Swann FlashlightDVR: If torches and camcorders mated

By Andrew Lim on 28 August 2008, 11:18am

The idea of gadgets being able to literally mate with each other and produce converged offspring is one which terrifies us as much as it excites us. Man-induced gadget mating can yield interesting results too. Take the Swann FlashlightDVR -- it's a torch with a built-in camcorder that can take stills and video footage.

The FlashlightDVR can impressively shoot at night using infrared sensors and comes with 128MB of on-board memory, with the option to expand via a miniSD slot. Aimed at security guards, we think that it has plenty of consumer uses too, such as being able to shoot your own low-fi Blair Witch-esque movie or just your camping holidays.

The image quality from the camera isn't fantastic, but it's passable if you're just trying to catch the face of a yoot who's broken into your shop, for example. As for the torch itself, it's not bad, but not the brightest we've ever seen. That's because it uses a single LED, which isn't as bright as some bulbs but lasts for longer. The FlashlightDVR is also quite hefty and would easily double up as a handy weapon should you need to defend yourself in a dangerous situation.

If you're wondering what this multi-functional torch will set you back, be prepared to gasp a little: it's £200 from the official Swann shop. Sometimes it's worth shelling out for a genuine freak of nature. -Andrew Lim