About Spy Cameras

Video cameras may make people act nervous or different. If you want to capture true moments from the babysitter, for surveillance, or just general interest, then you should consider getting a spy camera. There are stable spy cameras that can be wired into homes, but there are also spy cameras for on the go adventures. You can catch somebody in the act or live out your private investigator dreams once you learn more about the types and uses of spy cameras.

Function

Spy camera usage varies by person and installation. The key word is "spy" and many of the cameras are purposely used in spying situations. Typically, the camera is used for anything from quelling anxiety or suspicion to providing protection, or just simple curiosity. The cameras can be placed almost anywhere, but the most commonplace is against a wall so that the cameras can be easily wired to their viewing source.

Types

Almost any ordinary object can become a spy camera. For in-home settings spy camera can be installed in alarm clocks, wall clocks, CD players, teddy bears, picture frames and right into the wall. The best part about the disguised spy cameras is that the object that the camera is embedded in operates normally.
For the on the go spy, cameras can be installed in neckties, eye glasses, briefcases and baseball hats. Most of these spy cameras require wireless capabilities to be hidden.

Size

Spy cameras are made to be inconspicuous, so they are relatively small. Lenses can be smaller than a button, but the quality may not be as great as larger lenses. When dealing with a spy camera, you usually only have the straight on shot available unless you purchase a more expensive package. The spy cameras usually feature no zoom or rotating options, in those cases, you would have to move the camera closer or turn it to achieve the shot you would like.

Features

Setting up a spy camera is pretty basic, but may require some professional help. If it is a wired set up, the ideal location of the capturing device should be in the next room or a nearby closet. You should acquire a time lapse video tape recorder if you want to record longer lengths of time. These are common for stores and businesses to use in surveillance and will also save a lot of video cassette wherever it is used. If you are using multiple cameras for your set up you can feed each one to a separate VCR or run a four-shot simultaneous session that will record into one specialized time lapse VCR. The quality will not be as good for each shot, but it will provide you full coverage with only one video tape.

Time Frame

When you want to record your surveillance may affect the type of camera you purchase. For example, if you are primarily taping video at night, you will want to pitch in the extra money for a high-quality night-vision camera. During the day, conversation may be crucial so you should consider getting a spy camera with a built-in microphone.