Remember being a kid and wishing you had a spy camera? I know I did. Heck, even my kids still do it. There is just something about sneaking around, being a stealthy ninja spy, that excites us as a kid (and as a adult geeky man child) to no end. As a child of the late 80’s and early 90’s there were not too many “cool” items that could be used as spy gear compared to today. We would be lucky if we could just pretend that our pen was snapping secret shots of the cat eating its food out of the dish, or getting stuck in the toilet. These days… we actually have this stuff!!
Evolution of Hidden Camera Tech
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These days technology is advancing at a blinding pace, making smaller, faster, cheaper gadgets every single day. Who would have thought that we could have spy camera apps on a handheld smartphone device that we take everywhere, not to mention have cameras the size of pinholes that can record hours upon hours of hidden and secret video. There is no better time to be a spy, especially if you are a kid with a couple of fairly cheap gadgets and a computer.
As an adult though, you tend to think of using these cameras for home security and making sure your family is safe when you are away. If you have children and have ever had to leave them with another provider for any length of time, you know how stressful it can be. You worry if your children are being adequately supervised and treated kindly. With frequent reports of child abuse from close relatives and friends, unfortunately the care of your children while you’re away is probably a major concern. Additionally, if you have aging parents who live in a care facility you possibly wonder if they are being treated kindly. Even if you don’t have the above mentioned personal concerns, you may just want to know what happens in your home or office while you are away. Fortunately, there is a way for you to find out the answer to these questions: installing a hidden camera. Here are the top seven features of hidden cameras.
Dual Functionality
Functional Smoke Detector Covert Color Camera
If you have done any research on spy cameras, you probably noticed that most of these cameras come packaged in the form of an everyday household or office product. For example, many nanny cams come packaged in the form of a teddy bear, wall clock or other common bedroom/household item. For the office you can find cameras in the form of a ballpoint pen, pencil sharpener and even coat hook. Dual functionality refers to the ability an item has to function as a hidden camera as well as its’ original purpose (e.g., a clock).
Time Scheduled Recording
Defender ST300-SD Covert Alarm Clock Security DVR & STEALTH1 Covert Motion Sensor MPEG4 DVR Recording System
This is not one of the most common features of spy cameras but it is available on some models. Time scheduled recording can be useful if you know you always want to record a specific area at the same time each day. This differs from motion recording in that the device will still record even if there is no movement detected.
Audio Recording
LYD CM203CA Mini Spy Camera with Audio
If you want to be able to hear what is being recorded on your video, be sure the device you are looking to buy has audio recording as well. While most devices come standard with audio recording, some lower end models may not come equipped with this feature. It is always best to ask questions or read all specifications before you buy anything.
Motion Detection
Mini Clothes Hook Hidden Camera DVR
You may not care about recording an empty room and only want to see movement that occurs at any given time of day. If this is the case, look for hidden cameras that offer motion detection. This allows the device to start recording only when movement is sensed.
Still Images
MP3 Player Mini Spy Camera
Some spy cameras are capable of taking still image pictures. If you want to have a combination of video and still images, be sure to check the model specifications as many models do not provide still images.
Video Format
Mini Built-in 4GB Memory HD Pinhole Hidden Video Camcorder DVR Pen Camera
The easiest way to view video on your computer is with audio video interleave (AVI)format. It was developed in 1992 by Microsoft and is one of the most commonly used video formats. It is supported by systems such as Windows, Mac, Linux and Unix. The format is easy to use because a single file includes a combination of audio and video files; allowing for the playback of audio and video simultaneously.
Adjustable Recording Options
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This feature is nice to have if you want to change the quality of video you are recording in order to take up more or less space on the memory card.
Research Before You Buy
As you can see, there are many different features available on hidden cameras. Be sure to assess your needs, conduct some research and ask questions before making your purchase.
What was your favorite hidden camera? Have a favorite spy camera that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments below or in the forums! Thanks for Reading!
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