miniature home security system?

[Icey101]

I’d like to setup a hidden home security camera system capable of good night vision. The only thing is I don’t want a bunch of big fat dome or pedestal camera’s bolted to the front of my house pointing at people coming up the drive way. I’d like to install mini hidden camera’s with IR capability. I would then run an IR spot light to brighten up the front yard at night. Here’s another issue, most IR lights glow red at night which might give it away...

Of course I’ll be installing a large hard drive and monitoring systems to run the cameras into

Has anyone got any ideas?

 

[1958Bassman]

I’d like to setup a hidden home security camera system capable of good night vision. The only thing is I don’t want a bunch of big fat dome or pedestal camera’s bolted to the front of my house pointing at people coming up the drive way. I’d like to install mini hidden camera’s with IR capability. I would then run an IR spot light to brighten up the front yard at night. Here’s another issue, most IR lights glow red at night which might give it away...

Of course I’ll be installing a large hard drive and monitoring systems to run the cameras into

Has anyone got any ideas?

An IR spot illuminator will give it away, too- why is stealth an objective? If the cameras use IR, it's very easy to find the houses with IR cameras and which ones don't- any video camera will see a bright spot where the illumination emanates. Also, tiny cameras have small lenses and CCD and both of these provide a better image if they're larger because they collect light over a larger area and need less brightening, which reduces noise.

Have you checked for availability where you are? I use Digital Watchdog cameras and DVRs- most of the cameras so far have been Starlight models, which use available light, rather than an IR illuminator. They're easy to setup, they have great features WRT AGC, back-light masking, privacy blocking and are vandal proof. I'll be looking at another brand today. Personally, I'd rather have a good camera than a small one.