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Surveillance (long distance especially)
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2019-04-18 at 8:19 PM UTCPost what you know about cameras and methods used for long distance surveillance. I'm just getting into reading about this.
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2019-04-18 at 9:02 PM UTCGenerally speaking, are there really any non-nefarious purposes for this?
Whatever the case ethically, I would imagine that, assuming you already know where your target is (tracking them down would require a completely different set of skills, tools, and resources), then you would probably want:
1. An audio amplifier (you see these in the movies all the time... they look like a portable satellite dish that you just point at whomever you're trying hear from a distance). Obviously an audio recorder would come in handy as well.
2. A decent camera with long range zoom capabilities.
3. If you have physical access to a regular location of theirs, you could install spy cams that blend in so they are virtually undetectable, and an audio bug as well.
Now, tracking them down, that's a whole other story. If that's part of your goal, we could get into that. -
2019-04-18 at 9:56 PM UTC
Originally posted by gadzooks Generally speaking, are there really any non-nefarious purposes for this?
I figured the site could use a general purpose surveillance thread, but it's not really geared towards anything illegal or nefarious in my case, so I didn't post it in Bad Ideas for that reason. One of the reasons is I don't trust anybody, so sometimes I imagine a scenario where I might need to find out who someone really is by watching them, but I'd need to keep my distance. I'm good with disguises, FX makeup, so that part isn't an issue.. The audio stuff I can do fairly well. I just don't know much about cameras. But info on specifics of audio surveillance isn't a bad thing to contribute if anyone feels like it.
Anything surveillance related would be good, but especially with long range cameras.
Originally posted by gadzooks Whatever the case ethically, I would imagine that, assuming you already know where your target is (tracking them down would require a completely different set of skills, tools, and resources), then you would probably want:
1. An audio amplifier (you see these in the movies all the time… they look like a portable satellite dish that you just point at whomever you're trying hear from a distance). Obviously an audio recorder would come in handy as well.
2. A decent camera with long range zoom capabilities.
3. If you have physical access to a regular location of theirs, you could install spy cams that blend in so they are virtually undetectable, and an audio bug as well.
Now, tracking them down, that's a whole other story. If that's part of your goal, we could get into that.
Tracking people often goes with surveillance. I have pondered the idea of becoming a private investigator at some point.The following users say it would be alright if the author of this post didn't die in a fire! -
2019-04-18 at 10:07 PM UTC
Originally posted by We'reAllBrownNosers I have pondered the idea of becoming a private investigator at some point.
I have considered a career as a private investigator before myself, but had some ethical issues with the whole thing.
I went out on a case with a friend once who put an ad on craigslist saying he was a private investigator (he wasn't; lulz ensued), and he actually got a call.
We ended up helping this Chinese lady track down a man she was supposed to marry once she arrived in Canada, but who was completely avoiding her.
I couldn't tell if she was just trying to settle a fair contract or get answers for her own satisfaction, or, if she was just a straight up stalker.
That being said, I figure that as long as the PI works within the boundaries of the law, and exhibits a certain degree of ethical obligations, then it can be a respectable career. -
2019-04-18 at 10:07 PM UTC
Originally posted by We'reAllBrownNosers Tracking people often goes with surveillance.
Tracking is, to me, the really fun part.
Staking out a site for hours and hours doing onsite surveillance looks to me like it could be incredibly boring after a while.
Now, tracking, assuming one doesn't know where the person is yet (because there's also tracking as in putting a tracker on a vehicle with GPS signals, etc), usually comes down to information:
1. Computer-based resources/databases that host all kinds of data on people (department of motor vehicles, various government databases, etc).
2. People: Being a PI comes down to a whole lot of knocking on doors and gaining information peripherally.
Now, #1 could be done in all kinds of black hat ways if you want to dig up LOTS of information, but, I kinda wanna keep things within certain ethical constraints. -
2019-04-18 at 10:07 PM UTC
Originally posted by We'reAllBrownNosers I figured the site could use a general purpose surveillance thread, but it's not really geared towards anything illegal or nefarious in my case, so I didn't post it in Bad Ideas for that reason. One of the reasons is I don't trust anybody, so sometimes I imagine a scenario where I might need to find out who someone really is by watching them, but I'd need to keep my distance. I'm good with disguises, FX makeup, so that part isn't an issue.. The audio stuff I can do fairly well. I just don't know much about cameras. But info on specifics of audio surveillance isn't a bad thing to contribute if anyone feels like it.
Anything surveillance related would be good, but especially with long range cameras.
I'm kind of a fan of learning about things just for the sake of learning new things, so I like this thread and will likely contribute what I can to it.
I'd imagine a professional, or even hobbyist, photographer would be a goldmine of information on even long range cameras. They'll know all about different kinds of zoom lenses, about aperture and all that other technical photography/camera stuff. I'm not really all that knowledgeable on cameras like that myself.
