Covert cameras record where a visible dome or bullet would be noticed or tampered with — above a till, inside a stockroom, in a server cupboard, or on a workbench where tools keep going missing. We stock three types at our Wolverhampton trade counter and ship nationally: the mini screw-head spy camera, the compact Dahua HD-CVI pinhole camera, and a 2 MP covert pinhole IP camera for sites that record to an NVR.
The screw camera
The Zenith mini screw hidden pinhole camera is a 9 mm colour camera whose 3.7 mm pinhole lens sits behind what looks like an ordinary screw head, with a built-in microphone. It fits flush into a panel, ceiling tile, shelf edge or cabinet and wires like a conventional analogue camera: a 12 V DC feed (power supply not included), a composite video output to a spare channel on your DVR, and an audio output. It is a standard-definition composite (CVBS) camera at around 800 TV lines, so it suits a DVR that accepts analogue channels — most Hikvision, HiLook and Dahua Turbo HD and XVR recorders do — rather than an IP-only NVR. There is no built-in recording or Wi-Fi, which is what makes it reliable: the footage lands on the same recorder as the rest of the site, with the same retention and export.
Pinhole cameras: analogue or IP
- Dahua HAC-HUM3201B — a 2 MP Starlight HD-CVI pinhole camera about 36 mm across, with a 3.6 mm lens, 120 dB WDR and switchable HD or SD output, for a DVR or XVR system where low-light performance matters.
- 2 MP covert pinhole network camera — a PoE IP pinhole camera (main box, with the lens unit on a short lead) for sites that already record to an NVR.
Pinhole cameras have a fixed, fairly wide lens and no infrared, so they need reasonable ambient light and a position within a few metres of what you want to see.
Using covert cameras lawfully in the UK
Covert CCTV is legal for businesses and homeowners in the UK, but it is regulated. A business recording staff or customers must have a legitimate, documented reason, keep the recording to what is necessary, and follow the ICO's guidance on CCTV and workplace monitoring; covert monitoring of employees is expected to be exceptional and time-limited, for example to investigate suspected theft. Recording audio is treated more strictly than video and is rarely justified. Cameras must never be placed where people reasonably expect privacy — toilets, changing rooms and bathrooms are off limits in every case. If you are unsure, talk to us before you buy and we will tell you honestly whether a visible camera would do the job better.
Help choosing
Call 01902 902251 or email sales@zenithsecurityco.co.uk with the recorder you have and where the camera needs to go, and we will confirm compatibility and the cable you need. For everything else, browse the full CCTV range or visit our Wolverhampton showroom.
Spy Cameras: Screw & Pinhole Covert Cameras
Covert cameras record where a visible dome or bullet would be noticed or tampered with — above a till, inside a stockroom, in a server cupboard, or on a workbench where tools keep going missing. We stock three types at our Wolverhampton trade counter and ship nationally: the mini screw-head spy camera, the compact Dahua HD-CVI pinhole camera, and a 2 MP covert pinhole IP camera for sites that record to an NVR.
The screw camera
The Zenith mini screw hidden pinhole camera is a 9 mm colour camera whose 3.7 mm pinhole lens sits behind what looks like an ordinary screw head, with a built-in microphone. It fits flush into a panel, ceiling tile, shelf edge or cabinet and wires like a conventional analogue camera: a 12 V DC feed (power supply not included), a composite video output to a spare channel on your DVR, and an audio output. It is a standard-definition composite (CVBS) camera at around 800 TV lines, so it suits a DVR that accepts analogue channels — most Hikvision, HiLook and Dahua Turbo HD and XVR recorders do — rather than an IP-only NVR. There is no built-in recording or Wi-Fi, which is what makes it reliable: the footage lands on the same recorder as the rest of the site, with the same retention and export.
Pinhole cameras: analogue or IP
- Dahua HAC-HUM3201B — a 2 MP Starlight HD-CVI pinhole camera about 36 mm across, with a 3.6 mm lens, 120 dB WDR and switchable HD or SD output, for a DVR or XVR system where low-light performance matters.
- 2 MP covert pinhole network camera — a PoE IP pinhole camera (main box, with the lens unit on a short lead) for sites that already record to an NVR.
Pinhole cameras have a fixed, fairly wide lens and no infrared, so they need reasonable ambient light and a position within a few metres of what you want to see.
Using covert cameras lawfully in the UK
Covert CCTV is legal for businesses and homeowners in the UK, but it is regulated. A business recording staff or customers must have a legitimate, documented reason, keep the recording to what is necessary, and follow the ICO's guidance on CCTV and workplace monitoring; covert monitoring of employees is expected to be exceptional and time-limited, for example to investigate suspected theft. Recording audio is treated more strictly than video and is rarely justified. Cameras must never be placed where people reasonably expect privacy — toilets, changing rooms and bathrooms are off limits in every case. If you are unsure, talk to us before you buy and we will tell you honestly whether a visible camera would do the job better.
Help choosing
Call 01902 902251 or email sales@zenithsecurityco.co.uk with the recorder you have and where the camera needs to go, and we will confirm compatibility and the cable you need. For everything else, browse the full CCTV range or visit our Wolverhampton showroom.
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