There are several options when buying a camcorder for kids.
When buying a camcorder for children there are a lot of things to take into account. If you have a young child the camera must be durable, easy to grip and simple to operate. Cameras built for children normally don't take high-quality video; for a teenager, you will want a camera that takes higher quality video but is inexpensive, sturdy, and provides more editing options.
VCamNow by Hasbro
VCamNow is a sturdy, kid-friendly video camera and can double as a webcam and a digital camera. It has a 1.5-inch LCD screen and records 320 by 240 resolution at 10 frames per second. Full motion video requires 30 frames per second, so this camera doesn't provide complete fluid movement. The camera comes with software for burning movies to CD, can connect to a TV, and can also take 1.3 megapixel digital pictures. The camera normally sells for around $90.
Vidster by Mattel
The Vidster is surrounded in gray plastic molded for little hands. It features 32MB of memory on-board, which gives you about six to eight minutes of video-and an SD expansion slot for up to 512MB more. It records at 320 by 240 resolution at 15 frames per second. This camera also includes a color LCD display, a mount for a tripod, built-in microphone, and a removable handle at the bottom. Video can be played back on the TV or through your computer, and it costs about $80.
Flip Video Ultra by Pure Digital
The Flip is an easy-to-use, affordable video camera. It is not made for children, but would be an excellent choice for an older child or teenager. This camera includes a 1.5-inch color LCD screen, built-in microphone and speaker, has in-camera movie editing, and can be mounted on a tripod. Flip records 640 by 480 resolution of full motion video and is available in 1GB or 2GB versions; 1GB takes about 30 minutes of video and 2GB can take 60 minutes on the highest-quality setting. This camera also has 2x digital zoom. You can buy a Flip Video Ultra for $149.
EZ205 Small Wonder by RCA
The Small Wonder is another teen-friendly, simplistic, inexpensive video camera. This camera records in a bit lower quality than the Flip Ultra but features a flip-out LCD display and a slot for additional memory. It comes with a 1GB micro SD card, but your child can trade it for up to 8GB or just keep extra cards on hand for when the camera fills up. It also has a built-in microphone and speaker and runs on two AA batteries. The Small Wonder is lightweight and can easily fit into a pocket. You can pick up a Small Wonder camcorder for about $120.
Tags: Small Wonder, built-in microphone, frames second, records resolution, This camera, video camera