DIY Digital Camera Kit

Product Description

Build your very own digital camera with the Bigshot camera kit. It's a no-solder, clip-together kit, to help anyone understand the electronic and mechanical systems required to build a digital camera. A Camera for Education The enormous appeal of the camera can be used to turn it into a compelling tool for learning. We believe that a camera designed for education must have three features. First, it should be designed as a kit for assembly - putting the kit together should expose the user to a wide range of science concepts. Second, it should include features that cannot be found in other cameras, allowing the user to explore new creative dimensions. Finally, it should be low-cost, making it accessible to the less privileged. Bigshot has been designed with these goals in mind. There is another important feature that sets Bigshot apart from virtually all educational kits - once you have built it, it is a fully functioning digital camera that you can use everyday! Learn, Create, Express Bigshot offers you three distinct experiences. (a) Learn: While assembling it you can use the descriptions, illustrations and demonstrations on this website to learn fundamental concepts in optics, mechanics, electromagnetism, electronics and image processing. (b) Create: Once assembled, use Bigshot to tap into your creative potential as a photographer. You can compose and capture moments from your everyday life, while experimenting with framing, lighting and motion. (c) Express: You can share your favorite photos and related stories with others in different communities or even different countries. We believe that the sharing of life experiences through photos, across geographical and cultural boundaries, is a powerful way to open the minds of kids (and adults).

Features

• A unique Do It Yourself Educational Digital Camera
• With 3MP, Internal Storage, Flash 1.4" LCD Display and USB Interface
• Compatible with Mac and Windows
• Rechargeable Battery with a Eco friendly with a backup power Hand Crank Dynamo
• Takes regular shots, Panoramic Shots and even 3-D type photos

Top Reviews

Great!
by Joanne Taylor (5 out of 5 stars)
May 20, 2015

GREAT !!! Got it for my 8 year-old grand son. He and his Dad have found it to be fun to put together
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A Fragile Toy Camera Better For An Enthusiast Than A Child.
by That ACPress Guy (2 out of 5 stars)
October 15, 2015

UPDATE: Broke after three days of occasional use by me for testing. The dial that you turn to select OFF /AUTO /FLASH-ON /NO FLASH /PLAYBACK failed after no more than 70 shots. The unit cannot be turned off until it times out and there is no logical "offset" to the dial, as in everything is one notch over, etc. This is pathetic and even worse for a child. Save all your packaging once you have built the camera, especially if you paid $100 for it.

This may be fixed by taking the mode dial off, but this is an undocumented fix. There are some calibration numbers that have partially restored the functions. This is not a good sign of a dependable product and may be better suited for the "toy camera" enthusiast than a child.
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I am the author of the book, "How To Use The Digital Camera You Just Bought" (on Amazon BTW). While I own some top-notch gear, I also enjoy simple cameras, cameras from the early days of digital and even pinhole adapters.

I found this camera on an Amazon company's one day sale for $59.95. Please shop around for prices.

It took me about 45 minutes to build, FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY!

The result is a camera that will not only be fun for kids (providing they are not too rough with it) but also those who enjoy the "toy" camera craze and the minimalist cameras that pop up here and there.

If you have a young person who is getting serious about photography, they will need something a bit better in order to use a variety of ISO settings exposure compensation, white balance and special effects.

In fact, ALL these basics that I carefully explain in my book are not found on this camera, with the exception of turning the tiny flash off! The good news is that for the hundred dollars being asked, you can also get a nice little Sony, Panasonic, Canon or whatever that will fill the bill nicely. And you will get a better lens and more resolution.

However, for something that shoots normal, somewhat wide-angle and anaglyph 3D, this is the only kid on the block. The optional crank-up power makes it absolutely unique. This is greatly appealing to hipsters and toy camera fans who are challenged to create fascinating photos from cameras that are sometimes technologically hurt puppies.

Unlike Nerf toys or something from Playschool, these cameras are not rugged, dustproof or waterproof. I would strongly suggest leaving it set on the wide angle position when not in use to help cover the lens built into the circuit board.

There is no memory card. You plug the camera in and it shows up as a little hard drive just like some USB thumb drive. While you can open the files from any editor, the camera's software (which you must download) automatically cleans up the photos, crops the ones designated as panoramic and converts the 3D pairs (done with a tiny prism) in to anaglyph red/blue images. A paper 3D pair of glasses is included.

You get a screwdriver, which is all that is needed to assemble the camera. There are a few extra springs and screws, just in case something flies off somewhere.

Four stars instead of five for lack of protection against dust and water, not even a cheap plastic slip case,and software, while free, that must be downloaded.

All in all it is a charming product, fun to assemble and it takes fairly good shots. But it is not on a par with factory made cameras and I don't know if I would have spent $100 on it. There is a small possibility that these may become classic and collectible cameras, especially if unassembled. All it takes is one talented photographer to get published in a photo magazine or end up with photos in a gallery. Maybe it will be you or your kid!
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NOT worth it...yet!
by SpeedyG (1 out of 5 stars)
December 10, 2015

Great idea that needs A LOT of improvement. The camera is only 3MP, so image quality isn't just low rez, it's terrible. Your phone will take better photos. We made a big purchase for our school. Some kits were missing tiny parts which made the cameras inoperable until the company sent the parts. Other cameras did not allow the shutter button to be used as it moved slightly, we had to take off the entire camera back and reassemble that part. I'm not sure this really shows kids how an actual camera works, but is more about gears and building stuff. Hope that BigShot takes the time to improve this product!
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Not happy.
by Amazon Customer (1 out of 5 stars)
April 6, 2016

The gears in the crank mechanism are of low quality plastic and began to lose teeth after just a few uses.All attempts to to reach out to Bighot for assistance have proved fruitless. Not happy.

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