MAIN Toy Reviews Eyeclops BioniCam

Eyeclops BioniCam

EyeClops™ BioniCam; JAKKS Pacific, Recommended age 8+, MSRP $79.99USD

The EyeClops BioniCam has come to town and it is the ultimate Bionic Eye. Just insert five AA batteries (not included) into the belt clip battery pack, insert the included USB memory stick into the top of the BioniCam, and turn it on. It is completely portable and recordable.

We raved about the EyeClops but the BioniCam has three all new features; it is portable, images can be saved, and you can increase the zoom. Jakks Pacific's EyeClops BioniCam is the next generation of Bionic Eye, with a full color LCD screen and battery pack, kids can take EyeClops to explore the world around them. This one can be used indoors and outdoors, you are not limited by cord length.

Use the LCD screen as a viewfinder for specimens, zoom in with one of three powerful new magnifications (100x, 200x and an eye popping 400x) and take digital pictures and video of your amazing discoveries.

Save and share your findings with the built-in flash drive and removable USB key - view on any standard television and upload your files to your PC to email and send to friends. The open ended learning possibilities are innumerable. This is great for a kid who is into science, investigating the environment, bugs; any curious kid is going to love this. It opens the door for further investigation and discovery.

Lighting can be tricky but once you get it focused it is quite clear. Getting a crisp image when zooming takes a little patience at first, especially at the highest magnification but with a little practice and the help of the focusing gauge, you can get it down pat in no time.
On the lowest setting, the LEDs can occasionally be too bright for viewing lighter-colored objects. On the higher magnification settings, however, this did not seem to be a problem. The LCD screen can be tough to read in direct sunlight.

There is no software to upload and minimal set-up, which makes sharing discoveries easy. Plug the USB memory stick directly into your computer for quick access to images, then save and edit them or post them on a blog, or e-mail to a friend. You can use the included video cable to display your images on TV. This makes reviewing your images a fun family activity. Bugs and bug remains seem to be a favorite with the crew. If you haven't had the joy of viewing a 200x magnification of a cicada shell on a flat screen TV well then you just don't know what you are missing!

Overall, this is a fun, educational toy that will be a hit with the kids.

About the Author: Mary Rose is a Mommy, a writer and an early childhood educator who believes in learning through play and the value of good toys.