Hidden video cameras, often known as spy cameras are typically very small cameras meant to be obscured in any kind of items like a shirt button or a clock. Nowadays, this type of security camera has been choosen as a monitoring tool in many place, from shopping malls to airports.

Many homeowners have also started to utilize such cameras to observe the situation of their home. Hidden cams are also used for keeping an eye on nanny or babysitter (hence some call them as nanny cams).

If you connect a hidden cam to a recorder, any activity will be able to be recorded. With the advent of internet technology, now it is possible to perform remote surveillance by utilizing hidden cameras.

You can find wired and wireless hidden cams in the market. Each has different advantages and disadvantages. Normally, the wireless ones require batteries to operate. However, wireless hidden cams that also comes with a special adaptor are also available these days.

To transfer the images captured into various devices, many hidden cameras make use of CCD (charge Coupled Device) technology. Although quite affordable, CCD cameras can produce nice looking images. The formats of these kinds of cameras are varies, from ¼” to 1”. However, probably the most used are the ones with 1/4” or 1/3” sizes.

In recent years, the color model type has becoming more and more popular than its counterpart, the black and white model. Although the last tend to produce better image quality, especially in low light conditions, the technology for the color model has been improved. In reality, it becomes harder to find black and white surveillance cameras on the market.

Due to the potential misuse, some countries or places have restricted the usages of this type of security camera. This means you need to make sure to meet that the local laws and regulations.

In my opinion, hidden cams which are integrated with smoke detectors or exit signs are not quite effective these days. It seems that everyone has already known about it. You can try to get the ones mounted at any other items which are hard to detect. Of course it depends on the purpose of the camera. For instance, if you want to prevent your employees from stealing, you can mount the cameras at strategic spots like doors or even cash register.