Model number: VMS3330 problems with being visible.

[ollantigh]

My idea of having these cameras, is that the intruder not see them and act normally- thus not hide their face etc

However i've discovered in my installation that the red lights come on at night for the night vision mode- making them highly visable.

Add to the fact these things although being small in size not being a problem are white in colour and stick out quite noticeably- i've thought of hiding them in pots etc dotted around my front garden- that will work- however there not indistructable and having them on show i would have thought might make intruder violent towards them?

Any ideas on making less obvious at eye level and about six feet away from the target/intruder? plus not having them pinched/stolen might be a bonus...

if it helps i have alot of white plastic glazing out the front of my house- perhaps disguise them that way- however the red light problem is still there?...has anyone come up with a perfect solution, perhaps making them look like something benign and not camera like...

[jguerdat · Accepted solution]

I dunno about the IR illuminators being highly visible but, yes, they are visible as will pretty much any light source that adds illumination. 950nm LEDs may be useful but it's something you'd need to test to see if it works for you. Outdoor motion lighting, whether normal or 850nm, would probably be your best bet since it would also increase any objects further away, also.

[TomMac]

It comes down to if you want to be covert or overt ... each has their place.

IMO, stopping some one before the problem occurs is better than fixing later.  YMMV

[steve_t]

I have some black skins on mine and put it on a black fence. An intruder came to the area and did not notice the camera. A friend has a camouflage skin on theirs and has it in their garden and it's hard to see unless you're looking for it

Might be what you're looking for

https://www.arlo.com/en-us/products/arlo/skin.aspx

[ollantigh]

I know what your getting at and in a perfect world that would an option, however in mine its psychopathic family members causing alarm- they've done it inthe past and i just want proof to prove to the police (last time it was phone calls- now i have an app to sort that one) actually getting filmed actions would be the nail in the coffin for this new one. however i feel that it going to happen whatever i do- preparation in this sense might be over the top but at least it there just in case.

last time i had to drop the charges for my mothers protection- and i had no proof- v complex situation. 

[ollantigh]

Great idea! However making them less camera like- is possibly more of what i was suggesting-

I ended up making a false pile of pots with a slide out front and used the bracket in the packet (the metal ball piece) as a stabilizer, to be able to point the camera in the right direction and hold it there without any noticeable extra strange bits on show- it actually worked really well, however?

At first glance one sees a pile of old pots, and then it hits you- a strange round piece of glass in the center- even worse at night when the red lights come on!

The picture is good and no one so far has said anything- not that i would tell them- ok my nextdoor neighbours asked, but thats as far as that gone...and their unlikely to talk, mainly as it acts as extra protection for them too...the young lad who works for me had a very strange afternoon helping me set thatone up- possibly the most memorable one hes had for quite a while- funny enough hes got quite a knack for it!

The other camera hides in bush- great during the day, good pictures, can't be seen- not so good for night time- still working out that one and had some very useful ideas off here- no i'm thinking the kind of thing one can't predict...wildlife! the hole in the bush is perfect for nesting birds! i had a whole morning of filming a black bird cleaning himself about six inches in front of the box i put it in: perhaps i should post it on here? i'd make a wonderful wildlife cameraman!

just hope i don't upset him when i've got to change the batteries! 

keep the ideas coming! many thanks for everyones advice so far! 

oh how does one post a picture on here?