Lens sizes for Private Investigators

Grant • 3 March 2020

 What lens sizes do Private Investigators use?

 

 

Consider lens sizes for PI work is a critical aspect of DSLR photography and difficult to master. However, with some basics tips and tricks, you can achieve good results quickly.


It is of important to note that there are some great bridge cameras that can achieve solid results especially for long range high zoom situation and there are some really great specialist bridge camera models that can fit this need. This comes at the cost of reduced flexibility in the bridge camera, especially in aperture size. Mirrorless cameras perform better than DSLR's where images per second are needed above 2-3, think Paparazzi. Usually going up to 60fps (frame per second), 60 photographs per second, is essentially incredibly high quality video. With some newer models offering 50mp, we are very optimistic about the future of the technology.


However, most needs can be met with a DSLR and a camcorder, comparatively DSLR's are cheaper. Especially so for just the body. Low f stop telephotos still range at £1,500 - £4,000 which is the main expense.


As DSLR's become the inferior option for those who need more photos in a shorter time space, the mirrorless revolution will begin now as pricing becomes more competitive.


 The most popular lens size for a private investigator is 400mm-800mm with larger aperture sizes for better lowlight performance, especially f4.5 and below. For closer work, most of which will still comparably far for the average photographer, a lens size of 200-400mm with a slighter large aperture of f2-3 would be more ideal.  With that said, I would personally recommend carrying at least 4 different lens types as you can never be quite sure what you will encounter including distances and light levels. 

I would categorise the 4 into these types:

Super long 800mm - Dark, low f-stop >5
Super long 600mm - High light, regular f-stop
Long 400mm - Good light, regular f-stop
Long 400mm - Dark, low f-stop >4

With these 4 you will rarely encounter or perhaps never encounter an investigation style photography need unmet. Any closer shots can be taken with hidden body cams or your mobile, which would be better suited to not being questioned about why your 3ft long camera is in their face.

Ensuring lowlight performance, much in the same way we are concerned are with minimum lux with camcorders, with our DSLR or mirrorless camera is of incredible importance and so the f-stop is essentially how much light the lens is able to gather for the size. As an example, a 400mm lens with f1.2 would be able to take photographs in lower light with a faster shutter speed than a 400mm lens with f3.8. This dynamic between moving objects, shutter speed and low light levels can be summarized with the following 'less light, more movement and lower shutter speed means poorer images for Private Investigators'. As such, we aim to minimise the shutter speed by allowing more light into the lens with lower f stops. The lighting situation outside and the movement we cannot control and as such we just need the correct size lens, with good quality and hopefully in enough light. 

The key middle ground for most lens sizes is 180mm-400mm which most photography will be taken with. The canon 200mm lens found here is a good starting point for seeing what kind of equipment you need.

Lens sizes, availability, usability and the lens size to f-stop ratio are important factors to consider before buying your base model of camera to ensure you can actually buy the parts you need. There are adaptors and off-brand options available if you something doesn't quite fit, however you should expect suboptimal results.

SD card are also an important part of photography. We recommend using high quality class 10 cards with a minimum of 200mb/s read/write speeds. Remember, SD cards fail and cheaper models fail more often. 
private investigator desk, computer, PI software, investigation

3 things you must know about OSINT (2023)

26 February 2023
A trained Private Investigator with years of experience reveals the 3 things you must know about Open Source Intelligence in the context of Private Investigations.
real investigator report, private investigator report, photographs, document, binder

How do Private Investigators find out things?

by Grant • 9 November 2022
How do Private Investigators find the information you are looking for? A detective working with Operant Investigators gives details on how OSINT provides significant data points for investigators.
private investigators desk, private investigator computer, monitor, desk, software

5 reasons why OSINT is critical (2023)

by Grant • 18 August 2022
To understand investigations you must understand OSINT, to understand it you need to know the 5 reasons why it is critical. All Private Investigators use it, this is why.

Talking photography

5 March 2022
What types of overt photography do Private Investigators engage in and what equipment do they use?

Private Investigator Surveillance and Parking

17 January 2022
A common problem all agents encounter, especially so in cities is the problem of parking. A good parking location for a vehicle is essential in ensuring line of sight (LOS) and gathering recordings behind tint or disguised. Now you may be thinking, you would solve this problem through foot surveillance. This isn't always helpful, residential areas may not have many people on foot nearby, there may be nowhere to sit or bled in and a host of other reasons may want your bottom firmly planted in a car seat for this one. So you arrive or even better, as part of a recce (reconnaissance) or planning, you notice a parking problem. I find it helpful to break up the different problems into categories, I will list the types of scenarios. 2 Primary types of areas Urban - City or Town Rural - Villages, farms, greenery or forests Primary types of problems No LOS - Cannot observe the property or points of egress LOS but too distant - Cannot record of observe with any accuracy or with the level of responsiveness needed LOS but blocked - Your vision is obstructed temporarily Too close - The risk of exposure is too high and no places further away are available Primary causes of problems Temporary blockage by vehicle - A behemoth has just parked in your LOS Double yellow lines - No parking here Single yellow lines - Restricted at certain times, they will always be the times you need to be their All spaces are in use - The most frequent issue Moved too many times already - You've been moving around frequently and are reaching a point where further movement between spaces will compromise the surveillance A mixture - A mix of the above It is incredibly frustrating when your turn up to perform your surveillance and have nowhere to park. You know the client will not be happy and your stuck in a tough spot. Parking for private investigators is an essential part of the work and for some cases is strictly required to ensure good results.
man watching, investigator, private investigator, covert surveillance, car

Who can hire a private investigator in the UK?

by Grant White • 25 September 2021
Who is able to hire a Private Investigator in the UK? Is it legal?
whatsapp, sherlock, investigator, glass, messaging, private investigator

Can a private investigator get whatsapp messages?

by Grant White • 25 September 2021
Can a Private Investigator access whatsapp messages? Can they see your private messages?

How much does it cost to hire a private investigator in the UK?

by Grant White • 18 September 2021
How much does a Private Investigator charges for their services, what kind of fees can you expect and what will the cost be?

What do private investigators get hired for?

by Grant White • 18 September 2021
Many people ask: "What do private investigators get hired for?" So, we've compiled a list: What do private investigators get hired for? 1. Surveillance. 2. Finding addresses. 3. Finding someone. 4. Verifying information. 5. Gathering intelligence for further action. However, this is not an exhaustive list of what a private investigator can do. There are many different applications and benefits of hiring a private investigator. Here are some of the benefits of hiring a private investigator: 1. Save money - Instead of dedicating an in-house employee to do the job, a quick and easy way would be to hire a PI short term to get the job done properly. 2. Save time - Time is money; private investigators investigate for a living, they can do the job quickly, professionally, and accurately getting the best results. The term 'Private Investigator is not that specific', but rather an umbrella term for people that act in the area of investigation - each with varying skill-sets and specialisations. Here are some of he common skill-sets a private investigator may specialise in. 1. Financial & Cryptocurrency investigations. 2. Business intelligence. 3. Surveillance. 4. Social engineering. 5. Tracing. 6. Fraud. 7. Background checks. 8. Employee absenteeism. 9. Property. 10. Company checks. Sometimes private investigators are picking up the pieces of a previous investigation, and can include many of these above listed investigations in one case.

The French PI Revolution

8 September 2021
The penal code review in France which made Private Investigator use in civil proceedings legal.
Show More