C296 camera can sweep 355° and follow a person or car, so one mount on a corner of the house may watch both the drive and the lawn.
Picture at night. The C220 switches to infrared and records black and white out to 100ft. The C296 uses a starlight sensor that keeps color in near-total darkness, also rated to 100ft. Color at night helps when you need to describe a jacket or a car.
Deterrence. The C296 cameras can sound an alarm and switch on a light when they detect someone, then push an alert. The C220 domes send alerts and let you talk through the speaker, but they have no siren or warning light.
Room to grow. The C220 kit leaves six channels open out of the box. The C296 kit leaves two, but ZOSI says a PoE switch takes the recorder to sixteen.
Storage. The C220 kit ships with 4TB, the C296 with 2TB, and both recorders take up to 8TB according to ZOSI. Ten cameras on 4TB and six on 2TB give broadly similar room per camera; record on motion for quieter views to keep more history.
Install. Both need an Ethernet run to every camera. The C220 means more runs; the C296 means fewer runs but cameras that need clearance to turn without hitting a soffit or wall.
Pick C220 if
You want many steady views of doors, porches and paths, prefer discreet domes, and like having six free channels for later.
Pick C296 if
You need to watch open ground with fewer cameras, want color at night, and like the idea of a camera that lights up and sounds off when someone walks in.
Neither replaces
Cameras for places cable can't reach, like the solar C291 4×4MP Solar Wireless PT, or indoor cameras like the C518 4K 8MP Indoor 360° PT WiFi. For sixteen pan-tilt cameras, see the C290 16CH 4K PoE, 16×8MP Pan-Tilt, 4TB.
FAQ
Which kit is better?
Neither in general. The C220 suits many fixed views; the C296 suits open ground that one moving camera can sweep.
Can I mix C220 and C296 cameras on one NVR?
ZOSI's PoE recorders are built for ZOSI PoE cameras, and the C296 NVR grows with a PoE switch. Check the free ports and the add-on camera's product page before mixing lines.
What if I need both fixed porches and a sweeping driveway?
Start with the kit that covers most of the property, then add a pan-tilt add-on such as the C290 4K 8MP PoE PT (2-Pack) to a free port, or fixed 5MP 3K Add-on PoE Dome cameras. For kits beyond these two, including C290 pan-tilt and C186 bullet systems, browse all ZOSI NVR and DVR systems.
Are there 8MP versions?
Yes: the C220 8CH 4K PoE, 8×8MP Audio, 2TB for fixed domes.