Product Review: Vtech Kidizoom Pro Digital Camera for Children

The Vtech Kidizoom is a small, extra-durable digital camera for children who want to take pictures but aren't ready for the responsibility of a 'real' digital camera. With thick handles, clear-plastic, and a reporter-esque microphone that extends from the body, this digital camera offers kids a fun device that can take real audio, pictures, and videos.

Features

Perhaps the most important feature for a child's camera, the Vtech Kidizoom Pro is made out of thick, scratch-resistant plastic that will not easily break upon being dropped onto a hard surface. In my experience, this camera can be dropped from a height of 4ft and still function perfectly (though this sort of abuse isn't recommended). It is water resistant, meaning that if they take a picture in a light drivel it is not likely to harm the hardware, but submerging it in water is the surest way to destroy the camera.

The camera has a dual-viewfinder, which is two viewfinders on either side of the camera. This makes it easy kids to line up a shot, as smaller children find it difficult to look through a single viewfinder with one eye.

Photos are stored on both internal flash and an external SD card, which is not provided with the product. The sides of the camera are made out of non-slip plastic grips, while the lens is covered with plastic to protect it from dirt and scratches.

The camera can take JPG images and MPG videos and review them on the 1.8" LCD screen. Kids can add funny borders to the outside of pictures. In addition, parents can load MP3 audio files to the camera, and kids can listen to them with the built-in ear piece.

Image Quality

Image quality is what should be expected from a toy camera - very cellphone-ish, but adequate for kids. The pictures will be blurred if there's movement, they will be grainy if it is dim or dark, and they don't have a very large frame. The video are small, and comparable to cell phone videos.

Pictures have a resolution of 2 megapixels, while the videos are a small 320 x 240.

Conclusion

Any adult would look at this camera and scoff; kids will squeal with joy and take hundreds of pictures, then demand new pictures and take another hundred. The camera is easy to hold and is durable; the controls are simple and straight-forward; the screen is fairly large and fun to look at; the pictures are the last thing on a kid's mind when they have this camera. Personally, any child under ten will likely love this camera.