Few of us can be bothered to carry video cameras around, no matter how useful they may be. But leave it to Panasonic to shrink a video camera to fit both your budget and your pocket.
The SV-AV30 has been on Japanese shelves for several weeks, but it is also starting to appear in Hong Kong malls, courtesy of the local grey market.
Also marketed with the more user-friendly name of D-snap, the SV-AV30 is a remarkable, multi-function device that manages to combine video recorder, digital camera, audio player and recorder in a palm-sized package.
The device records video using the Mpeg4 standard and can capture 15 frames per second at 320x240 pixels. On the downside, the lens has a software-only zoom and captures video at just 310,000 pixels, but if you are in the market for a compact camera, the compromise is worthwhile.
The D-snap measures just 62x26x75mm and weighs 122 grams, including battery - less than the average mobile phone.
Videos can be watched on the two-inch TFT-LCD monitor, while users have the choice of listening to audio through headphones or a built-in speaker.