Vivitar 3-in-1 Mini Digital Camera with Video - Blue

by MerchSource, LLC

Product Features

• Still Camera - Stores up to 243 photos*, 16Mb Memory
• Video Camera - Captures several seconds of live action
• Web Camera - Connects to your PC to send images simultaneously through the internet
• Includes Everything You Need to Get Started! Easy to use software -- USB Cable -- AAA Battery -- Carrying Case
• Easy-To-Use Interface allows user to manage, enhance, organize, share photos, create greeting cards, calendars & more!

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2 x 7 x 9.2 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• ASIN: B000VSL01E
• Item model number: #1609761 (9224)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,395 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)

Product Description

Thanks to the Bell and Howell keychain digital camera, your memories are just a quick little snap away. Smaller than a credit card, this incredible innovation lets you tak photographs less than one megapixel quickly and easily. Fast and easy to download, it can even be used as a webcam. Takes up to 80 photos and has self timers. Requires one "AAA" battery, included. Measures 2.25"L x .5"W x 1.5"H.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a Vivitar 3-in-1 Bargain!, November 17, 2007

By 

John Williamson "JargonTalk" (Bucks County, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vivitar 3-in-1 Mini Digital Camera with Video - Blue (Toy)

What a hoot... and what a conversation piece!

Like others here I bought this Vivitar Mini Digital Camera at the checkout register at a local CVS Pharmacy for $9.99 last fall... and they're still selling them there. Bought it just for fun, more than anything, just to have a super-small digital camera.

A few days later my son and I were out shooting some fall foliage shots (see the user photo here) with our 6-megapixel camera and he suggested that we try it out. We did, and later were quite surprised at how reasonably good the results were. It's highest resolution is only 352x228, and you'll only get about twenty shots in that mode, but if you look at the fall foliage shot that I posted here, you can see that it's pretty respectable, especially for the price. To be honest, the images are about equal my old Casio QV-10 of the mid-1990s, and at a tiny fraction of that camera's original ~ $300 cost.

Just in case you wonder, this camera appears to be identical or at least quite similar in features to the following items:

* Mini Digital KeyChain Camera Along With Imaging Software Suite
* Philips USA J44417 Keychain Digital Camera
* Innovage Outdoor Sports Mini Digital Camera
* Philips Keychain Digital Camera
* PHILIPS P44417P 3in1 Keychain Mini Digital Camera

There may be other variations if you search a bit.

The camera is about the size of a Zippo lighter, and it has a key chain attachment and a simple black slipcase. The viewfinder is a wacky slide-up device... were you thinking there would be an LCD for that price? It does come with a proprietary USB cable, and with the installation of the driver from its included CD, was able to transfer the images to the computer (running Windows XP) relatively easy. The included software package was a joke, and lets leave it at that.

If you already have a good, high-quality digital camera, yet know people who just have to show off their latest high-megapixel acquisition, then show them some shots taken with your good camera. When they ask what kind of camera you used, whip out one of these Vivitar Mini Digital camera and just watch their jaw drop... it works every time.

Don't take this as a sophisticated digital photo instrument. The best way to use it is like a simple point and shoot camera, and just have fun with it!

Subjective Package Ratings:

* Size and convenience: 5-stars
* Image (considering): 4-stars
* Battery life: 2-stars
* Imaging software: 1-star
* Fun factor: 5-stars
* Conversation piece: 5-stars
* Anti-photo snob effect: 5-stars

So I'm giving it an overall, highly-weighted 5-star rating... if only for the fun value of it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not terrible - Keep expectations low, April 7, 2008

By 

Ladenburglizard (Morgan Hill, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vivitar 3-in-1 Mini Digital Camera with Video - Blue (Toy)

It's a disposable gadget that works fairly well in outside lighting but very grainy indoors. Keep a steady hand to take a decent pic and subjects should be in the 3-5 foot range. My camera's battery (that it came with) died within 12 hrs. Then after 30 pics, it lost the ability to delete photos and therefore unable to creat new ones. There's actually a high and low resolution but after trying the high resolution, i never tried the low...it was already pretty bad. We are using the camera for a scavenger hunt party so it is worth it for that. Don't spend more than $10. The cable and software worked well. So depending on your intentions for using this gadget, it does work and decent for the price. I don't think this works well for young children as it requires a steady hand...pictures blur easily. Completely unusable as a webcam.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazon classes it as a "toy" but it's a little more, December 2, 2008

By 

John Bonavia (Needham, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Vivitar 3-in-1 Mini Digital Camera with Video - Blue (Toy)

Well, for $9.99 (Walgreen's) it's an amusing buy. And can be quite a bit more. From the photography point of view,it's somewhat in the tradition of pinhole cameras, printing-out paper, and suchlike. Something that does not compete with "real" cameras, but you can have fun with it and if you are creative, probably turn out some interesting images.

I had no problem installing the software on my XP Pro SP2 system. I did not install their Photo Impression as I have ArcSoft already which is fine for me. The basic loader is very minimal, just enough to see your shots: the thing is to save them (probably best as bmp initially) and then use whatever software you have to change format or do whatever. I note that a lot of people have trouble with the software, or with the USB connection - may be related to OS or machine model...?

Likes:
Well, of course the sheer ridiculous tiny size! The extreme simplicity of operation - two buttons! The ability to get a pretty decent shot in good light with a steady hand, or steadied against something (a tripod would be kind of ridiculous and there's no mount hole...)
I am OK with the little viewfinder. Hold the camera at least a foot away from you to get a decent view in it.

Dislikes:
The supplied battery dies real fast, but that's normal for these cheapies. Someone said the battery is draining even when off? hmm,can't find the booklet to verify what kind of chip it is...The mode change button is erratic. Doesn't always seem to cycle through the options in order. And the "delete all" setting does not work - after shooting and uploading my 20 pix I take out the battery and re-insert to clear.

But even with these drawbacks, it's still a fun little gadget.