Kidizoom Plus Camera
© 2009 VTech Electronics North America
This year's Kidizoom and Kidizoom Plus cameras from Vtech bring with them some welcome improvements in quality and features, along with a drop in price. The more expensive 2 megapixel Kidizoom Plus (to which the ratings apply), $60, has some welcome enhancements, including a 2x digital zoom, 256 MB of onboard memory and an SD memory slot. The preview screen doubles as a game delivery system, with five simple but surprisingly fun games. There's also a built-in editor that lets you play with your photos, including different frames and a jigsaw option. In our tests, the photos were surprisingly good -- much better than the previous models, or the Fisher-Price camera. In addition, the camera was responsive, with little latency between shutter button presses. This camera will be a welcome addition to any early childhood program. The more affordable .3 megapixel Kidizoom ($40) functions identically to the older Kidizoom, minus the higher price and binocular viewfinder. Both cameras include an a Macintosh/Windows photo editor, USB and AV cable to connect to your computer or TV, and run on 4 AA batteries.
$60, Smart Toy
Teaches: creativity, digital photography
CTR Rating: 92%