It’s the kind of gadget that men have dreamt about since they were small boys, but thanks to Swann Security, the video camera in a pen is now obtainable. It also captures still images and audio, to boot.

Visions of a comically oversized pen may spring to mind, but in reality you would be hard pressed to be able to distinguish the PenCam from any other ballpoint. A tiny recess above the metal clip is the only outwardly evidence of the inclusion of a pinhole camera, and even under close scrutiny you’ll struggle to figure out where the built-in microphone records audio from, so you just need to place the pen subtly on a desk or have it idly peeking out of a suit’s top pocket to record colour footage with minimal shake.

Unscrew the PenCam at the centre and one half reveals a USB memory stick. This holds up to 2GB worth of files, equating to over an hour of video footage, which is nothing to scoff at when you consider the size of the device. Set up against the USB stick is the switch to change the recording mode from video to stills or vice versa.

Simply plug this into your computer to access the images, and this also recharges the lithium-ion battery. That lasts for just over 90 minutes of action, so while that’s not quite secret agent level, it’s enough for you to have a go at being one for a bit.

So far, so good - but what of the image quality? Well, unfortunately it’s a bit of a letdown. Consumers are so used to basic technology on board even the cheapest digital compact cameras these days, that the absence of image stabilisation – taken for granted by most – is glaringly obvious in blurry images. Don’t count on fantastic image quality, either, as there’s a reason the megapixel specs aren’t offered on the packaging.

Although Swann is a reputable security firm, the PenCam has to be accepted for what it is. Yes, it comes under Swann’s plug&play security bracket, but it also describes the PenCam as “the perfect business person’s accessory and a cool gift idea.” Scrap the first part of that sentence, but the latter half is bang on the money.

Final Verdict A great idea but needs a secret agent’s salary to afford it, while some technical input from Q wouldn’t go amiss OVERALL

Sam used to work as part of the DCE team, which fuelled his passion for photography. He loves to get his hands on the latest cameras and accessories and put them through their paces.