We've all heard horror stories about bad cops imposing their will on us. Ergo, I decided to experiment with various means of obtaining hands-free, always-on video. First I bought a spy pen on ebay. It cost about $15.00, and so far has been useless. The optics are surprisingly good for the size and price, but the instructions are in terrible chinglish, and I can't get it to stay on in video mode for more than 5 seconds. It has a time/date stamp, but I can't even begin to figure out how to set it. It takes good still pics, but that's not helpful for my purposes.
Next I tried a Looxcie. (looxcie.com) It's a spy-cam built into a bluetooth earpiece. This is a much more professional product; works well, good instructions, good support and the price to match. On the plus side, it effectively hides in plain sight. On the minus side, it is uncomfortable to wear for long periods, and it's difficult to keep it aimed properly and leveled. I'm considering trying to mount it inside a baseball cap, or maybe on my belt somehow.
Another great option is the smartphone. You need a phone anyway, and all smartphones have cams built in. There are apps which allow the camera to be on at all times, even when the screen is asleep; you can also lock smartphones, and download the video directly to the net without the need for cables and a computer. The challenge is to carry it in such a way that the camera lens is uncovered and pointed the right way. You might need a custom holster, or simply cut a small hole in your holster.
I've also just ordered a spy cam key chain fob off ebay. I'll let you know if it works any better than the pen.
Next I tried a Looxcie. (looxcie.com) It's a spy-cam built into a bluetooth earpiece. This is a much more professional product; works well, good instructions, good support and the price to match. On the plus side, it effectively hides in plain sight. On the minus side, it is uncomfortable to wear for long periods, and it's difficult to keep it aimed properly and leveled. I'm considering trying to mount it inside a baseball cap, or maybe on my belt somehow.
Another great option is the smartphone. You need a phone anyway, and all smartphones have cams built in. There are apps which allow the camera to be on at all times, even when the screen is asleep; you can also lock smartphones, and download the video directly to the net without the need for cables and a computer. The challenge is to carry it in such a way that the camera lens is uncovered and pointed the right way. You might need a custom holster, or simply cut a small hole in your holster.
I've also just ordered a spy cam key chain fob off ebay. I'll let you know if it works any better than the pen.