Surveillance cameras don't bother to be concealed because because they are so big and bulky-looking. This is unlike miniature surveillance cameras, which have a small design as part of their specifications. You can build your own miniature pinhole surveillance camera using a few parts from a hobby store and a a few minutes of your time. The pictures taken may not have high image resolution, but they will have been taken just as surreptitiously as a store-bought model.
Instructions
1. Put some newspaper down on a work surface. Download a blueprint for making a miniature surveillance camera; one place to look is the Pinhole Spy Camera website (see the link in Resources). Print out the blueprints. You can also design your own camera body using a piece of paper and a pencil by drawing a rectangle that is about 2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide for the shutter; 4 inches long and 1 inch wide for the front plate; and 6 inches long and 2 inches wide for the body.
2. Put the blueprints down on the newspaper. Cut out the front plate, aluminum, shutter and body parts for the miniature surveillance camera from the blueprints using the utility knife.
3. Dab white glue to one side of the front plate, shutter and body parts. Place the front plate, shutter and body parts onto the black cardboard.
4. Cut out the front plate, shutter and body parts from the black cardboard using the utility knife. Score three lines in the width of the body part, one near each end and one in the middle using the utility knife. Fold the body part at each scoring so as to form a rectangular box. Fasten the ends of the body part together with the black masking tape.
5. Place the aluminum part on the aluminum foil. Cut around the aluminum part using the utility knife. Poke a hole through the center of the aluminum part and the aluminum foil with the sewing needle.
6. Place the aluminum part with the aluminum foil facing up onto the center of the front plate part. Tape down the sides of the aluminum part using the black masking tape.
7. Attach the front plate part to the body part. Tape the front plate part down using the black masking tape.
8. Twist the eyelet screw through one end of the shutter part so that it goes through the shutter part. Place the shutter part over the front plate so it covers the aluminum foil. Twist the eyelet screw into the front plate.
9. Place the 110 film cartridge against the body part. Tape the cartridge down at the sides using the black masking tape. Aim the shutter part at something you want to shoot and swing the shutter out from the front part and then back. You have just taken a picture with your mini-surveillance camera.
Tags: front plate, aluminum part, body part, aluminum foil, black masking, black masking tape