Fisher-Price Kid - Tough Digital Camera Blue [Amazon Frustration - Free Packaging]
by Fisher Price
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Toys and Games Reviews of Fisher-Price Kid - Tough Digital Camera Blue [Amazon Frustration - Free Packaging]
Customer Review: Appalling battery life - Camera will not stay on
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased this camera in July 2008 and found that after taking just a few photos, the camera either would not turn on or, by pressing the power button multiple times, it might or might not turn on and then it might or might not quickly turn itself off. Taking out the batteries and putting them in a battery tester would show that the batteries still had a like-new charge. Putting the batteries back in or putting in another brand-new set of 4 AAA alkaline batteries might or might not temporarily help.
I tried using different brands of fresh and new alkaline batteries (Eveready, Duracell, Kodak, Panasonic, and Rayovac) and had precisely the same results. Given that the owner's manual only recommends alkaline batteries and specifically states "do not use rechargeable batteries", I did not bother to experiment with anything except alkalines.
Assuming that my camera was defective, I exchanged it on October 30, 2008 and I had precisely the same performance with the second sample.
I see that a number of the reviews here are noting my same problem. I cannot understand how ANY the reviewers here could give this camera more than 1 star unless their sample of the camera did not exhibit this problem. If that's the case, Fisher-Price has a major quality control problem and you should only purchase it only if you are willing to deal with the consequences of it not working properly.
Another issue is that Fisher-Price appears to sell two different cameras with exactly the same name - "Fisher-Price Kid-Tough digital camera". Mine is the one that typically sells for $60, is available in pink or powder blue, and has three molded-in stripes on the side hand-holds. The other version has a textured pebble finish on the side hand-holds. Maybe that other model performs better and the reviews are getting interchanged between the two models?? I don't know why, but Fisher-Price makes it hard to find a model number for my version. There's no number on the packaging. However, on the bottom of the camera, in very small type, it says M8071/M8072. On the back of the owner's manual, it says M8071a-0920. Neither of these is labeled as a model number.
It's a shame that this camera has the problem I describe. Otherwise, I think it's fantastic. Sure, the image quality is terrible, but, hey , it's just a toy and my kids (ages 3 and 6) absolutely love it when it works. For them, it's easy and fun to use. Plus, if you believe what it says on the packaging, it is "water proof!" and "BUILT TO SURVIVE DROP, AFTER DROP, AFTER DROP!" However, what's the point if you can't turn it on?
Customer Review: Overall, great camera, with a few imperfections
Summary: 4 Stars
My son got this camera for Christmas, and at first we loved it, then hated it, now love it again. Yes, it's not perfect. No, it doesn't take adult-quality pictures. However, the bottom line is that my 2 1/2 year old son absolutely loves it, and it is FINALLY something that satisfies his urge to play with real, expensive, equipment without being that. The cons: The picture quality is not great, but do you think he cares?? The button is hard to push - at first. I don't know if it loosened up a bit or if he just figured out how to push it, but he has no problems now. It eats batteries like mad. Although I have a battery charge tester, and the ones I've taken out still show a full charge. So I think this camera just requires new very very fully charged batteries. So I keep the batteries I've taken out and use them on other items, and they still work fine. It's a little bit of a nuisance, but no more than that. Lastly, someone mentioned the battery compartment as being difficult to open. Yes, maybe for my son, but certainly not for an adult. Much easier (in my opinion) than some things I own that require four screws to be removed first!! Lastly, I found that sometimes the pictures don't download as soon as I plug it in, sometimes I need to unplug the USB and plug it back in several times before it fully seems to register. However, I have a Mac, and maybe that's the issue. It may work a little better with a PC - I don't know. Either way, it does eventually work - again, a nuisance, but nothing more. Now, onto the pros: It is very sturdy. He has thrown it down flights of stairs and onto tile floors with no damage whatsoever. It fits so nicely into his hands, and he can hold it up like binoculars or use the screen to view. It is so easy to use - he has the buttons all figured out already. Several people complained about not having an option to turn the flash off, but I like that feature. How is he supposed to know when to use the flash and when not to? Yes, some photos get a little whited out, but again, these are photos taken by a toddler! I'm not putting them in my wedding album. Lastly, and most importantly, my son LOVES it! My 6 year old daughter fights him for it. They have a ton of fun with it, and he just loves loves loves that it's the real thing. Buy this camera. Have no regrets. Deal with the small imperfections because they are annoying at worst but tolerable. You won't regret it when you see the joy it brings your child.Customer Review: My Little Photographer
Summary: 5 Stars
I think this camera is absolutely amazing and perfectly suitable for my child. I got him this camera for Christmas, of course, and he's been taking pictures all day. The buttons are big and obvious - ON/OFF, Browse Backwards, Browse Forwards, Delete - and it is bulky, but it fits and it is gripped perfectly by his little hands. It's definitely prepared for the roughness to come of a 5 year old boy. There are two resolution settings; I think the lower resolution is even suitable enough for a novice 5 year old to admire his work with satisfaction. I have a digital camera that costs 5 times as much and it drains the batteries within 10 minutes; his Fisher Price camera has taken over 100 pics (500 max I believe) throughout the day and the batteries are still kicking.
Uploading the pictures is super simple: Plug it in; your CPU detects the camera (installs driver files). From the computer folder, select the drive that represents your USB connection, go through two folders and there are your pictures. Copy/Cut from the camera folder to your CPU's Pictures folders. I taught my son how to view them as a slideshow and to go through each one and delete the ones that were unidentifiable.
The only flaws include:
-The SNAP button in the front is fairly small - both he and his father had issues locating it immediately.
-I've yet to figure out how to turn the flash off - I'm sure there is a way
-Locking the battery/USB connect compartment is a struggle unless you use assistance like a screwdriver - inconvenient compared to just using your fingers, but it is perfect for keeping little fingers from tampering
Overall, this is a great product with great kid-tough and kid-easy features and a few very minor, reasonable flaws. It's a great investment...especially during Christmas time at Amazon in which I got it for half price. It's 60.00 investment worth double.
Oh...and it's so great to be able to store a max of 500 pics without worrying about another SD (memory) card.
This is a great product that will keep your little one busy and it will spark an interest and a new eye in art/creativity.
..and the frustration free packaging was neat and secure.
Customer Review: battery problems or defect?
Summary: 3 Stars
This "big person" camera is a great toy for little ones. It's probably best given to a three to five year old who could still be happy to use it for a bit longer. The resolution of the camera's screen is more than fine for our three and five year old boys. They are the ones who need to be impressed and they are. Its features are simple and easy to use, for the most part (our five year old happens to have problems with the shutter button but the three year old does not). It is very rugged - doesn't seem like it will break from the obligatory flight of the stairs. Not sure yet how it'll do in the Palmolive dishwashing test. (I'll let you know.) Ultimately, it's a pretend play item that happens to work. (Now, why can't they do this with vacuums?)
The only drawback to this camera is that it wouldn't stay working, disappointing our kids and apparently many others based upon the reviews here and elsewhere. Thus far, though, we've got ours re-working consistently (with my wife on the major assist in keeping our aspiring young photographers distracted).
Here's the MacGyver. The door for the compartment that conceals both the battery housing and the USB port has a plastic locking mechanism. When rotating it to lock the door shut, it presses on an internal, white plastic lever doohickey and pushes said doohickey up. Now, said doohickey must be pushed up entirely for the camera to work. With this compartment's cover off but with the batteries in, try pushing this (spring activated?) white lever up (with tweezers or small screwdriver). At the same time (still holding white plastic lever up), try powering up the camera. Ours began to work without a hitch.
Rather than use something like ABC gum to hold the lever up, I tried something else that seems to be holding just fine. The plastic locking mechanism is attached to the compartment door with a real metal screw. Holding either the outside or inside portions of the plastic screw lock with needlenose pliers, we just loosened the metal screw some. This did the trick (for now ... I'll let you know).
Fisher Price should really take the high road on this one and make available a re-designed cover along with some kind of credit, like a battery one.
Customer Review: Let YOUR kids take the pictures!
Summary: 4 Stars
From an adult's point of view: Would you give a child a camera to play with on their own? Now you can. Fisher-Price has been making children's toys since 1930 and this is truly a wonderful toy for a youngster. This is very durable and your child can drop this camera over and over again without fear of breaking it (within reason, of course. I can't say you can drop it off the roof!). It will survive laying in the wet grass or even under 3 feet of water (for no more than 30 minutes they say). It's the simplicity that your kid will love. The viewfinder is actually `two-eye viewing' like those old 3-D viewers from the sixties. Your child can just push their face right into the camera and easily learn what makes a good picture. The controls are easy and you'll probably find your child shooting silly picture after silly picture until they learn which shots are their favorites. The 1.5" color LCD screen shows your child exactly what the picture looks like - instant gratification! Being smaller, you might have to teach your child to aim higher to get a complete photo. It has a 64 MB built in memory for up to about 500 photos. If you want 4" X 6" quality photos, you can set the resolution for your child giving about 200 high quality photos. After your child has dropped, kicked, splashed and finished up taking photos, you can take over. You can easily download them to your computer, where you can crop them for your kid. After that, you'll be the one ordering the prints. This is a keeper!