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Despite strong opposition from most in the industry, dummy cameras continue to be one of the top-selling security products online. Right now, a dummy camera is currently the #2 top result for "surveillance camera" on Amazon.com. But how realistic are they really? In this report, we put seven of the most popular models head to head against each other and compare them to real cameras to answer just that.
For starters, the image below contains only one real camera. Can you guess it correctly?
Key Findings
Here are our key findings:
The UniquExceptional UDC4silver, the top selling dummy camera on Amazon (and #2 surveillance camera overall as of this writing) was among the most realistic cameras in our shootout, thanks to the combination of realistic mount and housing, as well as the use of a real section of coaxial cable instead of plastic tubing found on other cameras.
The blinking red LED found on all models tested gave away the fact that they were dummy cameras, since modern surveillance cameras have not used blinking lights for some time.
We found that the dummy bullet cameras were most realistic due to their housing construction and imitation LEDs. Dome cameras were also realistic, though generally resembled lower cost minidomes. Dummy box cameras were least realistic.
Cameras that came equipped with a fake cable running from the camera looked more realistic than the ones that didn't.
Battery life is a concern, as two models drained their batteries within 3-4 weeks of use, and most models do not have an on/off switch.
The location of the battery packs can be inconvenient once the dummy cameras are mounted since they can be located under the camera or inside the lens.
Although all of the dummy cameras tested were relatively inexpensive (less than $20 USD), build quality varied. Some are made from cheap plastic and can appear as a toy rather than as a criminal deterrent, and others look almost as real as commercially available cameras.
Pricing
All of the dummy cameras used in this test were below $20, with most below $10. However, quality did not necessarily follow price. For example, two of the most believable cameras in our test were also lowest price:
By contrast, the most expensive model was the "wireless" motorized brick camera ($16.81), which we found less believable due to its small size relative to real cameras, and lack of power cabling.
Recommendations
Generally speaking, we do not recommend the use of dummy cameras, as their deterrent value is questionable.
However, if users do plan to install dummy cameras, there are three key recommendations:
Turn off red lights: Flashing red lights are found on practically no commercial surveillance cameras available today, making them the most obvious indication a camera is not real. Keep lights turned off or no batteries in the camera at all.
Use bullet or dome cameras: These two form factors were far more realistic and difficult to differentiate from real cameras than box models.
Mounting location: Placing cameras higher or further from the public makes details such as battery doors, fake lenses and LEDs, or false cables more difficult to recognize.
Physical Overview Video
Below are our physical overview videos. We have broken them up by form factor to help alleviate the length of the overall videos and see the specific strengths and weaknesses of each.
Dummy IR Bullets
Dummy Domes
Dummy Box Cameras
Comparisons
Below are image comparisons of the dummy cameras against real cameras. The images below are first shown without labels so users can guess which are real. Mouseover each image to see labels.
IR Bullets
Dummy IR bullet cameras were the most believable of all form factors. The biggest difference between real and dummy bullet cameras was the arrangement of IR LEDs and the separation (or lack thereof) of the lens from the outer window.
Domes
The dummy dome cameras were also quite convincing when compared to real low cost models. The housing of the dummy dome on the right was quite convincing, but its articulated gooseneck has no way to route cables, which may not fool some users.
Box Cameras
The weakest dummy cameras are the box cameras, primarily due to their substantially smaller size. Both of these models also had clearly marked battery doors on the top of the camera, not found on real cameras. The box dummy in the middle of the image has no cable running from it, labeled as "wireless", making subjects curious as to how it's being powered. The cameras ont he right is made from a very cheap plastic and resembles a toy more than a camera.
Motion Activated Demonstration
Below is a short video demonstrating the box dummy cameras on patrol. The activation range is ~5ft with quick or rapid motion, and when lighting changes from dark to bright quickly. When activated, the cameras pan back and forth, making a loud, annoying noise. Notably, real pan/tilt mounts are considerably larger than the mounts included with these cameras.
I've been on the edge of my seat waiting for this one. The subject matter forced me to read every word...not that I needed or will ever use the information in this article, but it is very well written and very informative.
Not to suggest that a "dummy camera shoot out" is not useful to someone, but might I suggest some other topics for research? And excuse me if I have missed these topics in previous posts.
Direct attached storage as opposed to NAS and how different VMS work with both
Does brand/quality of cable effect latency in EAC/Surveillance installations?
Retrieval of archived video. Which VMS does it better? Does how and where it is archived affect retrieval?
Thanks again for lifting my spirits. I am especially entertained by the closing video clip of the 2 box cameras in motion.
"The housing of the dummy dome on the right was quite convincing, but its articulated gooseneck has no way to route cables, which may not fool some users."
I have a functional PTZ with that exact same gooseneck, which does in fact have a cable running through it.
We hear this a lot, but we've heard absolutely no verifiable claims of dummy cameras truly creating liability. The Rape Under A Dummy Camera story is most common, and it's based on a lawyer's speculation, not an actual case.
For those interested, as of right now, nearly half (~49%) of respondents can't spot the real camera in the image at the top of the post. And the UniquExceptional (top seller on Amazon) is indeed fooling more people than the others.
No difference between the real and the fake in those examples Michael, but I don't think anyone's goal for their CCTV system is covered under those points. It is kind of like saying there is no difference between a Ford Focus out of gas and a Maserati Granturismo with no gas because neither one gets you where you need to go. I make sure my cameras point and cover what I want them to and that they are up and running so our cameras frequently cover the action desired.
I save and clean up some of the cameras and lenses that have to be replaced to use for this sort of application. If you wire them up as if they were going to work (power and signal) and terminate the ends that should go back to the recorder/power supply in an electrical box or into the ceiling or wall the illusion is pretty convincing. They look like real working cameras for even less than new dummy cameras.
We certainly avoid them because one of the techniques we use to help protect our own staff from claims of abuse or bad behaviour when dealing with a grumpy passenger is to deal with them under a camera. A dummy camera may help de-escalate situations but in practice, the best form of defence against vexatious claimants is to have vision. Dummy cameras alas, don't provide vision (I should know, I've been in the business several months now).
I thought all Foscam cameras were dummies, or at least for dummies :)
Foscam is really at the bottom of the barrel, but I did not know they literally manufactured dummy cameras. That said, it looks pretty realistic, and since many people know the Foscam brand, it might have more of a deterrent effect.
HDcctv Alliance has just awarded the UDC4silver the first full compliance certification of its ver2 spec! Stating that all features of the UDC4silver are fully supported and at the same TCO as IP...
Half seriously tho, maybe John can spare one to send over there for compliance testing, to see what they do with it...
