BODY WORN CAMERA PEN CAMERAS - SPY PEN

Can a pen camera detect motion and record?

Sorry, pen cameras can not detect motion. Recording method for all pen cameras are manual & continuous.

Can a pen camera focus automatically?

Pen cameras or alike, are equipped with fixed focus lens. It has focusing range of 1 ft to infinity. However since there are no macro focus control, as the object gets closer to the pen camera from 1 ft, the video will become more blurry.

Can a pen camera record while charging or plugged in to a power adapter?

No, the pen camera only records using its built-in battery (1.2 hours) or external auxiliary battery (3 hours or more, only on certain models)

Can the pen camera work in a very low light?

No, all these types of cameras have to use CMOS chip that works with less battery power consumption. The draw back is light sensitivity. [e.g.: (Restaurant: Yes), (Bar: Maybe), (Movie theater: No)]

Does a pen camera work with a mac?

Yes, pen cameras such as DVRP-4G & DVRP-4GA will work with a mac and will recognize as a removable drive.

Does the pen actually write?

Yes.

How can I reset the camera when it freeze?

If the camera freeze or malfunction, you will need to reset the camera. There are 2 holes on the back of the camera. One on the top is the light indicator and the other at the bottom is where the reset button is located. You will need to insert a small paper clip to press the button while the camera is “ON”. If the camera will not turn on at all, reset the camera when the camera is plugged in to a PC.
Please insert the clip straight in and slowly so it does not damage any other component.

How can I view the recording from a pen camera?

When you plug in the pen camera to the USB port on your PC, it'll be recognized it as an external memory device. Find the video file and play back with a media player. You can also copy, move or delete the file. We recommend using GOM Player or VLC Player for playback.

How do you adjust the time for a pen camera?

You can set the time and date have it show on the playback. Here is an example for one of our pen camera (DVRP-4GA): 1. Open ‘notepad’ or ‘wordpad’ program. Write numbers that represent the time and date. You must use all 14 digits & use military time format. Example: 20080929100828 would be: 2008(year) 09(month) 29(day) 10(hour) 08(minute) 28(second) 2. Save the txt file as: time (extension: txt) 3. Plug the Pen camera to your PC, Copy the "time.txt" file to the root folder of the pen camera. 4. Remove the pen camera from your computer, turn the power off, then turn the power back on, the time is now set. (if you are successful, the time.txt file will disappear)

How do you find the drive for the pen camera once connected to the PC?

When you connect the pen camera to your PC, the pen camera will be recognized as a removable storage device. If the camera is not detected automatically, please use "Windows Explorer" (window key + "E") to find the drive.

How long does the battery last on a pen camera?

Depending on the model, a pen camera will last 40min ~ 1.3 hours on a full charge. You can also use the auxiliary battery holder to make it last more than 3 hours. However we do not recommend for a user to record more than 1 ~ 3 hours straight since the pen camera creates one file per video shot and can loose the video if the camera freeze or crash in the middle of the long recording process.

if i run the camera until the internal battery becomes deplete, will the video still be there?

Yes, only with the built-in rechargeable internal battery. The camera will save right before it shuts down. However, the camera can not detect external auxiliary battery running out. Therefore.if the external battery runs out while recording, you will loose the video.

Is internal rechargeable battery for the pen camera replaceable?

Internal battery is replaceable but you have to send it in for us to change. However you can recharge the battery over 1000 times.

Is your Pen Camera different than others?

Yes, they all look the same since the pen housing is bought from a housing manufacturer, but what each companies put inside is different.

Would the flashing recording light indicator be seen by others?

When you wear the pen camera on your shirt, the recessed blinking light will face towards you so others can not see it. In low light, the light might reflect off your shirt so cover it with a small piece of, for example, electrical tape.

Are the sample videos true representation of a camera quality?

Yes, and since we had to convert the original video to a format viewable for everyone (flash), the video quality of the actual camera would be about 10% better.

Can you recommend a good media player to playback videos taken by your all-in-one camera?

Many times, Windows Media Player will not play the video because it might not have a proper codec installed. We recommend the following players.
Please download GOM Player at:http://www.gomlab.com/eng/GMP_download.html Or VLC Player at: http://www.videolan.org/

Does a bodyworn camera make any noise?

No, pen cameras or any other portable digital recording devices does not make any noises.

Does a DVR make any noise?

Full size stand alone DVRs all come with a cooling fan that will make noise as much as a PC. Portable DVRs do not make any noise.

Is there a body worn camera for a child?

We do get a lot of inquiries but there are no ideal system for a body worn camera system for a child. Since there are components that needs to be mounted and would be to cumbersome and heavy for a child to wear. We do have a small pen like cameras but battery will not last long enough and the operation would be too difficult for a child to turn it on at the right moment . Best alternative would be just placing a small voice recorder.

Is there a camera that I can hide in a dipper bag that can watch my infant with an outside sitter.

Unfortunately, video recording would be too difficult for the application. Audio might be much easier. We do have a small pen like cameras but battery will not last long enough and the operation would be too difficult for a child to turn it on at the right moment . Besides the camera will most like be looking at a wrong direction. We recommend for you to get a micro voice recorder and hide in the dipper bag.

Why don't you post samples videos for all other cameras?

Video quality of a camera really depends on the recorder that is connected to. Also, since cameras are analog, it need to be converted to digital format to post on the web, loosing resolution in the process. That is why we only have sample videos for "all in one system" that has a built-in digital recorder.

Can a camera see in total dark?

Cameras can not see in total darkness. You will need IR illuminators http://www.spycameras.com/other,led-lamps.html either built around the camera lens or as a separate lighting source (only for a B/W camera or a D/N camera). We do carry cameras that works in very low light conditions. Lower the lux rating, better it is under low light.

Does your cameras work with different voltage for other countries?

Most of our camera come with a power adapter that can handle form 110V ~240V AC. In case of a direct AC plug-in camera such as clock radio camera We will include the 220V to 110V (60Hz) step-down converter. However, if your country uses 50Hz, the time on the clock, because it is digital, will not be correct (off about 20 min a day)

How does a camera adjust to different lighting level?

Every camera has auto electronic iris built-in. Unlike a human iris or other camera, there is no mechanical diaphragm that controls light intake, rather shutter speed changes automatically. Level of adjustment is very wide from low light to very bright light. You can actually place the camera an inch away from a lit 100W light bulb and still be able to read clearly the label on the bulb.

How does a camera work with a bright spot lighting source.

All cameras come with auto-electronic iris control. In a case in low light the iris will open up and brighten the picture automatically (however limited to it's lux rating)As long as the camera is not facing directly toward a light source in low light, it'll be OK. However if a light source would be on the screen, the iris will close thus darkening the picture of the surrounding.

How far or how much can you see with a camera?

Cameras can see Infinite, therefore It all depends on the size of the object. Wider the angle of the lens, smaller it will appear but area coverage will be greater. You can not have both zoomed in view and cover wide area. Most of our cameras come standard with wide angle lens (75 deg horiz) that will cover the whole room if placed at the corner looking towards the center of the room.
Try our CCD Lens Calculator for more information.

How much of a room can a camera view?

Most of our cameras come with around 4mm lens providing 75 deg in horizontal angle (for 1.3" CCD). That means if the camera is placed at the corner looking towards the center of the room, it'll cover most of the room regardless of its size. Also all camera lenses are fixed focus and will focus to an object from about 2 ft away to infinity.