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The CamBall is self contained video surveillance system that is the size of a golf ball, yet records clear 320 x 240 video at 30 frames per second with audio, or large 640 x 480 color photos, to micro SD cards.

Made by Starnex International, a South Korean company, the upgraded CamBall features improved motion detection, uses micro SD cards up to 16GB and includes many accessories that were previously sold separately.

The CamBall is one of the coolest gadgets we have seen, and there are two versions, depending on your needs. The big difference is the SC-30 does not have motion activation, and the SC-31 does.

If you want to record action sports, parties, weddings, meetings, or your cat, you might not want the motion activation. If you are trying to monitor your sick parents, or keying your car, you need the motion detection.

The motion detection has been much better over the prior model, specifically they are using a better chip, so it’s not just a software upgrade. The sun coming out from the clouds use to trip the motion activation.

The CamBall records up to 16 hours of video, more on motion detection. The internal batteries last about 100 minutes, hours with light motion, and if you use the optional Surveillance Pack, you can run the camera from the electricity of the building.

The CamBall is simple to set-up and use. Charge it up for 3 hours, and turn it on by pressing the big button for 2 seconds. After the lights blink 2x, its ready to use. Once it’s done, you can either push the large center button to take photos, or press the record button (Up arrow) for 2 seconds, and it will record until you turn it off or the battery dies.

It has clear video and photos. The recorded video has no dropped frames, and measures 320 x 240. Audio is optional, and you can even record when the Camball hears sounds.

Setting up motion detection is a snap; you just have to hold down the “Left Arrow” button for 2 seconds until its Red, and then press record (Up Arrow) for 2 seconds. Set it down and it will start recording when motion is detected.

The free CamBall manager software allows you to change the settings, and it automatically updates itself, and the camera, whenever you connect the CamBall to a PC.

Every possible setting is adjustable, including time/date, motion activation, and turning on the “Night Vision” feature.

The software is not Apple compatible, though you can watch the movies by connecting the USB cable to your Mac. If you don’t have a computer, hook it to your TV to change settings.

To view the videos, you can plug the CamBall into your Mac or PC, and find the video files. KM Player works great on a PC, and on a Mac, the movies play just fine in QuickTime. You can also use a SD card reader to watch your videos on any computer.

There are four optional accessory packs to enhance the camera.. We covered the Surveillance Pack above., there is a Sports Pack that has a handle bar and clip mount that can be interchanged with a weatherproof housing, or a standard holder.

Use the Vehicle Pack to monitor your car or truck for vandals, and viewing the video on a GPS navigator. The LCD Pack allows you to watch your videos on a color 2.5” LCD screen.

If you love gadgets, or need a small and easy to hide Spy Camera, check out this CamBall review article, to learn more about the SecureShot Micro Eyes SD Card Recording Ball Camera CamBall, a one camera surveillance system for home, work, sports, events, or your car.