MP3 Player with Camera

So you love your music but would like to have a little camera along with you too, what do you do?

Buy an MP3 player with camera. There aren't really a lot of devices out there, but there are a few. You can see them below. They aren't many of the big names in the business like iPod, Zune, Creative Zen, or Sandisk, but some of these devices receive reasonable customer reviews. (Of course some iPods boast a video camera, but they don't offer still images.)

Buy a digital camera with an MP3 player. This will definitely give you a better camera, but you might make some sacrifices on the music side. The number of options is pretty limited in this category as well but there are a few manufactured by a major industry name.

Buy a music phone with a camera. This is a good option IF you also want a cell phone. So many phones now have both an MP3 player and a camera, they aren't too hard to find.

If your primary need is music, then getting a player with enough storage to hold the tunes you want is critical. Of course sound is also important in such instances, so listening before you buy is always the best option. When this isn't possible just be sure there's a reasonable return policy. Even the big name, more expensive MP3 players often come with inferior earphones, so purchasing upgraded earphones is sometimes necessary.

Any MP3 player you buy will also need to support the file formats you want. MP3 files are a given but if you know you'll also want to use AAC or other files be sure they're supported. Of course you'll also want to know that the device is compatible with your computer and operating system so that they can connect.

Your expectations for the camera should probably be pretty basic if you're going the route of an MP3 player with camera. A couple of megapixels will produce reasonable shots in daylight for sharing online or for small prints. You should investigate whether or not there's autofocus or a flash at a minimum. If not, you'll be pretty limited with the photography end of things.

Because these are specialty devices, the number of people owning them is smaller than your typical media player or camera. You generally won't find them reviewed in publications like Consumer Reports but you can still read customer reviews to get an idea of what others have experienced with them. We've selected some that have received some positive feedback for you to consider. You can read the details if you click on the images.