Pinhole Cameras

What makes pinhole cameras so ideal for home or business security is the fact that they are small enough to not be detected by either guests or intruders. Serving as a hidden camera, they can be used to monitor anything from your front door to your business, cash register, pet or nanny.

Due to the lens size, you can cover up the entire camera and all that needs to show to get a good picture is the tiny pinhole lens in the middle.

The history of the pinhole camera goes back to an Arab scientist by the name of Alhazen (Ibn Al Haytham), who created what was first known as the camera obscura when he was a teenager. Alhazen realized that light rays originate in the sun, strike objects and are reflected by them into the eye. He studied lenses and mirrors, worked out the curvature of a lens, measured their refraction of light, formulated the geometric optics of images and later authored the Kitab al-Manazir/Book of Optics in 1572.

Scottish scientist Sir David Brewster was the first person to take a photograph using a pinhole camera in 1850. Then in the 1920’s, Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre introduced the first pinhole camera to North America. This Paris-born painter began by experimenting with the effects of light on translucent paintings. This led to the development of the self-named daguerreotype camera, the rights to which he and a partner sold to the French government.

A pinhole camera is a basic optical imaging device in the shape of a closed box or chamber. One side has a small hole through which the rectilinear propagation of light creates an image of the outside space on the opposite side of the box. It is interesting to note that as far back as the 5th century BC, Chinese philosoper Mo Ti observed the ability to see images through small openings. In 4 BC, Aristotle made similar observations. Even Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci was interested in this subject and used the theory of the pinhole camera to study perspective.

If you feel like experimenting, you can make your own pinhole camera easily and cheaply. All you need is any lightproof box to begin. Make a hole in one side and place a thin piece of metal or a tin can with a tiny hole over the opening. Place a strip of black tape over the opening on the outside to act as the release. Then take this into a dark room, where you can attach a piece of film or photographic paper onto the opposite side and the camera is ready to use.

With the advancement of technology, 20th century scientists discovered that pinhole cameras could be used to photograph X-ray radiation and gamma rays that ordinary lenses absorb. This type of camera is known for offering an accurate perspective. It also has an infinite depth of field that allows objects at all distances to be captured sharply. One of its drawbacks in the early models resulted from the small amount of light that can pass through. This can interfere with lighting on the outer edges and the capturing of some moving objects.

Today, there is a variety of what has become known as spycams on the market. The Eyecam, which sells for about $160 is an all-in-one color video camera that is very small and has a built-in transmitter. This is ideal for use by private parties, law enforcement, government agencies and the military. It runs on a 9-volt battery and through a video cable, the Eyecam can be connected to a television, VCR or camcorder.

The WDh3200 Mini Spy pinhole hidden security camera, which sells for $115 is a color model with a 3.6mm wide-angle lens. It has 420-line resolution and runs on a 12-volt battery. There is also a 1/3-inch CCD black and white pinhole lens board camera by that sells for $89.99 that is so small, it can be installed inside anything from your computer to a clock or radio. It comes with an RCA video jack for connection to your computer or recorder.

If you want to get even smaller, try the SpyGear4U KB-C3300 Desk Lamp Cam wireless at approximately $242. This one fits right inside a light bulb and is powered by carry current. Just plug in your lamp and decoder and you’re good to go.

An SVAT mini indoor color DVR pinhole camera called the MicroEye can digitally record fast-action snapshots or video when motion is detected. Selling for about $102, this camera can simply be placed wherever you wish to capture video. The MicroEye is a color camera with 64 mb flash RAM for motion or constant recordng at 640 X 480 or 320 X 240 mode. You can even put this baby in your pocket for portable surveillance.

A wireless color pinhole camera video monitoring system is also available for approximately $300. This plug and play device has a hidden color camera and comes with a high performance wireless four-channel transmitter and receiver with a range of up to 300 feet. The tiny camera is plugged into the transmitter and the receiver plugs go into a regular VCR. The KG-700P1 color micro video camera with a super pinhole lens is perfect for covert surveillance and body wires. This plug-and-play camera is just 1.18-inch-square and features a high resolution that is adaptable to low light conditions.