Spy cameras – nothing new here, right? Embedded cameras have been around for years and have slowly made it from the upper echelons of the security services down to typical consumers like you and me. This article will give you a taste of what’s available right now.

Kicking off our list is the calculator spycam. Just think of a standard desktop calculator with a small embedded video camera. It is well disguised, because it really works as a calculator. Look for a camera that records at least 25 FPS (frames per second) with a resolution of 320×240. These will be able to record in multiple video, audio and photo formats including MP3, AVI, and MPEG4.

Next up are surveillance camera watches. These wristwatches look like those straight out of a James Bond movie. They typically look like pricey analog watches and have the camera hidden in the face. One such watch, for example, has the lens well hidden in one of the numbers. Due to the smaller size, the video quality isn’t quite as nice as in a larger device. It is still remarkable for something you can get for under $200.

Another very spy movie-like device is spy camera sunglasses. These should take both photos and video. Look for a model that can shoot at least with a 1.3 Megapixel resolution. Again, under $200, you can turn into a secret agent fast.

Now let’s say you need to get some air to ground shots. Then get a spycam plane! This is perfect for reconnaissance. The best part is that most folks don’t think spy plane when they see/hear a RC aircraft up in the sky.

There are also ground-based remote controlled vehicles (cars, trucks, 4×4s, etc.). There are even models that will transmit live video to a remote screen or headset.

If you have kids and want to keep an eye on the nanny or babysitter, then you’ll want something a bit different. A desktop calculator may not cut it as it won’t fit in in a child’s bedroom or the living room. In this case, there are toys (teddy bears for example!) that have embedded cameras, some of which can be connected to your home computer network and that can transmit live video. You can then view that from any computer with a Web browser.

For more specific examples of products with embedded spy cameras, take a look at this popular electronics gadget blog.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , ,