The Nikon D7000 versus Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera: A digi-cam showdown

I laughed out loud when I saw that our friends at Fisher-Price had sent us a Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera to test-drive. If any family loves cameras, it’s this one!

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So it seemed a natural to compare my favourite camera, the Nikon D7000, to Lucas’s (and Tristan’s and Simon’s!) new favourite camera. Here’s how they stack up in a head-to-head comparison.

1. Specs

Key features for the Nikon D7000 single-lens reflex digital camera:

• 16.2MP CMOS sensor
• 1080p HD video recording with mic jack for external microphone
• ISO 100-6400 (plus H1 and H2 equivalent to ISO 12,800/25,600)
• 39-point AF system with 3D tracking
• New 2016 pixel metering sensor
• Scene Recognition System (see 2016 pixel sensor, above) aids WB/metering + focus accuracy
• Twin SD card slots
• 3.0 inch 921k dot LCD screen
• New Live View/movie shooting switch
• Full-time AF in Live View/movie modes
• Up to 6fps continuous shooting
• Lockable drive mode dial
• Built-in intervalometer
• Electronic virtual horizon
• Shutter tested to 150K actuations

Key features for the Fisher-Price Kid-tough Digital Camera:

• Two-eye viewing—easy for kids to look through
• Stores over 2,000 pictures!
• 256 MB built-in memory
• Sturdy, dual hand grips for steady shots
• Big buttons—easy for little hands to use
• Enhanced low light performance—no flash needed!
• 1.4” color screen lets kids see pictures they’ve taken—instantly!
• 4X digital zoom
• Enhanced low light performance

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Verdict: the D7000 wins by a nose on this one, for versatility and breadth of features. Although if you’re easily intimidated by sophisticated electronic gear that’s smarter than you (*cough*likeme*cough*) then you may prefer the simplicity of the Fisher-Price camera. (I’ve been using the D7000 every day for more than six months, and I have no clue what the built-in intervalometer might be!)

2. Price

The Nikon D7000 with kit lens is currently retailing in the neighbourhood of $1,500. The Fisher-Price camera, with no requirement for additional lenses, can be yours for less than 1/10 of that!

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I think the Fisher-Price camera is the clear winner here.

3. Photo quality

The Nikon D7000 quality is so terrific that more than one person has told me they wished they could afford one so they could take pictures as beautiful as mine. 😐

The Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera falls a little short of this on the picture-quality spectrum. This is where the Nikon shines. Although I must admit, the kids enjoy the act of taking pictures far more than they care about the actual pictures. And really, when they take 75 pictures in a row of Sonic the Hedgehog on the TV or a four-photo montage of their favourite stuffies in various poses, I don’t think we need more than a couple of hundred pixels per image to get the full impact of each photo.

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4. Software

While the Nikon comes with it’s own Image Capture software, you will most likely want to purchase a post-production workflow management software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom to process the resulting jpeg and raw files. The Fisher-Price camera comes bundled with its own free Kid-Tough digital studio, and if you accidentally throw it away in a clutter-busting burst of misplaced energy (ahem) you can always download a free copy from the Fisher-Price site. The digital studio is a fun photo editing program that older kids will love, including easy photo fixes, frames, and silly photo effects.

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This one goes to Fisher-Price for both cost and simplicity. And fun!

5. Ease-of-use

You can, in fact, use both of these cameras in point-and-shoot mode. The Fisher-Price camera has an almost epic shutter lag, which takes quite a bit of getting used to, but its two-eye double viewfinder solves the problem of my ongoing inability to shoot with both eyes open and cures the headache I often get between my eyes after an hour or more of squinting into the admittedly-capacious viewfinder of the Nikon. Both have rubberized grips, an ergonomically-pleasing shutter placement and a comfortable but not overwhelming heft to them.

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Final point goes to Nikon for including a rechargeable battery and neck-strap in the box.

6. Durability

One summer evening I suppressed a cry of terror as I watched in slow motion as my beloved Nikon tumbled in slow motion off the seat of an Adirondack chair and on the thick grass a mere eight inches below. I held my breath in painful anticipation as I flicked the power switch on and waited an endless moment for the camera to power up. It was fine, thankfully, and I promised myself that I would never be so careless with it again.

On another evening, I watched the Fisher-Price camera bounce merrily down six wooden steps and roll out the door onto the porch without flinching.

FP porch 2

This one goes handily to Fisher-Price.

I think it’s clear which camera is the big winner here. 😉 I highly recommend both the D7000 and the Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera. You won’t be disappointed with either of them!

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(Disclosure: I’m part of the Fisher-Price Play Panel and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. However, as always, the opinions on this blog are entirely my own.)

(I’m also completely open to receiving special perks from Nikon Corporation, ahem.)

Author: DaniGirl

Canadian. storyteller, photographer, mom to 3. Professional dilettante.

20 thoughts on “The Nikon D7000 versus Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera: A digi-cam showdown”

  1. I see a lot of potential for both these camera, but now I’m really wishing I bought Rachel the Fisher Price model a couple years ago. After reading your review we still might do that if I can convince Rich.

  2. Love seeing both sides of both lenses. And I love the toddler cameras, seeing what they think is interesting/important (even if it is 75 pictures of their blurry foot) and I love the thought of growing new shutterbugs.
    Good luck with that Nikon gig *g*

  3. Love this post! We have the Fisher Price camera and both kids love it. B.G. likes taking pictures with it, and Bonhomme loves the sound it makes when he hits the delete button. 🙂

    I think the quality of your photographs has a lot more to do with your talent than with the camera you’re using…!

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