The market for mini surveillance cameras has been swallowed up Chinese manufacturers. Today, it is saturated, the assortment is varied, and the prices are not particularly bad. Therefore, if there is a need, it is easy to purchase a mini camera, both in China, via the Internet, and in Russia, in a specialized store.

Application area

Camera KPC-S700CP4 KT&C. Price 3500 rubles.

Covert surveillance of the premises. For example, you want to constantly monitor office employees secretly, so that they do not feel complex from the all-seeing eye of the lens, but work at ease. Then it will be easier for you, as a leader, to understand who really is who.
Hidden recording of important meetings, especially those that are held confidential for reasons. Especially if you come to a meeting in the meeting room of the host party, which is crammed with hidden video and audio recording equipment. Take a camera with you, disguised as a button or watch.
Supervision of nanny and housekeeper. If you would like to see what the servants are doing while you are away, then by installing conventional cameras, you will have three problems. Firstly, this will traumatize your employees psychologically, secondly, they will be offended and morally depressed from distrust of them, thirdly, whoever wants to will always find a “dead zone” in your villa and will recoup in full. Better install hidden cameras.
Mini cameras are convenient to use as regular cameras if you are not particularly concerned about the quality of the images. You have the opportunity to shoot discreetly, which does not cause embarrassment or aggression to others. This can happen in crowded places: shops, on the streets, in parks, at train stations.
It is very convenient to use hidden mini-cameras at seminars, lectures, press conferences, in order to subsequently familiarize yourself with the material in more detail. Previously, a voice recorder was used for this, but progress does not stop, especially since the speaker often shows slides that he would like to capture.

Peculiarities

The main feature of mini cameras is that they can be used as hidden cameras. Almost invisible are cameras that have a lens with a hole in the “eye of a needle” or those that are camouflaged as cufflinks, buttons, brooches, etc.

Cameras can also differ in the method of data transmission: Wi-Fi, 3G, wired or high-frequency radio. A separate class of cameras is non-transmitting, with content recording on internal memory.

Types of cameras for covert surveillance

Sip-m02w. Price: 2900 rubles

By type, covert surveillance cameras can be divided into wired, wireless wifi or G3, and autonomous.

Wired. A class of cameras that are installed on a stationary basis indoors. Some time ago they were used as portable ones complete with a transmitter and battery. To do this, I had to use, at a minimum, a man purse. Time has passed, and they remain convenient only for stationary use. Requires 5-12 volt power.
Wireless Wi-Fi. These devices currently operate via the WiFi protocol, so their transmission range is short, up to 50 meters indoors. But if you use the TRENDnet TEW-OA14DK antenna (14 dBi) for the receiver, then the line-of-sight communication range will be 8 km. This is quite enough to be positioned within view of the window, even at a decent distance to capture information.
Wireless 3G. This is still a new product. But for those areas where there is 3G coverage, mini-cameras capable of transmitting this signal are the most promising. You can watch the image from them online anywhere in the world on mobile device. But it’s better to buy a 3G modem, insert it into a laptop or PC, and in addition to viewing, record.
Autonomous, non-transmitting. A special class of cameras that record video to internal memory and are self-powered. This is very convenient because you are not tied to whoever is reading the information. There is one drawback: the lack of an online mode. Until you merge the data somewhere, it remains inaccessible. Well, so what, you’re not doing intelligence work.

Advantages

The main advantage of mini video cameras is their secrecy. And no, because you need to follow someone or film a crime and they won’t notice you. No.

The psychology of most people is structured in such a way that any entry into their personal life, even from a stranger, triggers a defensive reaction. You just watched a group of your friends playing beach volleyball in a relaxed and fun way. Now try approaching them with a regular camera. The game will change. Someone will get into a rage and start playing for the lens, someone will withdraw and start missing serves, one of the girls will start posing, and some young lady will shout: “Put the camera away, you asshole!”

If you film this with a hidden camera, then the game will pass normally. Then show the video to the whole company. Your friends will love it, except the girl who posed. She will say: “How could you?”

Camera Samllest VD-7501. Price: 4900 rub.

Popular models

Pen with hidden camera and USB input to download videos. Price: 3600 rubles

KPC-S700CP4 KT&C. Covert surveillance camera, made in Korea with a 4.4 mm cone lens. It has a 1/3″ SONY CCD matrix and generates a color video signal with a clarity of 380 TVL. Convenient for hidden installation into walls and furniture. At correct installation There is a 1.2 mm hole left on the surface for the lens. Has high photosensitivity. But it is equipped only with an analog video output, which significantly reduces the range of applications.
Sip-m02w. High-resolution color camera, similar in design to the previous one, but has a slightly smaller 1.4” matrix. However, it uses more advanced CMOS technology, which compensates for its smaller area. Pinhole 3.7mm lens. Video compression according to the H.264 standard. The camera comes with software for viewing video for devices on Android based and iOS. That is, you can easily observe on your mobile device what is happening in the camera’s vision area within the range of the WiFi connection.
Samllest VD-7501. This is a new generation product. The transmission is carried out over a 3G network. You can see everything that this mini camera records anywhere in the world where there is 3G network coverage. The camera allows you to remotely adjust electronic zoom (10x). Can save video to SD card in HD format, but transmit signal in SD format. Consists of two blocks: miniature camera and a recorder with a transmitter. Supports motion sensor function, so it will not record a picture without movement for hours.
Pen with camera. Gadgets for hidden recording on internal memory are difficult to classify. Because they all have approximately the same technical characteristics, but different designs. Typically, the recording quality is limited to the CIF video standard or, at best, PAL; photographs will turn out to be slightly more high resolution 1980x1024. The battery will last for 5 hours of continuous recording. To retrieve information, just connect it to your computer like a regular flash drive. They may look like buttons, lighters, flash drives, watches, etc.

Attention. Unauthorized surveillance is punishable by law. There are precedents.

Installation of video surveillance systems

Installation of mini-cameras for hidden surveillance can be permanent or temporary. TO different types installation, a completely different approach. Need to provide good review visibility of the camera, adjust the focus correctly if it is adjustable, and comply with all laws of conspiracy.

Where to install

In order to choose a camera location, it is necessary to determine where the subject or subjects will be located, taking into account the fact that they can sit, stand up and walk. That is, the camera should display as wide a viewing angle as possible. With an ideal camera position, if it is on a wall, there will be an angle of 65-70 degrees between the wall that is below the camera and the imaginary beam from the camera to the eye level of the subject being photographed. We are talking about a standard executive office room approximately 5x8 meters. If the room is larger, the angle changes.

When you install a camera for office surveillance, it is usually installed in the highest position in the corner. This allows you to most fully cover the territory of the room.

In any case, it is necessary to choose a compromise that satisfies the main requirement - legible visibility of faces.

How to install

Almost all mini-cameras for covert surveillance do not have brackets or adjustments for the position and direction of the lens. This means that you will have to set the angle of inclination and come up with fastenings for them yourself. There are known cases when inexperienced would-be masters built cameras into walls, and with every change in the office interior, they knocked them out of the walls to change their location. Don’t be lazy, order a special removable platform from specialists, with camera angle adjustment.

As a rule, office walls are lined with plasterboard - this is the most convenient place to install a camera with a cone lens.

Purchase

Regardless of where you buy a mini surveillance camera, to begin with, you should clearly understand what kind of camera you need. The designation in the nomenclature “mini video camera for covert surveillance” does not mean that this camera is suitable for your purposes.

How to choose

Decide:

stationary or portable;
analog or digital interface;
wired or wireless communication;
WiFi or 3G;

Where can I buy

There are several sources for purchase:

specialized stores selling security equipment;
radio markets;
domestic online stores;
Chinese online stores.

Of course, you can buy these devices in China by paying with a card via the Internet. And most likely it will be cheaper. But it can be difficult to find the device you need in non-wholesale stores. Therefore, it is easier to buy the found product in Russian online stores.

What is the price

The cost of such cameras is low, unless we are talking about professional video surveillance equipment, the price of which goes off scale for thousands and tens of thousands of dollars.

For example, a pen camera with a USB port costs no more than $150. At the same time, the Samllest VD-7501 hidden camera with 3G transmission function will cost you $108 (in China), not including shipping costs.

If you compare the prices of wired cameras, they are approximately the same, and are around $70. At the same time, cameras equipped with a transmitter, such as Sip-m02w, cost 55 dollars in China, and 100 in Moscow.

Legality of installation

With this point, you can cross out everything that was written above. Because in the Russian Federation any covert surveillance is prohibited, except for those who are allowed to do so (special services). This is regulated primarily by Article No. 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which states complete inviolability of personal life. But this is just a declaration. But Articles 20.23 and 20.24 of the Code of Administrative Violations directly state that in the case of the use or import of covert surveillance and listening devices, the persons responsible for these acts are fined and the equipment is confiscated.

Therefore, everything written above is written for informational purposes, and whether or not to break the law is everyone’s personal choice.

Device features. The MD81S is very small and visually very similar to a regular card reader or flash drive. This is convenient because it can be attached to almost any surface, be it a flat horizontal or a vertical surface. It can also be attached to clothing.

Thanks to Wi-Fi mode, the camera can transmit video signal to the screen of a smartphone or tablet. There is support for two main operating systems - Android and iOS.

With a TF card, the camera is capable of continuously recording video for 24 hours. For this, 32 gigabytes of memory in TF format is enough.

Bangood

MD81S Specifications

Recorded video format - AVI;
Maximum video resolution is 640 x 480 pixels per inch;
Wi-Fi transmission resolution: 320 x 240 pixels per inch;
Video frame rate - from 10 frames per second to 1 frame per second;
Storage of video files - on a TF memory card;
Operating system - iOS and Android supported;
Voltage charger — D.C. 5 Volts;
Input device type: micro-USB.

The kit includes a miniature video camera in the form of a flash drive, a label with instructions and a QR code, a 2 GB USB flash drive, a cord (to hang the camera), a soft case to protect the camera from shock, two brackets (one with a clothespin), a USB charging cable from the computer, user manual in Chinese and English languages(with explanatory pictures).

Before using the camera, you must fully charge it and insert a memory card into it. The camera can be easily inserted into the clip-on bracket. Next, turn on the camera by pressing the On button, then press the record button - you can use the camera.

After recording, you need to remove the memory card, use the card reader that comes with the mini-camera, and view or edit the video on your computer.

Now on your smartphone, go to the menu with a list of all available Wi-Fi networks and find the MD81S network among them. Connect to it. A window will appear in which you will need to enter the password 12345678 - connect to the network. You will need to wait a bit before the connection occurs.

The camera and phone will be connected when called Wi-Fi networks The word “connected” will appear and the blue LEDs will start flashing again. After this you should go to the application Plug and Play. Make sure you are in the LAN section. Here you will see a single button with the name of the camera - tap on it.

After this, a window will open in which you can see online video, that is, everything that is in the field of view of the MD81S mini camera lens. The video will be transmitted with a slight delay.

In the same application, you can turn on the sound, that is, hear what the microphone of your camera records. A photograph is also taken here; when you click on the “photo” icon, the characteristic sound of a photograph will be heard. It is possible to record video to the memory card of the phone itself by pressing the corresponding button in the menu.

The farthest button on the right will take you to multi-view. Here you can watch four monitors simultaneously. That is, you can additionally connect three more mini-cameras to the phone and turn your smartphone or tablet into an observation center.

Equipment

Mini camera - 1 piece;
Charger - 1 piece;
Fastenings - 2 pcs;
Clothespin - 1 piece;
Card reader — 1 piece;
Instructions - 1 piece;
Sheet with QR code - 1 pc.

Miniature camera MD81S for sale on the website Bangood for only 1500 rubles. On this moment The seller sold 10 cameras and received 1 review marked “good.” Delivery cost up to Russian Federation is only 6 rubles. You will have to wait for the parcel from two to eight weeks. The camera interacts well with smartphones and tablets, transmitting video signals online via Wi-Fi.

Wireless video surveillance with a 4.3" monitor-recorder and 4 wireless mini video cameras in a protective housing, with IR illumination And online internet access. Record Video from surveillance cameras is stored on a 32GB memory card or an external HDD with a capacity of up to 1TB. The radius of video transmission from wireless cameras is up to 200 meters in line of sight.

color wireless USB mini camera P-817GA

(CCTV kit)

color wireless USB mini web camera HC-101 (CCTV kit)

Color wireless USB mini camera with microphone, transmitting audio/video signal to high frequency 2.4 GHz up to 100m - line of sight distance without obstacles (walls, houses, etc.), up to 30 meters indoors wireless receiver with the ability to connect to a computer USB port.

The wireless mini USB video recorder can operate in wireless mode as a video and sound receiver, receives video signals from up to 4 wireless video cameras operating at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, supports a wired video source via an adapter cable

RCA(tulips) .

A USB video recorder will also help you digitize video recordings from VHS video cassettes.

b wireless video recorder with wireless super micro camera

A wireless video surveillance system with a monitor-recorder and 1 wireless mini video camera in a protective housing and night IR illumination provides real-time video surveillance. Video recording from a wireless surveillance camera is recorded onto a 32GB memory card or an external HDD drive with a capacity of up to 1TB. The radius of video transmission from a wireless camera is up to 300 meters in line of sight.

Hit!!! Wireless camera ZT-830 with battery for 2.4 GHz wireless video surveillance kit

Additional mini video camera for wireless video surveillance kit, receivers and other receiving devices receiving video signals at a frequency of 2.4 GHz.

The simplest and affordable way organize a video surveillance system - connect to computer USB camera. Naturally, such a solution has minimal functionality, but is quite suitable for home use.

It’s worth noting right away that using such equipment for professional surveillance (with clear requirements for technical specifications and security level) is unacceptable.

There are two options for organizing video surveillance via USB:

analog equipment connected via a USB converter;
classic USB digital cameras (WEB-camera, “webcam”).

In the first case, special equipment is used - a USB converter, which is a compact video recorder (video capture card with a USB interface). Depending on the converter model, you can connect from 1 to 4 analog video cameras to the device.

However, recording a signal from several cameras simultaneously is usually impossible due to limitations imposed by the hardware of the equipment.

The advantages of the converter include compact dimensions, easy installation and configuration, as well as full compatibility with computers and laptops with operating Windows system. The main disadvantages are limited functionality and low image quality compared to full-fledged DVRs.

Classic USB cameras allow you to organize video surveillance in just a few minutes. Available on the market a large number of models. Preference is given to modern equipment with HD resolution (1280×720 pixels) and a built-in microphone. You can use cheaper cameras with a resolution of 0.3 megapixels, but the image quality will be below average.

There are models on sale with built-in infrared illumination for shooting in the dark. As a rule, IR illumination turns on automatically (a light sensor is located on the equipment body). The main advantages of digital USB cameras are: low price, easy connection and a very wide range of models.

Flaws:

minimal functionality;
installation restrictions (cable length - no more than 5 m;
for larger values it is necessary to use a special signal amplifier).

SOFTWARE FOR USB CAMERAS

To implement video surveillance based on USB video cameras, you must install the appropriate software. Most digital USB cameras and converters are sold with a disc containing drivers and software. Also, a minimum set of utilities can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

Software for the converter is usually included in the package. So, popular model The EasyCAP002 DVR converter is designed to work with the Super Viewer program. The software allows you to quickly switch between connected cameras, set up timed recording, take screenshots and save video files to HDD computer or laptop.

Most of these programs are simple and intuitive clear interface, so setting up and operating the equipment does not cause difficulties for inexperienced users.

For video surveillance using digital USB cameras, as a rule, third-party software is used, which significantly expands the functionality of even the most simple models. There are both paid and free versions programs. Paid software usually has a larger set of features.

Popular programs:

WebcamXP is one of the most popular programs. The main advantages are flexible settings, compatibility with almost all camera models, and the ability to use a motion sensor to send alerts by email.
Mobile Computer Control – built-in recording scheduler, motion detection, ability remote control computer via mobile phone.
Xeoma – does not require installation (can be launched from a memory card), supports all types of cameras, motion detector, alert mode.
Ivideon Server is an interesting solution with cloud video surveillance capabilities. If the PC is not connected to the Internet, you can only use the client program to save the video to your hard drive.

All of the above programs were created as accessible analogues of specialized software for security systems. And they are mainly used for organizing simple home video surveillance. Also, such software is often installed by owners of small retail outlets to monitor employees and customers.

The Ivideon Server program is especially in demand, allowing you to organize remote video surveillance via the Internet based on simple USB cameras.

HOW TO CONNECT A CCTV CAMERA TO USB

The digital camera (“webcam”) is already equipped with a standard USB connector for connecting to a computer or laptop. Most video cameras are designed to USB standard 2.0.However, models with matrices are gaining popularity high resolution, up to 10 MP (for example, Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920), which work better when connected via USB 3.0.

High data transfer speed allows you to realize all the benefits of high image resolution. It is worth considering that saving video files in high resolution requires much more space on your hard drive.

After connecting the device, you need to install drivers (usually included or available on the manufacturer’s website) and software of your choice.

Connecting the converter is also not particularly difficult. Almost all models connect to a USB 2.0 connector. To connect analog video cameras, the device is equipped with standard composite RCA connectors(tulip). Video connectors are yellow, audio connectors are white. The converter can be connected either directly or via a regular USB extension cable.

System requirements for a laptop or computer are minimal, so you can use outdated ones for modern games or programs Hardware(processor from 1.8 GHz, RAM– 256 Mb, video card – 32 Mb).

After connecting the device, the driver and software are installed. For converters, it is recommended to use the included software.

Possible problems:

No picture - device not recognized operating system. The solution is to reinstall the drivers.
The camera works intermittently, the image freezes, etc. The solution is to check the quality USB connections. If an extension cord is used, you need to check the camera's functionality without it (signal attenuation may occur).

In general, a video surveillance system based on USB equipment is quite reliable, while special attention is paid to the technical condition of the computer or laptop.

POPULAR MODELS

When choosing a digital USB camera for video surveillance, it is recommended to pay attention to models from well-known manufacturers:

Logitech;
A4Tech.

For video surveillance in the dark, it is better to choose a camera with IR illumination (available model - A4Tech PK-333E). The advantage for USB cameras is the presence of autofocus, built-in microphone and rotary mechanism for lens orientation. If there are no special requirements for image quality, you can use available models with VGA resolution.

Since the standard length USB cable Cameras rarely exceed 1.5 meters; an extension cord is required to select the optimal installation location. It is not recommended to use low-quality extension cords longer than 5 m. After installing the camera, it is necessary to test the functionality of the equipment in all modes.

Video surveillance via USB camera. Wireless digital usb mini camera