The Screw Camera

We're not talking about the kind of camera you buy when you want to make money on the internet — we're talking spying, people. The Wireless Spy Screw Camera Kit makes use of color cameras so tiny they appear to be either almost invisible (pinhole), look like a button (on a shirt, e.g.), or the top of a screw. Connect the included receiver to a TV, VCR or PCI card and surveil whatever it is you must surveil. It'll set you back £93.99 which includes VAT — or about $168USD.

[Thanks, Mike]

[Andrew de Ridder @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Damm scary. This sort of tecnology can only get smaller and cheaper meaning that anyone could spy on you. Still, that is the point of a spy Camera.

[Gulfstream g150 Pilot @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

any legal (or moral okay) useage for this ? I don�t think so. If you want to watch something why not use a normal cam?

[Videotech @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

That camera is in fact big compared to real "spycameras"...

[me @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

So rather that having to explain why there's a camera on the wall you need to come up with a reason for this screw-topped hunk of plastic?

[Isaac @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

2: Of course there are legal uses for it. Do you think a molesing babysitter will show her true behavior with a camera in plain view?

[lupinstel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Is it just me or do these things look an awful lot like those little plastic thingys that hold mirrors on the walls in the fitting rooms of stores?

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

#5-I'd rather have my baby sitter not display her molestation because she see's a camera than catch her molesting my child with a spycam.

[Nathan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Well said #7.

[Joe Maller @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Tip of the iceberg, and overpriced. Here's tons more: http://www.supercircuits.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=235

[Charles S @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

#7

Actually, same can be said the other way around. Just because there is a camera there in plain sight only means that babysitter will KNOW how to avoid being detected. Having a camera at a convenience store or banks only makes theives being more aware of the risks, and either make better plans, or find ways to bypass it.

For the combination of the two suggestions, telling the babysitter that there may or may not be hidden cameras in the house would probably work just as well. If the owner chooses not to have a hidden camera, the suggestion alone could work just as well as camera in plain view.

Just a thought.

[Robert @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

The combination of plain view cameras and hidden cameras would be ideal. Think security detail at any major event: you have obvious snipers to show the presence of security and ward of anyone attempting something, then you have hidden counter-snipers that no one knows they're there in case the $hit really does hit the fan.

It's not which is better: plain view or hidden cameras; it's how to best use them together.

[consumer_q @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

I want to see the video quality as captured by these things.
There should also be a docking mechanism for use with iPods.

[hugoliva @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Beeing myself into R/C cars and helis, let me tell you that this cameras are the best, they let you do amazing videos and geeky stuff, so, for those of you that can't think of legal or moral stuff applications for the, there you go.

[martinelli @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Use the visible cameras to herd the survellance subject into the area with the hidden cameras. Got tired of mail being stolen so I installed some cameras. Now it's fun to watch peoples reactions. You start to be able to tell who is in the neighborhood for no good reason. They are the ones who immediately look for and spot cameras. You can tell, there is a purposeful sweep to their field of vision followed by a focus on one of the cameras and then movement away from the surveilled object. All the others pay no attention. Druggies don't like them either, kind of moved that activity down to the other neighborhood.