What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Real digital camera takes photos and videos The Bad: Lots of navigational buttons may confuse younger photographers In a Nutshell: This durable camera is a fun way to inspire creativity At a Glance Ages: 3 and up Requires: 4 AA Batteries; TV or computer with Windows 2000 or newer needed for some effect

Colorful and durable design can stand up to rough handling; includes two interchangeable faceplates. (shown in pink) View larger.

Large buttons, navigational joystick and 1.8-inch color screen make camera easy to operate. (shown in pink) View larger.

Before your child starts taking photos, you'll need to use a Phillips screwdriver to insert four "AA" batteries in the grips of the camera. While the first few photos are being taken, you may want to set up the VTech Photo Editor on your computer. An intuitive installation wizard makes this process quick and easy. You'll need Windows 2000 SP3+/XP or newer to use this software. And don't despair if you're a Mac user. As long as you have Mac OS X 10.0 or above, you can still use the camera in mass storage mode.

Inspire Creative Development
Six buttons and a navigational joystick on the back of the camera let your child pick a mode and scroll through old photos. Between taking photos, shooting videos, and playing simple games on the 1.8-inch color screen, there's lots to do.

A built-in flash makes it easier to get well-lit pictures, especially if the subject of the photo is indoors. The flash does, however, often fire if you are trying to take a close-up shot, resulting in very bright, blown-out pictures. Inexperienced photographers may need to be reminded that the camera is not designed to focus on objects that are less than 1.5-feet from the camera. For super-sized fun, you can also link the camera to your television using the included A/V cable and view creative work on the big screen.

With 16MB of internal memory and an SD card slot so that you can add capacity if you need it, this camera lets kids collect lots of images. The included USB cable lets you upload the images to your computer. The VTech photo editor lets you or your child add cool frames to photos, stamp funny hats on people, and distort images. You can even run fun animations that makes the photo look like it is rotating or underwater.

The photo editor interface is easy to use, with big round buttons for kids to click on and drag-and-drop stamps. More advanced artists may be disappointed that there aren't more ways to creatively control output, but files from the Kidizoom can easily be edited in more advanced programs, too.

What's in the Box
Camera with 16MB internal memory, wrist strap, A/V cable, USB cable, two faceplates, and photo editing software on CD-ROM.

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Easy-to-use VTech photo editor lets you or your child add funny hats to pets and distort images.

Ideal for ages 3 to 6 years, this toy lets your child explore and cultivate their creative streak. The digital camera has fat bumper handles perfect for small hands, big buttons for manageability, a dual viewfinder and a 1.8-inch color LCD screen for easy subject alignment, and two interchangeable face plates so kids can make it their own. It's also made ultra-tough to handle the guaranteed mishaps that come with the territory. But enough about its attractive looks and kid-friendly features.

A dual viewfinder, large LCD screen, and chunky buttons make this ideal for young ones.

If you're on the go and there's not much picture-taking interest, the Kidizoom may still be your child's preferred toy. It has three fun built-in games geared toward preschoolers and comes with a set of headphones that plug into its side. Say "Cheese!" (Four AA batteries are required but not included.)

VTech Kidizoom features:

• .3 megapixels with 1.8" color screen
• Double viewer or LCD screen for easy photo taking
• Connector cables for TV or PC hook-up
• Photo editing capabilities
• SD card slot for extra memory
• Three preschool games
• Changeable faceplates
• 16MB internal memory