There are many reasons why you may want to put a hidden camera up in your home.
Did you know at least 54% of women experience sexual harassment at work?
Hidden cameras serve well as novel ways to boost your security at home and the workplace. Most people use closed-circuit cameras or wireless home security cameras. But sometimes, you need to catch someone red-handed.
This is when a spy camera can be the better option, but do be aware of the local laws in your country or state first.
Now you need to learn how to set up a hidden camera. Here are some tips and steps in setting up a hidden security camera for your home:
1. Check areas that need a hidden camera
When learning how to set up a hidden camera, you need to scout the area where you need it most. Look for potential spots that you can set it at, and where your camera should point towards.
You want a spot that gives you a wide-angle. At the same time, it shouldn’t make your spy camera stand out. It should be a spot where the camera can blend in neatly.
2. Scout for a hidden spy camera
Now that you know which room or section needs the camera, you need to find the right spy camera to get the job done. With the various models and designs of these hidden cameras, you can likely find one that fits the setup you desire.
Hidden cameras come in all shapes and sizes, with some disguised as everyday objects that you would find at home. For instance, you can find an alarm clock or a picture frame equipped with a hidden camera.
Whichever you pick, take note of the features and specifications. Pay attention to the resolution that it can capture. This will affect the clarity of the image.
Also, take note of how much can the camera capture in terms of its field of vision. This allows you to see how much can it capture in terms of the area that gets recorded on the video or photo. The camera’s power source and duration when in use also comes to play.
3. Find the optimal hiding spot
With your hidden camera ready, you will need a good spot to put it on. Consider an area that provides a wide vantage point but also out of sight. This will need a good deal of positioning and leverage.
If your hidden camera takes the form of an everyday object, you can use that to have it hide in plain sight. This means it can function as the item it took the form of while capturing videos. Make sure that it has an unimpeded view of the area.
Chokepoints are great areas to position the camera. These places tend to be where people walk in and out from, an ideal spot for a camera to activate and record.
4. Take advantage of the surroundings
While you are at it, take advantage of your surroundings when installing cameras. Make use of foliage if you plan to position your hidden camera on a plant. You can also consider hiding it in areas that the naked eye would not notice.
For instance, a power outlet would be a good place where you can hide a camera.
Make the camera blend with your surroundings as if it was part of the contents of the room. If the model of your hidden camera is small enough, you can use other objects to camouflage its presence as long as it can record without any obstructions.
5. Pay attention to lighting
Lighting plays a role whenever a situation involves cameras. The direction where the light comes from can affect the visibility and appearance of the subjects in the video. The position where the light source comes from provides different effects.
Front lighting would provide the most advantage, invoking the most amount of detail with fewer shadows.
Backlighting would provide the opposite, granting a disadvantage due to the number of shadows it sheds. This becomes a problem when you try to find a clearer image.
Side lighting somehow puts light on one side while it ends up with shadows on the other.
As the camera would be in a fixed position, the option of moving the light source is out of the picture. Instead, make sure that you pick a spot that takes advantage of the room’s light sources.
Lighting is also an important element when it comes to cameras with IR Vision and Night Vision. It needs at least the smallest amount of light to take advantage of the feature. Keep this in mind as it will help in capturing quality footage.
6. Capacities and recording modes
Hidden cameras have a variety of recording modes and memory capacities. Some of these would come with Micro SD cards, allowing for easier replacement when the storage reaches its maximum capacity. Other models make use of internal hard drives to store videos and other related files.
Each one would differ with their rated speed as certain footages work well with the right Micro SD card. Also, most camera models can only handle up to 32 GB. Make sure to get the right card or you might lose the footage.
Also, hidden spy cameras have varying recording modes on them. Motion detection mode means the camera initiates recording only when it senses motion. It stops once it no longer detects movement for a few minutes and this is a great feature if you want to prolong battery and memory card life.
Meanwhile, continuous mode activates when the subject crosses in front of the camera for a few seconds and remained in the area. This is great if you want to keep an eye on an area for a fixed period.
Know how to set up a hidden camera today!
You need to know how to set up a hidden camera to maximize its effectiveness. It requires the optimal hiding place and vantage point. It also needs to be capable of taking in clear video footage to take in a lot of details necessary.
As long as you know where to put it, you have the means to capture misdemeanors and offenses on camera. This provides you a proof of those situations when the need for evidence arises.
It doesn’t end here! Feel free to check out our other articles and guides today.
Photograph by Geralt