Covert Spy Sunglasses

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Introduction: Covert Spy Sunglasses

About: Tinkerer, hackster and prankster. Hit me up on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kipkayvideos/ Thanks for checking out my Instructables!
I've always wanted a pair of spy sunglasses that record stealth video but they run upwards of $300. So here's how to make your own that work great, record color video AND audio! Watch the Test Results in the video!


Step 1: What You Need...

1. Micro Color Spy Camera that records audio and has an optional 9 volt power clip. GET IT HERE
Specs:
NTSC 380 TV Lines
2 LUX
Effective Element: 510x492
Viewing angle: 30 ~ 35 degrees
Automatic Iris, Exposure with adjustable focus
Viewing Distance: 50 mm to infinity
Full Motion Real Time Color Video without delay
Operating Voltage: 9-Volt Battery or AC-DC +8V 200mA Power Adapter
Operating Duration by Battery: 10 hours on Duracell or Energizer Alkaline Battery

2. 1 Pair Solar Shield Polarized Sunglasses. I picked a size Medium ($19.95 + tax - Walmart)

Step 2: Tools...

1. Soldering station
2. Hot glue gun
3. Wire Strippers/snips
4. Heat shrink tubing
5. 9 Volt battery
6. Small Camcorder

Step 3: Prep the Camera...

First trim back the molding on the camera to reveal the wiring. My camera had 4 wires. 1 for Video, Audio, Power and ground. That came together at 3 connectors. (The ground was connected to the ground wires on the video, audio and power line). I tehn cut the wireing about 4 inches from the camera leaving enough wiring on the other end.

Step 4: Extend the Wiring...

Now we want to add some wire to each line to extend it about 3 feet. After marking what each line is, solder one length of wire to each of the 4 cut lines coming from the camer. Add some shrink tubing and then solder the other ends of the new wire to the connector end.

Step 5: Installing the Spy Cam...

The Solar Shield glasses are great because there is plenty of room to install the newly wired camera in a far corner and secure with hot glue. Clean the glasses good before you install the camera because you are not going to be able to access the lens area again once installed. Then secure the wiring along the arm of the glasses. The black shrink tubing gets concealed perfectly.

Step 6: Connect the Camera...

I chose a Sony Camcorder that I already had (DCR-H32) because of it's size, it has A/V inputs and shoots MiniDV. You can easily hide the wiring down the back of your neck and in your shirt and then down into a pocket in your pants, inside a jacket pocket or anywhere else. Add the 9 volt battery clip and you are ready to shoot some spy footage!

Step 7: Color Video AND Audio

This setup shoots great color imagery for the price as you saw in the video and pretty clean audio. You could also include the audio wiring in the main strand and use a lavalier microphone attached somewhere on you, but I was mainly interested in the video. There's my Covert Spy Sunglasses for around $40! Enjoy!

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    254 Comments

    0
    GregW31
    GregW31

    7 years ago

    Amazon sells video shades as low as 20 bux complete ready to go with sound capture, Why try to reinvent the wheel?

    0
    Cekpi7
    Cekpi7

    Reply 7 years ago

    this was made in 2008

    back then you couldnt buy them (they were too expensive)

    0
    msspurlock
    msspurlock

    Reply 7 years ago

    I've tried those. They're junk. I'd rather source the components myself, and know how to do it. To me, that what Instructables is about. Besides, even if you do just buy them, what I need is a reliable pair that streams to my phone and uploads video files to Dropbox. In my sideline business, if I don't get the investigative footage, I don't get paid.

    0
    jvangurp
    jvangurp

    Reply 7 years ago

    I like how it records to a camcorder, presumably with much longer battery life and maybe a longer recording capacity too.

    0
    zcheek
    zcheek

    Reply 7 years ago

    Why be on a Maker forum if you're not into making things for yourself? Sometimes the answer is simply "to see if I can."

    0
    M. A.G
    M. A.G

    Reply 7 years ago

    yeah but you dont want to be stupid about it.If you can get something better for cheaper why be a tweeker and make it? Its like try making a bar of soap? it'll take a week and tons of time and material all for $.59 product. thats just dumb

    0
    GregW31
    GregW31

    Reply 7 years ago

    Bro! I make and invent stuff all the time. I am a veritable invention machine. I even hold a couple patents and have designed and developed products that are in use all around the globe.
    What I don't do is dabble in folly.
    I will make things when it makes sense.
    Example, I make my own bacon because I can make it for 80 cents per pound but I don't make my own cheese because it costs the same or more to make it than I can buy it.

    https://www.amazon.com/Sunglasses-Glasses-Recorder-Camcorder-Eyewear/dp/B00RBHHC1A/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1450988698&sr=1-8&keywords=video+glasses

    0
    LeonS5
    LeonS5

    Reply 7 years ago

    and how do you make your bacon

    0
    dvrnhll
    dvrnhll

    Reply 7 years ago

    Did you note that this was originally posted in 2008? What is commonplace and inexpensive today was not so almost 8 years ago.

    0
    M. A.G
    M. A.G

    Reply 7 years ago

    why then would we just get an email notice about an instructible as if it were new? I feel like i am now getting misinformed, bad info

    0
    GregW31
    GregW31

    Reply 7 years ago

    No, I didn't.
    And that makes a big difference too.
    The web is a weird archive, I tend to look at dates on news stuff and should have done so here.

    Thanks,
    Greg

    0
    myhoodlums4
    myhoodlums4

    7 years ago

    on the plus side of this time warped post ~ you have all made it over 18!! lol

    0
    M. A.G
    M. A.G

    Reply 7 years ago

    smart guys know that in the forum it does not matter everybody will understand his or her message regardless

    0
    Rye
    Rye

    14 years ago on Introduction

    Is there any way to get a camera like that without buying it on ebay? I'm 13 and I'm limited to what my parents will(and won't) let me do.

    0
    Mario1
    Mario1

    Reply 14 years ago on Introduction

    Yes, there is you can go in some "spy" websites (write in google telephone silencer) and you will see some spy sites the order is mailed to you or ppl delivers it to your door you just pay him and sign a document i'm 13 too (i buyed my Sony HandyCam DCR-DVD109 with my mom from a tech magazine :D )

    0
    Yeds
    Yeds

    Reply 14 years ago on Introduction

    You're thirteen, and that's why you wrote buyed. It's bought. :P I'm joking, I'm thirteen as well.

    0
    Majafero
    Majafero

    Reply 14 years ago on Introduction

    no, we are not all 13 maybe a vast majority of you are but, I am 14 big difference

    0
    M. A.G
    M. A.G

    Reply 7 years ago

    No that is an untrue statement. There is such a small difference between 13 and 14 that one could correctly say there is no difference.