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Spy-Point IR-C 8 Megapixel Infrared Digital Surveillance Camera

Spy-Point IR-C 8 Megapixel Infrared Digital Surveillance Camera

Automated digital cameras are nothing new as they’ve long been used in the States by hunters for observation and are becoming more popular in the UK. The Spy-Point IR-C 8 comes with a securing strap, USB and video cables and manual. There’s a host of optional extras but the most useful is the rechargeable, 12V, Lithium battery pack to save on continually buying batteries.

Up front the main lens is flanked by twin IR sensors. above is a cluster of 48-LED’s for the camera to use when taking still shots or video at night and a larger one at the top to further aid night-time capability.

Lock It Down

The build goes for a water resistant, moulded, camo casing measuring 8.5 x 6 X 3” with a full length hinge on the door, which is closed by twin catches plus an integral padlock point. The rear has toothed plates to allow it to secure to a surface and a wrap-around strap to hold it there. It’s highly recommended you not only get a padlock to keep it closed, but also the optional, 6ft, keyed, cable lock to prevent some bugger nicking it!

Open you have access to all controls - 2.4” colour viewing screen, sensor distance adjuster with the large battery compartment positioned below. I found it lasted around 72 hours of continuous use with disposable cells. However, you have a number of power options besides that one. The rechargeable pack fits in the compartment and gives approximately three times the run time. It can also run off any external 12V DC battery source and there’s even an optional solar panel available that can be permanently ‘plugged’ into the unit to keep a rechargeable battery topped up, so you don’t ever have to worry about running out of juice.

Once opened, the control panel and battery compartment are on the left hand side facing you. On the top left is the ON/OFF switch and below that a low battery indicator. To the right of the screen are three square buttons. These allow you to access the menu and scroll through modes and options.

Set Up

The unit is also set by using the button below the screen which slides from left to right going through the options that are clearly printed. After setting up and switching on, the camera is now armed once the slider is set to one of these modes; photo (jpeg), video (AVI), test (for setting the sensor range), set and view/TV. The dial to the right of the slider sets the sensor detection range from 5 – 50ft.

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Although the 95º detection angle might seem ‘narrow’ it’s up to you to set the camera in the optimum position for the area you want to have under surveillance. Sight correctly and you’ll miss nothing that triggers the sensors and check out the early morning photo I captured to show just how good picture quality is.
It can be set to take multi-shots of 1, 2, 3 or 4 photos per detection, video clips you can set from 10 - 90 seconds, the adjustable time delay between detections can be set from 4 seconds to 30 minutes. Daytime photos are in full colour while night-time in black and white. You can select to have the time and date imprinted and when you come to check what’s been around. You can view the images captured using the TFT screen and when you come across one of particular interest, go into the menu and this will indicate what time and date that shot was captured due to the 32MB internal memory.

In The Slot

This leads me to the external storage memory. The camera takes either a standard SD or MMC card up to 2GB. The memory card slot is on the top outer inside edge below the TV out plug and USB connector, so you can remove and view at your leisure.

You have the options of low 3MP, Normal 5MP and High 8 Megapixel for images. On the lowest a 2GB card holds 2000 images, on the highest 8 Megapixel setting it holds 582. That’s certainly enough for most, but sacrifice some picture quality and set to 5 Mega pixel, and there is still a high enough standard for clear quarry identification and you have storage of up to 800 images.

Setting up is simple, as with a memory card in and the settings ‘punched in’ using the menu buttons you simply switch on and slide the main mode selector over to test and close the unit. This allows you to ensure you’ve set the sensor dial to the correct position as the test light comes on if it detects motion. Trial and error will soon get this done but at a three quarter position clockwise gave me a good depth of view for objects close and longer ranges. Once satisfied, select the mode you want, close the unit and it will begin to blink for 60 seconds to let you walk out of detection range.

Conclusions

I found the camera is very user friendly and for testing I put it through the worst case scenarios from no light, to direct harsh light from the early morning sun. I did this even though it recommends for best picture quality you don’t set it with the sun shining at it, however I wanted to push its capabilities and therefore picture quality.

To a comparable compact digital camera I was very impressed especially with quality, multi-shot facility and depth of field. For a controlled test I set it at home where I knew the magpies are frequent early morning visitors. A bit of bait allowed me capture some very interesting shots and I’m going to do a long term evaluation along with the Ranger Pro at a later date on its night-time capabilities.

We Reckon:
• For: Versatile menu and power sources
• Against: Security is always an issue
• Verdict: Useful remote surveillance system

PRICES:
Camera - £369.95p
12V Lithium battery pack & mains charger - £69.95p
12V Lithium battery pack - £49.95
Solar Panel SP-12V - £49.95
Cable Lock (6ft) - £22.95

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