The Hidden Camera: Three varieties of covert cameras from IC Realtime reviewed

The Smoke Detector Camera, one of many choices for hidden/spy cameras

The spy camera. For all of its 007/private eye reputation, the covert camera has an important role to fill in the world of video surveillance. As we brought out in the article Hats and Hoods vs. The Hidden Camera, a combination of obvious and covert cameras creates a much more effective surveillance system.

Today we are going to be reviewing three covert cameras hidden in everyday objects.

Note: Be sure to check your state’s surveillance laws before installing covert cameras. There may be laws governing where these cameras may be placed.

ICRealtime Color ‘Smoke Detector’ Camera

Product Specs | ICR-SMOKE

TV System	NTSC
Image Sensor	1/3″ Sony Color CCD
Resolution	420 TVL
Picture Element	512(H) x 492 (V)
Minimum Illumination	0.1 Lux
S/N Ratio	>48 dB
Electronic Shutter	>Up-to 1/100,000 sec
White Balance	Auto White Balance
Gamma	0.45
Lens	3.7mm Pinhole Lens
Video Output	BNC 1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ohms
Audio Output	RCA Female
Power Supply	12 VCD (+/-10%)
Power Consumption	150 mA (+/-10%)
Operation Temperature	-10°C ~ 50°C (14F ~ 130°F)

The big advantage of this hidden camera is that it really is a smoke detector that happens to have a camera.

IC Realtime also makes a motion detector that conceals a hidden/spy camera

ICR-PIR Color Motion Detector Camera

Product Specs | ICR-PIR

TV System	NTSC
Image Sensor	1/3″ Sony Color CCD
Resolution	420 TVL
Minimum Illumination	0.1 Lux
S/N Ratio	>48 dB
Lens	3.7mm Pinhole Lens
Video Output	BNC 1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ohms
Audio Output	RCA Female
Power Supply	12 VDC (+/-10%)
Power Consumption	150 mA (+/- 10%)
Operation Temperature	-10°C ~ 50°C (14F ~ 130°F)

Again, this product is an actual working motion detector.

ICR-FSC (Fire Sprinkler Camera)

IC Realtime also offers a hidden/spy camera concealed in a dummy fire sprinkler

Product Specs | ICR-FSC

Image Sensor	1/3″ SONY CCD
Picture Elements	EIA/NTSC: 512 H x 492 V – CCIR/PAL: 512 H x 582 V
Horizontal Resolution	500 TVL
Minimal Illumination	0.1 Lux
Horizontal Sync. Frequency	EIA/NTSC: 15.73 KHZ – CCIR/PAL: 15.625 KHZ
Vertical Frequency	EIA/NTSC: 60 HZ – CCIR/PAL: 50 HZ
Clock Frequency	EIA/NTSC: 19.0699 MHZ – CCIR/PAL: 18.9375 MHZ
Lens	Pinhole Lens 3.7mm
Video Output	1Vp-p, 75 Ohms
Gamma	0.45
Power Supply	DC12V
Power Consumption	150 mA
Storage Temperature	-30°C ~ 60°C (-22 to 140°F)
Operation Temperature	-10°C ~ 45°C (14 to 113°F)

This is dummy fire spinkler with a 3.7 Pinhole Lens 500 lines High Res.

Hats and Hoods vs. The Hidden Camera

Hats and Hoods vs the Hidden Camera

A business or home proprietor buys a camera surveillance system without consulting an expert.The system seems to work just fine. Then it happens. Criminals loot the house. The owner checks his recording system for the footage of this crime and in horror realizes that what only remains are images of covered heads and baseball hats moving along with his possessions out and through his front door.

So what happened here? Why did his video security strategy fail so badly?

Even a lazy robber realizes that cameras have specific limitations in terms of their viewing angle and can only see what is directly in front of them. So these bad guys cover their heads and put on hats and make sure not to look directly up and at the cameras. This hood and hat trick has become a modern modus operandi of many convenience store crooks.

So, what to do now? The secret is rather simple and when implemented properly, it can disarm the hat and hood trick completely. The key to surveillance success is the smart placement of hidden eye-level cameras throughout a space. I have numerous cameras that appear as everyday devices: clocks, bookshelves… Spy cameras, if you will.

I recall talking with a home owner who recently had her life-long collection of jewels stolen from her bedroom closet. Her husband was explaining to me why he thought cameras would not work in their case from stopping thieves since they may have been wearing hoods and such (in reality he had no idea what they were wearing). I explained how and where I could install cameras at eye level to catch and record prosecutable images if this situation came around once more. He admitted he had never thought about that solution. Mark one on the scoreboard for me.

Eye level cameras are just one of many possible strategies to foil the criminal mind and just one reason why it is important to hire an expert instead of doing it yourself. There are many tricks which thieves think they can use to foil a security system, but a good consultant will stay many steps ahead of the bad guys.

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