Equipment: Lighter Camera

Today's review is a bit overdue: the 007 Lighter Camera. Who wouldn't want something that actually appeared to come from Q's laboratory? This gadget does fit that bill fairly well, and offers some good espionage points, but it does have its limits.

The camera actually does look and feel like a Zippo, although slightly wider than the normal lighter. I imagine it was based on another camera that actually saw espionage missions, the Echo 8 Camera. On the base of the lighter, it is stamped with the "007" logo and markings. Not sure why they did that, makes it a bit less subtle, but fortunately it is not often noticed.

When opened, the camera controls are exposed so that you can immediately take a shot. The camera itself is removable. It is a plastic body and again has an even larger "007" logo (again, why?). On the front is the lens and a small microphone, the back has a very basic LCD display, an LED, and a mode selector button.

The actual usage of the camera is a mixed bag. The camera is powered by a single AAA battery. Turning on the camera takes surprisingly long - the mode selector is pressed for 1-2 seconds, and the camera is ready in another 1-2 seconds. Available modes are:

• Standard 640 x 320 camera. Not bad pictures - of standard cell phone variety. Since there is no flash, it does not do indoor shots very well unless lit by florescent lighting. Taking pictures of documents works occasionally, so if using it that way, make sure to take a lot of shots.
• Lower resolution camera. Never used it, don't see the point.
• Self-timer for either resolution. Good for "civilian" use.
• Video clip mode with audio. This very useful feature can film a good length of time, maybe 45 seconds, and has better night vision than the regular camera.
• Audio recorder. Functions well for voice notes or recording a single source, but inadequate for most jobs.
• Surveillance (or "JB" for "James Bond mode" - ugh). Great feature with a silly name. You can specify an interval (from 1 minute on up) upon which the camera will take a picture. An unfortunate problem with this mode is that it still beeps every time it takes a photo. However, I have used this quite often and have found it useful. I have left the camera behind in an area I wanted to watch, and it works amazingly well. Typically it is a good idea to hide it in something else; e.g. a box of tissues (which masks the beep) or beside a computer.
• Clear memory. Erases everything on the camera.

The device also works as a USB drive, but if you take a picture after using it that way, whatever you placed on the device will be overwritten. Connecting to the device as a regular USB drive is a much more pleasant way of recovering your photos.

Reviews will tell you that the camera records the video clips in a proprietary format. That's true, but if you use the included software to copy the files over, you can find those films under the Bond directory as AVIs. As for other media, the pictures are recorded as JPGs and the recordings as WAV.

The full package is very nicely packed in a clever, albeit cardboard, presentation box. Included with the device: a small case, a standard USB, and a smart compact USB cord.

Actual usage of the device has shown its strong points. Traveling with the camera is great, and this is how it works best as a true James Bond gadget. I've never tried to take it on a plane since it would likely cause a stir. Taking covert photos is not too difficult either, but it will take a bit of practice to learn the timing of the device. Is it a serious camera? Many people will say it is a toy, but practically it works just as well as many of the espionage cameras up through the late 80s. Russian intelligence was even experimenting with a pinhole camera for site surveillance, and they would have been very happy with this gadget. So, yes, the camera can be used for some serious work: pictures of sites, people, and vehicles. I would not rely on this camera for photographing documents except in dire circumstances, but I have found it to work in that capacity. The added bonus of being concealable and disguised is very nice indeed.

Though it was previously available at ThinkGeek, the camera has disappeared from their inventory. I have seen it on EBay a couple of times and I'm certain other sites will carry it. At its debut, it was $99. I was one of the early adopters since I am a sucker for Bond-like gadgets, so I was a bit dismayed when it lowered to $69. With the cameras available now, I would think that around $50 would be fair market value in 2007. That being said, I feel like I have gotten out of the camera what I paid for it.