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Holiday 2010 Review: Leapster Explorer Camera and Video Recorder

One thing our nearly 7 year old son has been anticipating for many months is the release of the LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Camera and Video Recorder attachment. This little gadget plugs into the bottom of your existing Leapster Explorer and enables the device to be used as a digital camera for kids. For just $24.99, this attachment not only turns the Leapster Explorer into a camera, but it also can record video, as well.




From what I have experienced in the past with children's digital cameras, my expectations about the photo quality produced by this product were not high. Although I do think that this camera would work best outdoors or with very bright indoor lighting, I was pleasantly surprised by both the photo and video quality. You can see a brief demonstration in the video below . . .



The ability to take photos and record videos is only part of this gadget's appeal. The software that accompanies it is all self-contained. Your child can draw with the Leapster Explorer pen right on the touch screen to add elements to photos. Other special effects capabilities are stretching and stamping on photos, as well as adding themes and turning someone from a photo into a character within learning games.

With the attachment, the Leapster Explorer can hold up to 1000 photos. Our photos and video were taken with moderate indoor lighting. I found that the photo quality produced was much more clear and less grainy than the other children's digital cameras we have owned in the past. The video camera function does not seem to keep up well with quick movement, but other than that, I was pretty happy with the video quality for a children's toy.


If you are gifting a Leapster Explorer to a child this holiday or your child already owns one, then I highly recommend that you consider adding this camera attachment to his or her gifts. It significantly added to the value and the enjoyment of the Leapster Explorer for my son. We have owned other children's digital cameras that have disappointed both him and myself in the past. They ended up sitting collecting dust. That will not be the case with the Leapster Explorer Camera and Video Recorder.

To learn more about this product, visit Shop.LeapFrog.com, where you can purchase this and other LeapFrog products. You can also find this item on Amazon.com, where it is eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping.



Thank you to LeapFrog for providing us with a complimentary product sample to base this review upon.