Toy OTD: Hasbro Transformers Real Gear Robots: Spy Shot 6, Longview

This is a recent line that was released with the Transformers movie. I like the concept of everyday belongings that are also secretly little robots! The design work is a bit uneven, but there are some really nice ones - here's two of them:

Sure Shot 6 transforms from a digital camera and back again. It looks cool - there's a small bit of translucent plastic in the top of the head that channels light to its eyes, making them appear lit. A simple trick, but really neat!

SS6 transforms well, and looks great in both its robot and camera forms. The biggest minus is the one I've had with the entire line since its inception - the toys look fine, but aren't very posable as action figures. I've never been much of an articulation guy, but the dynamic poses on the packaging are a pretty misleading tease!

This is design is so good, it makes me wish that Takara would run with it and make a working digital camera that could transform into a posable metal robot. It wouldn't be as affordable as these toys are, but c'mon - I'll bet there'd be plenty of older fans who'd snap it up!

Longview is an even better-looking design that turns into an even cooler robot! I love the colors and the shapes of both modes. Again, the articulation is somewhat skimpy, but it is a pretty good toy for the eight-dollar price point.

I would think that making the binoculars work would be easier than the camera, but maybe incorporating even a poor set of lenses would be prohibitively expensive. Again, I'll bet a higher-end version (camping binoculars - maybe with a camouflage pattern?) would sell well to older fans. Put a sound chip in there with the 'transforming' sound effect on it, and you're good to go!

Both of these toys are really easy to pick up - you can either get them at your local Toys 'R' Us or Target for about eight dollars each, or buy either of them at toysrus.com for $7.99 + shipping. Have fun!