DIY Spy Cameras
How to choose a DIY spy camera module
What you are buying
A DIY module is the camera, the recording board and the lens, with no case. A ready made housing only fits the room it was designed for, while a module can go into a piece of furniture, a vent, an appliance or anything else that already belongs where you need the view. Most installs need a hole for the lens and a way to power the board, with no soldering on the majority.
Three things to check
The lens decides the field of view and how small the opening can be, and a pinhole lens needs only a few millimetres. The power arrangement decides whether you need a battery pack or can wire it to an existing supply. The storage decides how long it records before overwriting, and whether you review on a card or watch live over WiFi or 4G.
Compare the modules
 WiFi module |  4G module |  Card only module | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live view | Yes, over home WiFi | Yes, over a mobile SIM | No |
| Needs | A WiFi network in range | A 4G data SIM | Nothing |
| Power | Battery pack or wired | Battery pack or wired | Battery pack or wired |
| Suits | Inside your own home or office | A vehicle, a shed, a site with no WiFi | A simple record you collect later |
Buying guides
DIY Spy Camera Buying Guide AustraliaBuild your own hidden camera
Hidden Camera Buying Guide AustraliaThe object decides everything
Counter-Surveillance Buying Guide AustraliaHow to find hidden cameras, bugs and trackers
Related
Spy Cameras Hidden Cameras Mini Spy Cameras Wearable Spy Cameras Hidden Camera Detectors
Common questions
How big is the lens opening?
Pinhole lenses need only a few millimetres, which is why a module can sit behind a seam or a screw hole in something of your own.
Do I need to solder?
On most modules, no. Power connects with a lead and the lens is already fitted; the listing says if a module is different.
Can it run permanently?
Yes, wired to an existing supply. On a battery pack, expect hours of continuous recording or days on motion.
Is it legal to use a hidden camera in Australia? Australian law
On your own property, to protect your home, vehicle and family, yes, with limits. Surveillance devices laws differ by state and territory, and filming people where they expect privacy, such as a bathroom, a bedroom or a changing area, is not allowed. Recording private conversations you are not part of is generally not allowed either, so switch audio off for anything that records while you are away. A business using cameras should tell people they are being recorded.