Vtech Kidizoom Duo Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification

The Vtech Kidizoom Duo is a chunky camera and entertainment centre designed for kids of 3-9 years. It features front and back cameras, built in effects and lots of other features to keep kids entertained. It's available in blue and pink, and has been very popular as a gift for those who want to get their kids into photography from an early age. Here, we take a look at how it performs.

Vtech Kidizoom Duo Features

The Vtech Kidizoom Duo has a 2 megapixel front camera and VGA rear/selfie camera. The front camera is capable of 4x digital zoom. There are two rell rubberised hand grips on either side, and in each one there is space for 2 AA batteries. The camera comes with batteries included. The camera features 'binocular' vision, avoiding the need for little ones to squint into a single eyepeice. 

In the middle on the front is the 2-megapixel camera, which has a rubberised twist grip, impersonating a zoom ring. Twisting this turns camera images monochrome, sepia, bleach bypass and rainbow coloured. 

On the right-hand grip is the shutter button, and on the left-hand grip you'll find a button that switches between the front and back cameras.

On the back there is a large 2.4 inch screen surrounded by control buttons. The left-hand joystick allows you to scroll through your options, and also allows you to set a timer and toggle flash on and off in camera mode.

The home button takes you back to the main menu, and you can use 'OK' to select the mode. Along the bottom you'll find image playback, volume, delete and power buttons. There is also a star button, that lets you add effects to photos and videos. On the back of the right-hand grip there is a zoom wheel.  

On the bottom of the camera there is a micro USB port for connecting the camera to the computer and a MicroSD card slot to expand the memory.

The camera has the following modes: 

• Camera: Opens the camera, and pressing the star button allows you to add frames, stamp, funny face, carnival mirror and kaleidoscope effects. There are also options for shake effects, 3x image burst modes and auto portrait modes. 
• You & Me Camera: This mode brings up cartoon images that you can add your face to. Take an image and the camera moves on to the next head space to fill - there are usually 3 or 4 head spaces on each template. 
• Movie: Shoot a movie. Up to 5 minutes if using internal memory, 10 minutes if using a Micro SD card. The resolution is 320x240 pixels. 
• Voice Recorder: Record a voice clip and play it back slower, faster, at snail's pace, like a robot or with an echo. 
• Wacky Photo Shaker: Shaking the camera produces various warped effects to the image, which you can then snap. 
• Creative Tools: There is a photo editor, face library, adding your face to a variety of cartoon guises, and silly face detector, which tells you how silly the face you are currently pulling in the image is.  
• Games: There are 5 built-in games. They are simple platform offerings designed to keep kids entertained. They can also be motion controlled.

There are of course parental control settings, to control the play time allowed on the 5 built in games. 

Key Features

• 2-megapixel front camera
• VGA rear camera
• Several fun camera and video modes
• 5 games built-in
• Chunky design
• Ability to expand memory with Micro SD card
• Selfie camera and binocular view 
• Rubberised, bump proof chunky design

Vtech Kidizoom Duo Handling

The camera feels well built and robust. It is completely covered in grippy rubber around the edges, which means it should withstand being dropped from child height. The two grips are great for little fingers, enabling kids to hold the camera comfortably with both hands. 

The menus are simple and colourful, as you'd expect for something aimed at kids. When turned on it automatically chooses the camera mode, and pressing home takes you to the main navigational menu. Using the joy pad and 'OK' button should get you around without any problems. Be aware though that pressing the shutter button in the menu system takes you back to the normal camera mode, which can be frustrating if you're trying to use it to select something. It's solely for taking the photo. 

There is no real way of navigating back through menus - you just have to press the home button and start again. 

The camera controls are very ergonomical and an inquisitive child should pick up how to use the camera in no time. 

Screen quality is actually pretty good for the size of it. It's bright and clear. There is no option to change the brightness of the screen, so in direct sunlight it may be difficult to see.  

There are no means of wireless connection - to get photos off the camera you'll either have to extract the memory card or plug the camera into a computer. 

The camera is powered by 4x AA batteries and no information about how long they should last is given. The camera will tell you when the batteries are running low, and there are auto-off functions so that the camera will turn itself off after a few minutes of being inactive. 

The camera seems pretty responsive, each image takes a second or two to process and save. There shouldn't be too many tantrums while waiting for the camera to load, with a start-up time of about 5 seconds. 

Vtech Kidizoom Duo Performance

The performance section is where we look at the image quality performance of the camera. Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.

Images are pretty basic as you can expect from a 2-megapixel camera aimed at children. They're clear enough for seeing on the camera's screen. If you wish to print them you'll be able to get away with 8x6 inch images at the largest.

For messing about and adding different effects to the image in camera, the image quality suffices.  

The camera doesn't feature any manual controls, with everything decided automatically. Although you can turn flash off or to auto mode yourself as well as set a timer. In the settings menu there is the option to change the image resolution of the front camera from 2 megapixels to 0.3 megapixels, to save memory space if your child is snap-happy. You can also choose to turn photo optimisation on or off, and there is the option of a self timer mode too. 

VTech Kidizoom Duo Sample Photos

Value For Money

The Vtech Kidizoom Duo is available for £39.99 on Amazon, in blue or pink. In terms of cameras that are chunky and designed for young children, there is not much direct competition. You may want to look at Vtech's other kids cameras, including the Kidizoom Action Cam, a square model which is also equipped with a case for underwater photos and videos and retails for £39.99. 

LeapFrog have created a smartphone case and accompanying app that turns your smartphone into a children's camera, and this retails at £18.25 however it does mean letting your child have free reign with your smartphone, an idea not all of us will be keen on! 

You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.

Vtech Kidizoom Duo Verdict

Overall, the Vtech Kidizoom Duo is a fantastic idea to get younger children interested in photography. Not only does it keep them engaged, with fun noises and modes, it also lets them explore creatively and develop photographic skills. When they get bored of the camera function, they can also play games, making it a great choice for a day out. They'll be able to capture memories for themselves, and keep themselves amused no matter where you go. 

The image resolution is a little low, but the screen is bright and clear, and the camera is robust with rubberised features, meaning it doesn't matter if it suffers the odd drop. This product will make a great present. 

The Vtech Kidizoom Duo is a fantastic starter camera for younger kids and it also has built-in games to keep them entertained.

VTech Kidizoom Duo Specifications

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