What is a Nanny Cam?   by Doug Harper

In the later part of the 1990s technology surfaced that allowed a new kind of surveillance camera. We were now able to spy on people in our home without expensive and complicated equipment, and we could do it without them knowing it was happening.

Camera manufactures developed a reliable board or pinhole camera that could be hidden in any common object in the home. This camera used very little electricity and could even be operated on batteries. Board cameras were black and white with a low resolution or poor quality picture. Later the higher resolution camera for a quality picture that could be used to identify someone was developed. We found that in determining who was being watched, a color camera could be a great help and later a low light camera was developed. The name pinhole camera, board camera and spy camera became interchangeable. It was called a board camera, because it comes on a circuit board with the associated electronics. The name pinhole comes from the fact the camera only needs a “pinhole” to view through, so that it would not be detected when installed in an object. Anytime you use a camera without someone’s knowledge, it could be called a spy camera.

Black and White Board Cameras:
These come in two categories; one being the camera that sees in the dark without an infrared illuminator (IR illuminator) and the other that uses an IR illuminator to see clearly in the dark with great detail. The IR illuminator is purchased separately and can be placed in the room to illuminate, the field of view for the camera. An infrared illuminator’s illumination is not visible to the naked eye, and can be placed in a lamp or floodlight. These cameras produce from 350 to 410 lines of resolution and can produce an image from .01 lux of light to .0003 lux of light. That is from a low light room to a completely dark room. However in many situations you would have normal ambient light in the room with the camera.

Color Board Cameras:
The color board camera is usually a little more expensive. Also they require more light for good color definition and resolution. (.5 lux to 1.0 lux) The requirement for light can be accomplished either by ambient lighting in the room or infrared illuminators. These color cameras produce 380 to 480 lines of resolution.

Other Available features:
The most prominent feature is the small size, generally 1 to 11/4″ square. Durability is another feature and usually not too important if the camera is installed in a common household object such as a radio or lamp. Most board cameras have a 70â