If your after covert surveillance spy pens are the ideal tool. But before rushing into buying a spy camera pen there are few factors and options you might want to consider, most importantly and perhaps most obvious is, what type of spy camera do I need? Video, single image and audio spy pens are all available.

Spy Pen Video Camera – Most Popular & Recommended

Perfect for discreet filming and investigations, a spy pen camcorder is the most flexible and diverse of all the spy pen products on the market.

Best used by being slipped into the top of your pocket, a simple click will begin to instantly record footage of the surrounding area and if your models allows it, audio track to go with it. These cameras are so small you can freely use  your spy pen every day without anybody expecting a thing.

Most spy pen cameras work via one of the following methods.

1. Transmitter and receiver models. This type of model is rare due to the incurred costs but they offer the options of creating lengthy recordings that will last as long as the built in battery life and supply good editable footage. The main problem with these is due to size limitation the range of the transmitter is not so good so will have to be located normally within 100 meters of the receiver or may fail to transmit.

2. Digital Video Recording known as spy pen DVR, This is a built in recording device  and are great as they let the device operate totally independently without another recording device. The footage is accessible via USB stick. A USB spy pen has it limitation however as the memory will only last so long.

You have to decide which model holds the best advantages for you.

Digital Spy Pen – Digital Images

Digital image spy pens are a version of the spy pen reorder designed for one quick simple use. Targeted specific image capturing. The main factor and advantage about these pens is that they are always 100% self sufficient and can be taken into almost anywhere. They always contained excessive amounts of memory for what they need and the battery will last you for days if not longer. They provide excellent mobile surveillance.

The Spy Pen Voice Recorder

Video and image capturing is not the only job of the spy pen, the spy pen voice recorder brings a unique resource to the table. This type of wireless spy pen camera provides the ideal tool for recording presentations, lectures, and meetings without alerting anybody.

On average you will be able to record 8-10 hours worth of audio footage before having to download the pens contents. Audio recording laws can be strict in many countries though so please check out this before jumping into using one.

Different memory sizes are available, from the 2gb spy pen up to the 4gb spy pen or the huge 8gb spy pen. All over different variations and prices to suit.

So lets get going, what does a 4gb spy pen camcorder contain? Broken down you initially get 2 segments, the lower section of your spy pen is the trusty pen segment. There should be no leaving home without this bit it’s the whole pens disguise! The upper segment contained all the juicy bits were interested in. Now were presuming you are using a 4gb spy video pen as this is the most searched and used variety.

The first and most important section is the lens. This is usually located roughly 1cm down from the top of the pen above or hidden amongst the pens clip. You should be making sure the pinhole that this lens see’s out of is no more than 1/6th of an inch in size or you will find the lens is to visible. Not a good start for any hidden camera.

A 4gb spy pen camera will normally have quite a chunky memory unit. Expect this to consume roughly half of the space within the top of the pen.  It is very rare you will see this component so don’t go breaking into your pen to get to it. You will likely cause unfixable damage.

Also contained within the confines of the case will be a battery pack. This exists in multiple forms. Freestanding batteries are often supplied. Most take the smallest A range battery the AAAA or watch button batteries. Some however contain a fixed battery back than can b recharged. A 4gb USB spy pen will often contain the ability to recharge the battery when you connect it to a pc. Some models are connectable to an AA battery and can be charged on the move.

What its important to realise is that you will not be able to record 4gb worth of data on your spy pen camera before it expires due to power loss. 4gb is roughly enough capacity to hold 4-5 hours worth of footage on a standard quality camera. Most batteries will only last you 2-4hours at best.

In terms of crating a single recording at a time a 4gb is the ideal size and this is why is sells so well and so many are produced, however if your don’t have the access to a pc to empty it and download the content after every filming session then you may want to upgrade to allow it to carry more clips at a time.  An 8gb spy pen or higher would suit this.

The Spy Pen Voice Recorder

This is one of the lesser used spy pen recorders, but offers a lot of uses and a high standard of recording. We have found two models of this type of pen on the market. The hold and record and the press and record, we find most of these devices are hold and record, press and record we find come as digital models.

These models are not very discreet; you have to hold the button down to begin recording and it stops as soon as you lift off. These are remarkably cheap however.  They normally have a second button and the device contains a small speaker that plays it back to you. Generally these are just for messing about with and not such good quality for a higher quality version of this pen you will want to resort to a Spy Pen DIGITAL Voice Recorder.

These babies are normally press and record until you press again. You cannot play the track back where you stand; instead it’s loaded onto a DVR that is only accessible via a USB port on a pc. These recording are of a much higher quality but awfully inconvenient if you don’t have access to a pc. These generally however, find a more professional use and cost more so are not a plaything.

Spy Pen Video Recorder

Everything in I said about the different in quality and convenience can really be transferred to the video recorder. Video spy pens however, or at least to my knowledge have never contained playback devices in the pen. Nearly every model you find will be a spy pen digital video recorder. As it is the most convenient, and widely spread method to share video clips.

A Spy pen recorder DVR camera will often come with an accompanying DVR player. Like a pen to pc connection the DVR player will likely accept a USB drive. Many of these DVR players are no containing Bluetooth and other wireless technology to make it much easier to transfer the data.

The lesson really is, if your buying a spy pen recorder…. Go digital!

The reason spy pens are so popular is that they are able to act completely independently of most other devices. Everything it needs is contained within itself this allows it to remain completely wireless. A wireless spy pen camera can be kept discreetly in a pocket or handed to a colleague. No plugs or wires keep it well disguised and hence reliable.

You wouldn’t of thought your spy pen would have that many options but it can and some of the choices you have to make when picking a model can be very important. Specification can be very important when picking a camera. You will need to ensure that you camera contains at least a 640 x 480 resolution to make viewing detail in the footage a possibility and the images precise.

A 4gb spy pen camera will be sufficient to hold a good quantity of video recordings. The exact amount it will hold will depends greatly on the quality of the footage but you should be able to expect the spy pen camera to hold at least 4 hours worth. The battery on the device should expire well before the memory in a single use.

Most spy pen cameras contain a USB stick located in the middle of the pen that allows the footage to be viewed. The exact type of connection the USB spy camera pen will vary but each device will normally come with the associated wires and adapters. This allows the spy pen to be connected to a pc, downloaded and viewed when it’s convenient to you.

It is likely that you model will be a digital spy pen camera; a spy pen recorder dvr camera will ensure that your footage is viewable right away without any specialist software or devices needed for play back.

I personally own multiple spy pen camera 4gb digital video recorder devices as I find this setup is ideal and offers great value for money. Upsizing or using other recording methods limits my options too much or I feel costs too much for the extra you get. You may disagree.

Every parent must of some point face the daunting task of leaving their child in the care of another. No matter how well you interview a nanny or babysitter you can never really be sure that your child is safe in their care. A nanny cam can off you that reassurance you need and make sure you are safeguarding your children.

Many parents have considered this idea before but on the surface it seems like an expensive undertaking and unsure if they are allowed. The fact of the matter is that it is one of the few ways to ensure your childrens well being, and these days you can pick on up for as little as $80. A small price for the piece of mind it can provide. Installation is very easy and perfectly easy to do yourself.

If you have been persuaded so far and are considering purchasing a nanny spy pen camera there a few things you need to consider before rushing out and purchasing a spy pen recorder. Do you need a device that transmits and a receiver that records this video? Will a self contained system be sufficient? Spy pens provide the ideal answer to this as they often do not require additional transmitters and external devices and can be plugged straight into a PC via USB, be sure to purchase a USB spy pen if your want this option as various models exist with and without this feature. They can also be easily moved form location to location and left completely inconspicuously for hours.

A mini spy pen is so good because parents get to see what their nanny is like when they believe nobody else is watching. Many parents use nanny cameras that are hidden because then they get to see what a nanny is like when they think no one is watching. However you camera doesnt have to be hidden but the advantages seem to big to ignore.

But can a video spy pen or hidden camera device be used legally in your home?

Currently, it is legal most countries and in all states to make video recording of anything occuring in your home at all times, without informing anyone. Just make sure your camera is video only and audio recording laws a much stricter.

It is against the law to record someone’s voice without their permission in many countires and states. Be sure to check out your local laws before purchasing a camera with an audio record feature or make sure you can turn it off when needed.

Give your children the protection they deserve. Get your childrens spy pen camera today.

A spy pen camera is a perfectly legal hidden device as long as they are not used for clandestine purposes and in places which involve a persons privacy. Before using a spy pen camcorder make sure check the laws governing you country or state. Recording laws regarding spy pens are divided two categories, a set for spy pen video recording and a generally stricter set including spy pen audio recording. Generally all video only recordings are legal whether you inform the concerned person or not audio recordings are very different.

There are only a small quantity of laws specifically aimed at the operation of spy pen video cameras, however there are some very specific laws that deal with areas where privacy is expected. Such areas include bathrooms, locker rooms, bedrooms, dressing rooms and other places where a person would expect a high level of privacy to exist. Taking a spy pen into these areas will almost certainly get you into a lot of trouble. The vast majority of laws concerning video recording only permit the covert filming are a person with or without there consent most of the time. Great news for you and your spy pen!

Some of the better quality Video Spy Pens and a more specific audio spy pen would contain a built-in microphone which can record audio tracks. There are definitive laws that govern audio recording and voice tapping. Violation of any of these laws can land you up in very serious trouble. Two conditions of audio recording exist. These are “One Party” and “Two Party” recordings. One party recording means that only the person using the spy camera needs to have knowledge of the recording taking place. Two party obviously means all parties involved must have knowledge of the recordings taking place.

Be exceptional careful when visiting foreign countries with recording devices especially spy pen voice recorders. Being caught in certain countries and regions  with a spy pen or camera can carry hefty prison terms so before traveling with one research that countries laws excessively.

There is yet very little legislation that states how recording data should be kept once they have been made. Due to the ability to now stores files indefinitely there is an increased possibility that the footage can fall in to the so called “wrong hands”. So be extremely careful when storing data of this kind especially is it could be damaging.

The short of it is that using spy camera pens to record videos is legal in most counties and all states of the US as long as it is done for legitimate purposes. It is still however an extremely good idea to research your local laws before doing any recording and to be certain you are operating withing all legal perameters. Keep yourself and your spy pens safe!

Spy Sunglasses

Ow yes, that’s right. Spy glasses are really where hidden cameras began. Mini cameras were embedded into the frames normally in the nose piece connecting the lenses. However inserting the camera here has one obvious floor, it thickens the frames making the hidden camera not quite so hidden. Thankfully they came up with a solution. Spy sunglasses, much thicker rimmed and remaining inconspicuous they proved to be the perfect host for a covert camera.

Spy sunglasses are very good products, the length of the frames allows lots of space for th components. However they do still look a little on the bulky side. They certainly are not in the same league as spy pen cameras but make an interesting and fun alternative.

Alarm clock cameras and other stationary items.

What we mean is any items in your day to day life which has been fitted with a small camera. The normal home for these mini cameras is tissue boxes, alarm clocks and books although people are getting more and more inventive every day.

The great thing about these cameras is that they are often much bigger than other hidden devices so produce much better quality and stability. Sadly the versatility factor is greatly lost. But they certainly are a piece of spy equipment you wouldn’t want to be without.

Obscure Hidden Cameras

Some strange spy gear has been released in the last few years and some of the most obscure locations for cameras have been thought of. Many of them take the idea of the spy pen and simply incorporate it into another commonly seen day to day object. These include items such as tie clips, chewing gum packets, television remote controls, USB sticks (for spying on some whilst their using a pc apparently, very odd). While great ideas they pound themselves in to a single situation use which just isn’t what spy devices are all about.

A good piece of spy gear should be versatile, and always at home. This is the reason we’ve fallen in love with spy pens. Sadly these devices, whilst works of genius find themselves of little use. The main conclusion is that a spy pen really is the way forwards and will provide what a collection of other hidden cameras couldn’t combined.

The 4th generation refers to the standard of digital spy camera embedded into the pen. Not the model itself. So lets get started with this spy pen review…

For this spy pen review were looking at a 4gb spy pen DVR camcorder with video and audio function.
Compatibility. Like many other spy pen DVR camcorder devices this camera records in the .3gp format and is usually on almost any Windows system. However this little babies party trick is that its one of the first ever spy pens to be compatible with Apples Mac. Good news to me, and many others out there.

Resolution
The first feature we notice about this spy pen video is that it now records at a whopping 640 x 480 resolution, this is a huge advantage of previous pens and means that we are no longer forced to stare at images that are no bigger than a postage stamp or all distorted with square pixels showing all over the recording when we try to blow it up. On most computers today you will be able to view it at half or more of you monitor size in good quality! That’s not half bad for camera this size.

Battery Life
On average this product lasts for approximately 90minutes on a full charge… nothing special if I’m honest as a lot of spy pen cameras on the market achieve a similar life span, this pen comes up tops again though when it reveals is latest party trick. Containing a slot for an AA battery the pen can be fully charged whilst away form a pc or electricity supply and is good to go for another 90minutes…. fantastic!

Quality of Recordings
My favorite thing about the 4gb spy pen DVR camcorder is that it contains enough memory for over 8 hours of recording allowing you to keep information on the spy pen without having to clear its memory each and every time you use it. It records 30 frames every second which provide a smooth look when playing back the recording. One thing to note it that it only plays back at 10-20fps that is still plenty do not worry. What’s more, all the audio track is fairly clean and only suffers from distortion effects when being muffled or flung about when trying to record…. you would be hard pressed to find a video camera that doesn’t suffer from the same problem in my opinion. Spy pen DVR audio used to be a bonus but these days make sure you have it. It’s invaluable!

Overall this has to be one of my most favored models of the spy pen video camera I’ve used, and would recommend it to anybody. How ever please note that these are my opinions and you may find yourself preferring the functionality of another model although I doubt it. The only other advice I would offer would be to shop around. These hidden cameras go for numerous prices all over the web don’t just buy the first one you find as you will only be disappointed to find a site offering the pen in a much better value for money package.

containing numerous methods of covert surveillance. They are the perfect tool when wanting to carry out an investigation without the knowledge or risk of alerting the persons your trying to film.

A spy pen camera will provide the perfect cover and most models out there are actually working pens, not just props. So confident can you be in their ability and concealment that you can comfortably give your target the pen to sign documents or for use over the day without them having a slightest clue they are being filmed.

When looking for a spy pen to fulfill your needs you should makes sure it has all the qualities a spy pen recorder should have . The size and weight should be no more than what you would expect from a normal pen, and more importantly the resolution quality, range and battery life should all be noted and taken into consideration. Some cameras also come with extra’s that allow them to work well in poor lit conditions, a very handy feature.

Some version of the spy pen camcorder contain a small memory chip which allows the pens to hold up to X amount of images taken. Whilst normally cheaper than other models it provides limited flexibility in the usage as you may miss that all important frame or run out of memory way to early. However the types of spy camera pens do have the advantage of not running out of range.

Some video spy pen cameras use a transmitter which will transmit the image to a receiver which you can store in an entirely separate room. Most receivers have the ability to store or record the transmitted images but its always a good idea to check the spy pen your after includes this feature as its not always possible to sit and watch live. Making sure your able to record will give you the assurance of being able to watch footage at a later date or even use the images as evidence.

Alternatively you may find some other spy gadgets more to your liking such as spy glasses, camera tie clips etc but none seem to offer quite the same flexibility and ease of application that spy pens can. The uses of the spy pen video camera really are endless. If you’re a professional investigator or just out for some fun and fancy having a new gadget to with play then a mini spy pen could be exactly what your looking for.