by Carol Rucker

Created on: May 18, 2009   Last Updated: May 20, 2009

Bean and bean sprout, the Best Digital Cameras for Kids

To make a digital camera that's perfect for children of all ages, Argus did something a bit different. First of all, their new easy to use camera has a quirky, fun look. It's small and oval shaped, with no hard edges; and it's encased in colorful rubber that makes it durable and water resistant. Argus markets it as a "digital outdoor camera," and its tough enough to stand up to that description. Even the name is different; it's called simply, bean.

bean?
Yes, bean, spelled out in lower case letters right there on the front of the camera. At first glance, you might think the name comes from its shape, that it's designed with an actual bean in mind; but the meaning behind the name dawns on you as you become familiar with its unique features.

While the bean is indeed small enough to fit into a pocket or purse, the camera itself is a chunky, over sized carabiner (pronounced kar-uh-bee-ner.) That's one of those spring-tension hooks climbers use to connect the ropes that help them scale a mountainside. Just like a mountain climber's carabiner, one of the bean's oval edges pushes in so your child may hook it onto a belt loop or backpack. Then it snaps securely into place. The bean camera is a carabiner ....... bean for short. How clever!

Although it is a carabiner, a bean camera is not meant to hold your child's body weight, of course; and as the box reminds you, it may not survive if you sit on it.

What About Photo Quality?
The bean isn't a camera for formal wedding photography or other professional uses, but it's 5 megapixel quality produces great photographs for everyday use.

bean Features and Stats
For 59.99, a price less than many hand held video games, this camera has a lot of features to keep your child snapping away. It comes ready to use with a USB transfer cord, an AC adapter, drivers and Arcsoft Photoimpression 4 software on a mini CD. bean measures 3.9 inches by 2.6 inches, small enough to carry on any outing or camping trip.

Other bean features include: High resolution images, 1.5 inch LCD Preview (Images and thumbnails), 4XDigital Zoom, Auto-Flash, Video recording, sepia and monotone effects,16 Megabyte SD Ram internal storage, SD Card Storage (Card not included), Rechargeable Li-ion Battery and Water resistance.

bean sprout
For a younger child, the bean sprout, priced 14.99 at some discount retailers, is an economical alternative. It has the same durable, colorful, oval, carabiner design as it's larger bean cousin, but it weighs only 1 ounce and measures 1.9 X 2.9 inches, a perfect weight and size for the tiniest hands.

The bean sprout features an LCD view finder, auto-focus, video recording, 2 MB internal memory, USB interface, lithium-ion battery, Arcsoft Photo impression 4 software on mini disc and a web-cam function many children will appreciate.

Argus? Who are they?

You might not have been around seventy years ago, but Argus Camera Company was. Their first camera, the Model A, manufactured in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1936, was a big success. At 12.50, it was the first low cost, mass-produced, easy to use 35mm camera in the world, selling thirty-thousand cameras in the first week.

During World War II and the Korean War, Argus was the leading supplier of military cameras, periscopes, binoculars and gun sites. They made camera history from day one and have kept up with the digital age by manufacturing a wide range of digital imaging and video products.

Bean Green-ness

-The Rechargeable Li-ion Battery is lead free and RoHs compliant

-1% of the sale proceeds goes to Protecting the environment

Bean and bean sprout are truly the best digital cameras for kids; and they're not bad for adults either

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