This positively tiny device is the epitome of portability. True to its name, this little camera is about the size of your thumb, allowing users to carry it with them wherever they go, so they’ll never miss a moment.

Being so small, it’s important to have an uncomplicated interface: something which Swann delivers with ease. The shiny black plastic casing sports nothing but the lens on its front face, with an ergonomically shaped groove for your index finger to wrap around and keep it secure while filming. The back simply sports a loop for you to attach it to the supplied lanyard, while the bottom of the camera has a mini-USB port to connect it to a computer.

The right hand side of the ThumbCam has a Mode button and a MicroSD slot as well as a small Reset button, while the Power button is located on the opposite side. The top panel on the camera houses the tiny Record/Stop button. Needless to say, there’s little to learn when getting to grips with the ThumbCam, but there’s still a comprehensive manual provided in the box, along with a protective clear silicon case, belt/pocket clip, wall mount clip, pivot clip, USB cable and a mini-CD with the necessary drivers on it.

The dimensions of the device mean that it’s incredibly easy to carry around with you, or you can mount it on your bike / looking through the window of a moving vehicle / clip it to yourself while you’re out walking or even climbing – the possibilities are endless! There are a few drawbacks however: the lens is fixed, so there’s no facility to zoom, and you have to hazard a guess as to what’s actually in the frame while you’re filming too – there’s no LCD to help you there. The manual states that the lens can focus down to about 30cm in front and will focus to infinity: trial and error, with plenty of trips to the computer to review your first few bits of footage will teach you more about what you can capture.

Sound and picture quality are surprisingly good, considering the product’s size and price. It can take a little while to adjust when moving from dark to lighter areas and there’s some smearing if you pan too quickly, but on whole the ThumCam performs well.

Final Verdict Highly portable and easy to use, but limited in what it can do. Great for quick video-making on-the-fly. OVERALL

Debbi’s passionate about all things photographic: from the latest digital kit to the greatest techniques to capture a scene. She’s been at the helm of the photography portfolio of magazines, websites and more for three years.