The popularity of hidden spy cameras has skyrocketed in recent years. Business owners have realized that they can monitor employee productivity and reduce theft of merchandise and office products. Spy cameras for home use have also increased in popularity as parents realize they can keep an eye on their kids while they are out or use them as nanny cams to ensure that their kids are being treated well by the babysitter. Suspicious spouses even use hidden cameras to find out if their fears of a cheating spouse are justified or not. If you are in the market for a hidden spy camera, I have provided a quick guide below on different types of cameras and how the work.

You have two options when it comes to types of hidden cameras – wired and wireless. Wireless hidden cameras can run on batteries or be plugged into an outlet for power. The wireless name comes from the fact that it does not require a direct connection to a recording device. They either transit the signal from a transmitter in the camera to the recorder or some even have a built in DVR recorder.The latest spy cameras for home record directly to an SD memory card. An SD memory is the same memory used in digital cameras and camcorders.The size of the memory card determines the amount of recording time available. This type of hidden camera is the easiest to set up and operate and would be my recommendation.

A wired spy camera is more complicated due to the fact that it does require a direct connection to the recording device. Unless the camera and recorder are in close proximity to each other this can require a run of cable that will have to be concealed in some manner, whether it be run through walls, under carpet, etc… If these wires are not properly concealed you kind of defeat the purpose of having a “hidden camera”.

Manufacturers of hidden cameras have been able to disguise mini wireless spy cameras to look like normal, everyday items that blend in with any decor. They can be disguised as alarm clocks,wall clocks,tissue boxes,books, teddy bears,air fresheners, smoke detectors, and the list goes on and on. This allows you to choose the appropriate spy camera for home based on where you will be placing it, the field of view you desire, and what will look best for your desired placement.

Other factors you may want to consider are the lighting of the area to be recorded. If the light is low or insufficient for good quality video you definitely want to consider a camera with low light recording capabilities. Another great feature to consider would be a motion activated spy camera. If there is a specific area you need to observe but you only need the recording done when there is activity there then a motion activated spy camera is the way to go. This feature will also allow you to maximize your recording capabilities instead of wasting recording space with inactivity.

If your concern is protecting your home or business from intruders then consider surveillance system. This will allow you to place cameras at many different locations and properly cover doors, windows, and other points of concern. Many of these systems are expandable so you can add cameras as needed. The video is normally recorded to a VCR or DVR. I always suggest a DVR as the quality is generally better,there are no tapes to degrade, and you have larger storage space for data.

Spy cameras for home are great for protecting your children, your property and your business. Use the guide above to determine the security system or mini wireless spy camera that’s right for you and your needs.

By: Marc Darling

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Today, a number of hidden camera devices are available in all shapes and forms, as mentioned in previous articles we have glorified the spy pen for its amazing versatility and how it can be used in all sorts of situations. Despite our praise of this device we have to admit that it’s not always the best-hidden spy camera for the job. So here is a quick run down on some of the alternative spy camera products on the market today.

Spy Glasses/Sunglasses

This is the device that began the whole hidden spy camera craze; depicted in movies they allowed someone else to watch what someone else was seeing. Originally a micro camera was hidden within the nosepiece that connected the lenses together. The main reason these nifty little gadgets never really seemed to take off however was the sheer size of the camera embedded within the frame. It just made them to bulky to be discreet. An answer was soon found in the form of sunglasses; their design allowed much thicker rims without giving away the secret of the hidden camera. Only problem is you can only really use them when it’s sunny.

Overall spy sunglasses are brilliant products. The space that the framework provides allows good quality camera to be installed with other good quality components. While not offering the same versatility as a spy pen they are defiantly a fun alternative device.

Clock Cameras (And other stationary devices)

One of the least obvious places to ever hide a camera, people began hiding chunky high quality cameras within wall-mounted clocks and other objects. Often placed in devices high up in the room to ensure a good view of the whole room, they have provided full room security for years.

The offer no versatility, they are literally a one trick pony, but what a trick. If you’re a hidden camera hound like myself you certainly would be lost without one of these variations in your collection.

Pre-disguised Hidden Cameras

Some how we have found ourselves coming full loop round back to the spy pen. We shall make an effort not to keep mentioning it as there are other devices this concept has been used to create, most often common day-to-day items.

We’ve come across several really strange disguises in our time. The most common of these seem to be tie clips, remote controls, and chewing gum packets.

]]> http://www.hidden-camera-info.com/2010/06/hidden-spy-camera-alternatives/feed/ 0 http://www.hidden-camera-info.com/2010/06/spy-camera-recorder-units-the-4-most-popular-hidden-camera-recorders-on-the-market/ http://www.hidden-camera-info.com/2010/06/spy-camera-recorder-units-the-4-most-popular-hidden-camera-recorders-on-the-market/#comments Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:01:25 +0000 admin http://www.hidden-camera-info.com/2010/06/spy-camera-recorder-units-the-4-most-popular-hidden-camera-recorders-on-the-market/

With the use of spy cameras on the increase we are seeing them take many different forms and integrated into many different items. So what sort of items are we seeing spy cameras built into? And what are the four most popular products on the market?

Pen camera recorder

The pen camera is one of the new breed of spy cameras, it’s a very ordinarily looking and operational pen but with a simple press of a button the pen camera will start to record the video and audio in the vicinity. These make exceptional spy cameras that can be used in a body worn application to record in secret shopper, interview and meeting situations. Alternatively, the pen camera can be left in an office environment perhaps in something like a penholder or simply left on a desk. This will allow the operator to record unsuspecting colleagues and work associates to possibly gain a competitive edge in certain negotiations and or disputes.

Key fob camera recorder

The key fob camera is one of the newest spy cameras on the market. This camera as the name suggests, looks like a standard car central locking remote control and a simple button press will see the unit start to record the video and audio in the vicinity. Whilst very similar to the pen camera they can be used in slightly different situations perhaps around the home or anywhere where it would not look out of place to leave a set of keys. Positioning may also be slightly easier where you can simply throw you keys on a surface making sure the lens is pointing in the direction of your subject.

Chewing gum camera recorder

The chewing gum camera is not physically disguised as a packet of chewing gum the reference is made to the size and shape. The chewing and camera has the dimensions of a standard packet of chewing gum. This means it’s more difficult to use in an open environment and is ideally suited to body worn operations. If worn in a breast pocket, only the top quarter of this spy camera is visible and the single press of a button starts the unit recording the video and audio in its vicinity.

Identity badge camera recorder

The identity badge recorder is exactly what the name suggests. This unit simply looks like a standard works identity badge but is fitted with an integrated camera/recorder. A picture of the wearer can then be displayed on the front of the product to make it look completely authentic. Use of this unit is somewhat limited to an office environment but it can be brilliant when meetings and interviews around the workplace need to be recorded without third party knowledge and or consent.

These are just a few of the spy camera products that can now be purchased on the open market. As technology improves we are set to see many more camera / recorder variations go into production. So watch this space but in the meantime be careful what you say and do because these days, you never know when you’re being recorded.

By: Chris Scott Packer

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The reasons why you need to use hidden or covert Spy cameras are many. Maybe you just want to watch someone whom you suspect is doing no good or doing what they are not supposed to at work. Perhaps you want to get the upper hand on a legal battle ahead. The truth is that there are many reasons why you may need to use a hidden spy camera as opposed to not to. A large number of people are using Covert and easy to use Spy cameras these days to help them according to their specific needs. It was not so long ago that most of this high-tech equipment was only seen on Hollywood Movies such as James Bond 007 or TV shows like “Get Smart”. The sad part was that most of the 007 spy cameras could only be afforded by the very rich, powerful and famous. There are now many places available where you can help protect yourself and family. Some of these companies have helped to change all that however, by offering top quality products at affordable prices. Due to the recent influx and advancement in the technology market and we now have many viable and affordable tools available to us. The worst kind of enemy is the one that you cannot see or suspect. The person to fear most are the ones you never think would be capable of doing you, your family or business any harm. Since there are many of these covert and hidden Spy cameras available, they have helped level the playing field. Still think you do not need a hidden spy or security camera? Consider the following before making that decision.

1. A well hidden spy or security camera can help you catch a partner you may suspect of cheating.

2. If your inventory in your business is suddenly disappearing, then a spy Light Camera can help you catch the culprit in the act.

3. Are your employees leaving work early when you are not around? A covert motion detector can let you know.

4. Would you like to catch and document your employees wasting time goofing off while on the clock?

5. You can record many important presentations and meetings with a Pen recorder

6. Are you tired of your roommate stealing your money or eating your food and denying it?

7. Help stop and scare away would be shop lifters in your store with a “We have a security installed” camera and counter Sign. This also helps to prevent crime.

8. You can always use a fully functioning Motion Detector as well as hidden camera to record and prevent burglars and intruders from breaking into your home.

9. Sleep more at ease and go off to work worry free since you know there is a hidden camera to keep an eye on your children while they are in the hands of a Nanny or Baby sitter.

10. You can easily spy on your teenage son or daughter and their boyfriend or girlfriend as they’ are supposedly “watching a movie” in your living room

There are many reasons why we should use a hidden camera as opposed to why we should not. Times have changed and with it our society as well. It is because of those changes that the need to protect our families, ourselves as well as our investments has risen. There is a coupon available on our site from one of the most trusted names in the security equipment business. They have made these tools affordable and easily available to their customers to help them deal with those changes. Do not wait until something happens to put your security or hidden camera in the right place. If you are looking for more information, then please visit our blog here and thank you.

By: Hector Mota

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Here is an inexpensive way to get recordings of things you want in an office, business or home setting with the color mini hidden camera desk clock with DVR. It is the newest in the line of hidden spy cameras with built in DVR. Meet the new kid in town and see what it can do for you.

It is so small (only1 7/8 inch x 1

]]> http://www.hidden-camera-info.com/2010/06/mini-desk-clock-hidden-spy-camera-with-dvr-product-review/feed/ 0 http://www.hidden-camera-info.com/2010/05/mini-spy-cameras/ http://www.hidden-camera-info.com/2010/05/mini-spy-cameras/#comments Mon, 31 May 2010 04:52:53 +0000 admin http://www.hidden-camera-info.com/2010/05/mini-spy-cameras/

Mini spy cameras, typically the size of a credit card or even smaller, are the miniature versions of spy cameras. The size of these cameras makes them very convenient for carrying around without even being noticed. Today’s mini and micro spy cameras can give you good quality output, and the cost need not be too high either.

Mini spycams are particularly useful if you want to undertake discreet and unobserved surveillance. You can get a mini spy camera to suit your need and budget. It could be a simple pinhole-type camera with black and white output or a color camera. Range, battery power and life, and transmitting power (in the case of wireless cams) are some of the things to look at.

Easily hidden and less noticeable, mini spy cameras make investigation totally discreet. Some models include button cameras that come with matching buttons, and screw-head cameras that can capture quality images. Some models are even capable of running on 9-volt battery for up to nine hours and more. With night vision and waterproof models in the market, you have spycams for whatever situation you might find yourself in.

Mini cameras are useful in surveillance of many situations including a child’s room, visitors, or employees and remote areas. Watching over pets is another area where mini spy cameras are useful. Mini cameras have also found use in research and study of nature.

Weight and size are the two obvious parameters that you would be looking at when considering a mini spy camera. In addition, the other specifications such as the resolution, range, and low-light performance also should be considered. You can also get night vision and waterproof versions. Color or black and white is another option that you might want to consider.

By: Thomas Morva

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While using spy cameras you need to be extremely careful and cautious to not use them for any illegal purposes. You must make sure that the camera is used only in a legitimate manner and in agreement with the laws governing the state in which you reside. In most states, hidden surveillance is legal as long as it’s not done in private places like bedrooms, bathrooms and dressing rooms.

While parent are well within their rights if they use a hidden spy camera to view their nanny, spy cameras shouldn’t replace thorough interviews and a background check. Caregiver might also regard the use of hidden cameras as an invasion of privacy and resent it. While you aren’t legally bound to inform the caregiver, a spy camera could create a difficult situation if discovered. If you want to use a spy camera to obtain a video recording of your caregiver at work, the best thing to do is tell her. Usually a professional won’t have an issue with it and will appreciate you taking her into confidence.

While buying a spy camera, choose a camera with has a high resolution because the clarity of the images depends on the resolution. The size of the camera is also very important. The smaller the camera the more inconspicuous it is. Some spy cams are so small that they can easily fit inside a kid’s palm. A wireless spy cam is always preferable to its wired counterpart due to the increased mobility and flexibility. You can place a wired spy cam any where in you home or office. They can also be hidden in objects like toys, books, plants clocks, smoke alarms and lamps. Go in for a night vision camera if you need to cover dark or dimly lit areas. They use infrared technology and made especially for capturing images in the dark.

Using a spy cam for the purposes of pornography is illegal and unethical and you are best advised to avoid such misuse.

By: Max Bellamy

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When money’s tight, like it is for most of us these days, a nanny spy cam is something a lot of parents gladly dig into their pockets for. When both parents have to work, the often necessary expense of a nanny will cause some grumbling. Add to that the emotional cost of worrying about your children and it’s hard to pay the price. But there’s one thing that these parents are happy to pay for, the nanny spy cam. There’s a great peace of mind that comes with knowing what’s going on when you’re not there. These well hidden cameras also let us know that spying isn’t always as bad as we think.

The words spy and spying gives a lot of us the creeps and causes us to immediately think of unscrupulous people of all sorts. So for marketing purposes a nanny spy cam is called simply a nanny cam, it sounds nicer. But it’s hard not to be aware that there’s a multitude of news reports between Fox News, CNN, CBS and the others concerning caregivers abusing children in their care and that they were caught by these amazingly small cameras. There are also websites devoted entirely to providing news on this subject. Once we read and hear these news reports that extra word doesn’t sound so bad after all. The nanny spy cam is now considered an essential item by many parents, no matter what you want to call it. It’s as important as a crib and even the nannies themselves.

These days, with the many choices of household items with hidden cameras in them, that are ready made and ready to use, a nanny spy cam can fit the look of any room, not just the nursery and quite easily too. Wall clocks, alarm clocks, lamps, phones, even the head of a ***** can hide a video camera. Nanny spy cams don’t only catch nannies; there are also several hidden spy camera options for offices, stores and other businesses. Exit signs and emergency lights, to name a few, are very popular with employers and storekeepers, not only to watch for criminals coming in but to catch employees engaging in criminal activities as well. With this technology so easily available, criminals of many different persuasions are being caught, not only by law enforcement and the news but by private citizens who have been wronged.

No one will argue that there are times and places where spying is wrong. Misuse of this type of equipment may never stop. Does that make saying nanny spy cam instead of just nanny cam sound a bit underhanded? Does saying spy cameras and hidden cameras sound a little more devious than a discreet surveillance system? Maybe it does, but weigh the benefits for many of us who have a real need for these things against the small number who misuse it. After doing so you might agree, even though marketers and advertisers may never, what’s important is the way we use something and not the words we use to describe it. When real needs exist, spying is necessary, not a necessary evil.

By: Phillip R Davis

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It goes without saying – but we’ll say it anyway – that if you want to improve the safety and security of your home and family, there’s no better way than purchasing a micro spy nanny cam. Now, before you jump off the deep end and assume that nanny cameras are expensive, complicated and cumbersome – you need to take a second look at the wireless spy cam market. First of all, today’s modern spy cameras have many different features which make it a must-have accessory for any protective project – whether it’s at home or at the office. However, just as diverse as nanny cameras are, that does not mean that spy cams have a “one-size-fits-all” mentality. While each type of internet IP spy camera can do similar things – that shouldn’t be equaled with all spy cameras can do all things.

So, if you feel a bit overwhelmed when it comes to making your spy camera purchase decision, you shouldn’t really. Why? Because we’ve got this handy and helpful list that you can follow to take your first steps towards buying a reliable and functional nanny cam that meets all of your needs. You should read this list, print it out, and give it serious consideration prior to heading out and learning more about spy cameras.

Tip # 1 – Ask Yourself Why You Want A Spy Camera

Really think about why you want or need to bring a spy camera into your home or office? Are there people who you’re concerned about? Do you think someone close to you is lying or keeping a secret? Do you want to keep your kids safe from harm? Are you looking to protect your business investment? Think of all the reasons that you have for wanting a hidden spy nanny cam. Remember, these reasons are yours and yours alone – you do not have to justify or explain them to anyone.

Tip # 2 – Where And When Are You Going To Use Your Nanny Cam

Outside or inside? Home or office? Business inventory or children’s babysitter? Daytime or nighttime? You have to be able to identify the environment and the situations in which your spy nanny cam will operate. Why? Because failing to do so properly could result in you purchasing a nanny camera that isn’t up to the job you had in mind. Remember, different spy cameras are capable of different things. You need to know exactly what you want your spy cam to do, and where and when you want it to do it.

Tip # 3 – Spend Smartly

Spend what you have. Don’t overspend, but don’t underspend either. Today’s modern home or office-based spy cameras are designed with the family in mind. In other words, they’re reasonably priced. Having said that, you also want to make certain that you get the best bang for your buck too. Spy cameras have a great range – not just in features and capabilities – but in price as well. If you have a budget that you need to stick to, there’s no doubt at all whatsoever that you’ll find a great spy cam to meet all your needs – with an affordable price.

By: Manny J Manuel

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The best of measures taken by you to ensure the security of your office may miss the presence of spy cameras installed by rivals on your premises to gain classified information that you don’t wish to share and which may be worth millions of dollars to your rival. You could sanities your office of all such bugs but the important part is to first be able to detect where the hidden cameras have been planted.

Equipment available in the market such as the Spy Finder uses a ring of ultra-bright LEDs arranged around a viewing port, enabling a user scanning a room to detect a hidden camera as it appears in the field of view reflecting brightly the light from the LEDs.

Armed with easy to use technology hidden camera detector/locator equipment is the most reliable tool to ensure that you have absolute privacy in your office. The equipment functions on the principle of optical augmentation where light reflected from a spy camera are reflected along the same path as the incident light. On illuminating and viewing the spy finding equipment, a hidden camera would immediately be reflected revealed wherever it is placed.

The spy finder technology was actually conceived by rocket scientists but to use it you don’t have to be one yourself, because the system is very easy to operate and all that you have to do is to look through the viewing port and press a button to activate the LEDs. On detecting a camera spying on your office, you only have to shift the vantage point and should the location of the reflection moves along with your movement you could rest assured there was no hidden camera, but if the location of the reflection remained static, you may have hit the optics of a hidden camera.

Thus, even if there is no suspicion, you could have even a dummy run of the spy finding apparatus done thoroughly in every nook and cranny of your business premises and check if there were any hidden cameras prying on the activities of your establishment. The most unsuspecting often fall prey to spying eyes.

By: Andrew Stratton

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