EyeClops BioniCam

by Eyeclops

• The Bionic Cam Boasting is the next generation of the award winning Bionic Eye, with a full color LCD screen
• 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)
• Save and share your findings with the built-in flash drive and removable USB key
• Portable and recordable, the EyeClops BioniCam is the ultimate Bionic Eye
• Winner of Many of this years Toy Awards

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 12 x 15.7 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00153C5KY
• Item model number: 61081
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
• Batteries 5 AA batteries required.
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,640 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (170 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com

The EyeClops BioniCam Video Microscope from JAKKS Pacific opens up a world of microscopic fun for kids to explore. This bionic eye makes it easy to take digital pictures and capture video that documents new discoveries. Designed to keep inquisitive children aged eight and up entertained and interested in the world around them, the BioniCam is also engaging enough to captive adults.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Look at familiar objects in a whole new way; review images on a TV or computer The Bad: Learning to focus the eye takes practice In a Nutshell: Unique video microscope provides creepy close-ups and informal science lessons At a Glance Ages: 8 and older Requires: 5 AA batteries; TV and/or computer for full effect

A belt clip battery pack makes it easy to take the BioniCam anywhere. View larger.

Even old blue jeans look cool viewed through the BioniCam. View Larger.

Magnify Your World,
To get started, simply 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 the unit on. With the camera's ergonomically shaped handle in one hand, you can focus on any number of everyday objects--such as coins, fabric, your pet's fur, or your own hair and skin. The magnified images appear in real time and full color on the LCD screen. Below the screen, you'll find easy to use buttons that allow you to navigate the menu, select video or photo options, review your gallery, and delete unwanted images.

A zoom dial offers either 100x, 200x or 400x magnification. To focus an image, twist the I.R.I.S. lens attachment until you achieve the results you're looking for. Getting a crisp image takes a little patience at first, especially at the highest magnification. But with practice and with the help of the easy-to-read focusing gauge, you'll be focusing the lens in no time.

Photos and Video Without Complicated Setup
With no software to upload and minimal set-up, the BioniCam 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 to your blog. Alternately, you can use the included video cable to display images on your TV. When you are plugged into the TV, the LCD screen turns off, but you still retain all the functionality of the BioniCam. This makes reviewing huge enlargements in real time a fun group activity.

Contagious Fun for the Whole Family
The hand-held magnification "eye" is fun to hold and makes it easy for your child to explore the microscopic world without complicated scientific instruments. Viewing the magnified images on your computer or TV screen in full, vivid color encourages kids to take learning into their own hands and provides numerous opportunities for parents and children to play fun and educational games together.

The excitement of seeing objects in your child's everyday world magnified to up to 400 times is sure to be a hit with whole family. Fortunately, the lightweight, durable plastic unit fits comfortably into both small and large hands. And if you need some help getting started, the easy-to-read instruction booklet offers lots of tips for finding items that hide interesting textures, from pine needles to sponges and insects.

On the lowest setting, the LEDs occasionally prove too bright for viewing lighter-colored objects, and these images may remain unclear on large viewing screens. On the higher magnification settings, however, this did not seem to be a problem, as textures and colors came through flawlessly. And while the battery pack makes it easy to explore indoors and out, the LCD screen can be tough to read in direct sunlight.

Overall, these are minor concerns that should do nothing to prevent this fun, educational toy from being big hit with all kinds of kids.

What's in the Box
BioniCam, I.R.I.S. lens attachment, removable USB drive, and video cable.

Product Description

With a full color LCD screen and battery pack, Eyeclops is the perfect on-the-go device that lets kids explore the world around them, indoors or out. 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. Then, view them on any standard television, and upload your files to your PC to email and send to friends. Requires 5 "AA" batteries, not included. Measures 12"L x 15.75"W x 4.25"H.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

149 of 152 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Manage your expectations, but this is a blast. September 5, 2008

By Greg TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 4.0 out of 5 stars   

If they would have had this thing when I was a kid (a few decades back), I would have gone crazy with it. It is a TOY, not a real scientific instrument, but it's the kind of toy that can good and truly make a kid fall in love with science. It turns the world into a puzzle--What would that thing look like if I were the size of an ant? It offers the ability to capture and share images, and compare them with each other. This little device is flawed--I wish it were a little bit easier to use, the instructions could be more comprehensive and easy to understand, and I've only had it for two days so I can't vouch for its durability but suspect considerable care will be required to protect it--but for an 8- to 14-year-old child, this is a portal into interesting worlds, and a possible introduction to science and nature that could result in a lifelong appreciation of discovery. I don't want to praise it too much or someone could order it and be disappointed that it's not more than advertised, but I just want to get across the point that, limitations and all, I found the thing to be pretty delightful.

106 of 111 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Educational toy that leaves you dim November 11, 2008

By Dennis Morse

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 3.0 out of 5 stars   

The good..
once you get a resolution focused you can see light objects fairly well.

The bad...
Lighting is very poor. the very small leds make any darker material impossible to see.
Very hard to focus, need to turn the entire front of the housing, can't do it "on the fly"
Changing magnification requires refocusing.

most kids will need assistance using this.

NEEDS BETTER LIGHTING, you also can not increase lighting with a flash light or anything, so it's light material or nothing

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars For the price, a really neat item December 10, 2008

By Peter D. Henry

Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I bought this for my 5-year-old granddaughter. It's probably a little advanced for her age, but I think this will be a fun activity for her to pursue with Grandpa's help.

Once it was focused in, anything that you place the surface of the "eye" against comes into clear focus. The white LEDs work best at lower magnification. One negative I can see is that it takes 5 AA batteries - this is an unusual number and will make it inconvenient to try to run it off of rechargeable batteries since you usually charge 2 or 4 at a time, not 5.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun For Everyone December 6, 2008

By Jason Berchek

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

This is a great toy for the whole family. Once you get the focusing part down and taking a picture at the same time, it is great. We also bought some pre-made slides that are great to look at as well. Have not used the video function yet, but that should be pretty cool once we get there. Great toy for Christmas.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Toy + Educational Tool - Watch Video May 24, 2009

By Shah

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Length: 4:01 Mins

This toy is awesome. We got this for my son as his birthday gift. He liked it very much. And of course the old kid in the house (you guessed it right, me) loved it too. We took quite a bit of videos and pictures. The microscope really works. All you have to do is to make sure it is well-focus which is not too hard either. It even comes with a little circular card with text in small print on it that you can use to correct focus. But you can use anything you want to focus. Also note that the focus seems to change with the magnification settings. So if you focused it at 100x, and then you change it to 200x, make sure you refocus it. The 400x seems to have too much digital component to it and hence does not generate very good videos and pictures. The 100x seems to be perfect.

We have seen cool things under this microscope and have already learned some new things on our own. For example, the white color on your computers LCD screen is not quite white. See the video in the review section or the pictures in the Customer Pictures section, and you would know what I am talking about ;) You may watch this video with full comments on You*Tube by going to any video and then changing the video id after 'v=' to plms8Wpzv7Y in the address bar of your browser.

44 of 50 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing December 13, 2008

By michele

Fun: 1.0 out of 5 stars   

I bought this toy expecting it to be something that my 8 year old explorer-nephew would love. I gave it a test drive to avoid a sad face on Christmas Day, and am so glad that I did. The lights on the unit are way too dim. It takes infinite patience to capture any kind of magnified image, and even when you're lucky enough to get one, you lose it as soon as you move your hand to take a picture. It's a great concept, but until the lights are improved, it's just not worth it.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars No kid should grow without this one December 15, 2008

By ice grizzly VINE™ VOICE

Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I just wish this was around when I grew up. No kid should be without this one. Very educational and fun to play around. Every kid becomes a curious geek after 10 min with this toy. I understand some of the negative reviews, they must have paid the full price. At the price Amazon is selling there is nothing to complain, cheaper than a used video game. If you need extra light use a flash light. I love the usability of this toy. You can take magnified pictures, watch it in TV any thing you ask is there. Very well designed equipment.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprise favorite gift December 26, 2008

By B. Hooven

Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

This was a surprise favorite gift for Christmas 2008 at my house. I bought this at the last minute as a nice filler gift and didn't expect too much after reading the reviews here. Boy was I surprised. This "toy" is definitely worth the $20 I paid. It has an LCD screen, plugs into the TV for real time viewing and playback and has a removable USB key, for goodness sakes. The only disappointing feature was the lack of an autofocus mechanism but I wouldn't expect that feature for this price. My 12 year old son loves this thing and I sneak off with it to examine the world close-up, too. I uploaded a few sample pics here on this product page and a few videos on Youtube (search for the product name). Picture and video quality are excellent. I think the three LED lights are plenty bright most of the time, though may be a little lacking for 400x magnification.

I recommend this as a great educational toy, especially if you're looking to give a child something that doesn't have them sitting at a video game console or computer for long periods of time. Though the ability to share what they've discovered with online friends will definitely add interest for the modern child. Ironically this might be just the thing to get them outside, learning about the world beyond the ubiquitous electronics of the day.