Things to Consider Before Buying A Spy Camera
If you are actually looking for an endoscope to use for a medical procedure, or even just a camera to check your ears, nose, or other bodily cavities, it is highly dangerous to use these devices on yourself. If you feel like you need to have something checked out, going to a proper physician is the best course of action.
With that aside, these “endoscope” cameras are actually borescopes that are best used for things like home repairs, car repairs, or when you need to see inside certain appliances. These snake cameras are able to fit into most holes, and give you an inside view without the hassle of having to take everything apart.
However, not all snake cameras are good at everything. If you’re still looking for the best endoscope camera for you, here are the important factors that you need to consider.
Cable Length
One of the major things that you need to know before you even consider purchasing an endoscope camera is the cable length. In some cases, you might prefer a shorter cable. However, having a longer cable can be advantageous since it gives you a lot more uses. However, controlling the wire and the rigidity or flexibility of the wire can also be affected by the length of the camera. Depending on what your purpose is, the length may be a major factor or it might not need to be the longest wire out there.
Most borescope cameras span a length between 5-10m. If you are looking for a camera that you plan to use for home repairs, checking out deep pipes and drainage areas, one with a longer cable may benefit you. However, if you are opting for something with more use geared towards car repairs, or troubleshooting home appliances, length doesn’t need to be past 5 meters. But, when you have a borescope, you’ll find that you can use it for more than just one task.
Cable Type
Some borescope cables are more rigid or more flexible. A majority, however, have a semi-rigid cable that is bendable and flexible enough to fit into different spaces. However, a flimsy cable is also not able to stand upright and give a good view of an area. Actual medical endoscopes are actually very soft and flexible. This is because the material needs to not be abrasive, otherwise, it would end up damaging sensitive internal tissues and organs; thus, causing more harm than good during medical procedures.
The semi-rigid and flexible characteristic of most borescopes actually gives it a good advantage. The camera can be controlled and remain upright in certain situations, while also giving the device some flexibility if inserted into winding pipelines.
Camera Diameter
The actual diameter of the camera is also something that will depend on the purpose of your purchase. Smaller cables, with diameters of 5 - 5.5mm, can be extremely useful if you need to get into very small openings. Other cameras might have larger diameters that reach 8-8.5mm. While these are still quite small, it might be too big if you are planning to fit it inside some car parts or appliances.
Camera Resolution
While borescope cameras don’t have the highest resolutions, most of the available gadgets provide the option to record videos or capture images in a specific resolution. This actually helps adjust the quality of images to fit specific purposes, with clearer images set for situations when you might need to identify what the specific contents are. While other resolutions, which can provide a better overall view, might also work better.
One thing to look for is the focal distance of the camera. Devices with a wider range of focal area are better able to focus on certain images. With the limited control that users have when operating an endoscope or borescope, a camera with a wide focal range is capable of capturing more focused images and videos.
Camera Connectivity
Endoscope cameras allow users to view videos through different methods. Most wireless endoscopes rely on either a WiFi or Bluetooth connection to connect to phones, tablets, or other devices. In this case, the files are accessed directly via a manufacturer developed mobile app or a generic app for endoscope cameras. When comparing between wireless and wired connections, there is a contrasting set of advantages and disadvantages.
Wireless connections provide easy access, easy sharing, and the convenience of being able to view the videos, record videos, and take snapshots with your own phone. However, since the videos are transmitted through a wireless signal, there is data loss incurred and the quality of the videos and images are often compromised. The advantage of having a wired connection, however, is that the videos are directly transferred through a stable and closed connection. This ensures that the video quality is not affected. Endoscope cameras that rely on a wired connection are either connected directly to another device with a screen, like a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop, or can come with its own dedicated screen.
Accessories
Most endoscope cameras come with a set of special accessories that are useful for different tasks. The most common accessories include camera head attachments that are in the form of a magnet, hook, magnifier, or side-view mirror. These provide extra functionalities but are mostly helpful when you need to retrieve some things that get stuck in tight and confined spaces.
Most endoscopes share similar features, however, specific features are better developed in some products. If you’re looking to purchase an endoscope camera, assessing the main purpose of the tool will help determine which features you need. To get you started, you could first look into whether a wired or wireless endoscope camera will better fit your needs. From there, you can rely on the other features given in this guide, until you are able to pinpoint the specifications you need in an endoscope.
References
(1) - QR Code - https://smallbiztrends.com/2015/05/what-is-a-qr-code.html
(2) - IP 67 - https://www.trustedreviews.com/opinion/what-is-ip68-ip-ratings-explained-2947135