VTECH KidiZoom Duo FX review: the best overall kids’ camera

Price on writing: £60 | Buy now from Amazon

What Mumsnet users say

“The VTECH kids camera is very good. My son got it for his 3rd birthday and still uses it now he's nearly 6. It has games, selfie mode, editing and [is] very easy for little ones to navigate.” Recommended brand by Mumsnetter Invisimamma

“Yep agree with [the] above. Ours have them for the last 4 years and they're still going, so are good and durable. Easy for kids to figure out and control. Pic quality isn't brilliant but the kids don't care.” Recommended brand by Mumsnet user Vanpod 

Our verdict

I was excited to review the VTECH KidiZoom Duo FX, especially as my two DC love taking pictures. Plus, seeing a friend's daughter with her own pink version had already sparked my curiosity. 

This camera strikes a great balance between durability and functionality, perfectly catering to the creativity of young children. Its chunky, colourful design and simple controls make it ideal for small hands, while the sturdy build ensures it can survive the inevitable knocks and drops that come with enthusiastic play.

A blurry picture of my eldest DC’s favourite toys, his dinosaurs

The dual-lens setup, with both front and rear cameras, really stood out as a fun feature for my DC, allowing them to experiment with selfies and different angles. 

While the 8-megapixel resolution doesn’t compete with professional cameras like a Canon or Nikon DSLR, it's more than adequate for capturing the everyday adventures of young children—whether that’s slightly blurry shots of toys or outdoor fun.

The creative apps and special effects, such as funny faces and kaleidoscope filters, kept my children engaged in photo-taking, encouraging their exploration and imagination. However, the inbuilt games did present a bit of a distraction for my eldest, who at times was more interested in playing than snapping photos. Fortunately, parental controls allow you to manage game time, which helps refocus attention on photography.

The design of VTECH’s KidiZoom camera is very child-friendly

Final verdict: Overall, the VTECH KidiZoom Duo FX is a solid choice for children aged four to seven. While older kids might find the image quality and toy-like design less appealing, younger children will love its ease of use and creative features. It's a great introductory camera that supports both fun and learning, and I can see why it’s a favourite among Mumsnet users.

Read next: Check out our guides to the best toys for four-year-olds, five-year-olds, six-year-olds, seven-year-olds, eight-year-olds, nine-year-olds and 10-year-olds.

How we tested the VTECH KidiZoom camera

• Used regularly over a month 

• Tested with the help of a toddler and preschooler

• Tested at home and while out and about

Designed for ages three and above, my kids were the perfect testers of the VTECH KidiZoom Duo FX Compact camera. Largely because they’ve inherited my side of the family’s vanity and just love to take pictures. Of themselves pulling funny faces, of family members, and also of their favourite things.

What’s included in the box? 

• VTECH KidiZoom Duo FX Compact camera

• USB cable

• Wrist strap 

• A quick start guide

My eldest set up his Toy Story toys to model for him

How easy is it to set up the VTECH KidiZoom camera? 

Very easily, actually. The camera itself came with some charge already so it was a case of unboxing and turning the device on. Once I’d inputted the date and time, it was ready to use. Unsurprisingly, my kids were quick to take off with it and snap away. 

I’d say the only bugbear that might annoy a child is that it can take a few seconds to warm up after turning it on - roughly three or four seconds.

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What’s the VTECH KidiZoom like in day-to-day use?

Day-to-day, the VTECH KidiZoom has proven itself to be robust having, admittedly, already survived a few drops to the floor. In fact, the camera’s construction is impressively sturdy. 

Its durable plastic body has managed to withstand the inevitable bumps and drops that have occurred due to my two DC fighting over whose turn it is to use the camera. There’s barely a mark on it as a result, too. 

The camera's dual lens, while basic, are designed with practicality in mind. The forward-facing lens is small in size, and its recessed position makes it almost impossible to damage, eliminating the need for a lens cap - a feature that would most likely be lost within a few days in the hands of a child. My DC were able to easily switch to selfie mode when they wished to with little help from me. 

My kids playing around with selfie mode 

The 2.4-inch LCD screen, while not cutting-edge, serves its purpose. Although it may not impress tech-savvy older children, who may assume that it has touch screen capabilities. 

However, the physical buttons and joystick for navigation are very easy to use by small hands, and neither of my children had any issue using each feature. 

Perhaps the most practical part of this kids’ camera is its power source. Using four standard AA batteries instead of a built-in rechargeable battery is a smart choice, in my opinion. Mainly as it eliminates the need for recharging and you’re less likely to be faced with tears and tantrums as a result of a flat camera battery while you’re out and about.

In terms of picture quality, I’ve found that when used inside, the images are more likely to become blurred due to the lower lighting.

My youngest snapped this picture of his big brother and friend while playing in the garden

Pictures taken outside have been much better quality and more stable. This is unsurprising, however, as the camera sensor is a 1/2.3-inch 5-megapixel chip. Which, when compared to the likes of a Canon DSLR, is pretty bleak but for a young child, isn’t exactly a priority.

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Are there any special features on the VTECH Kidizoom?

Yes, there’s a fair few features that cater to little creatives that I’m sure your kids would love as much as mine did. 

My eldest particularly liked the funny faces setting alongside the chin puppet theatre and the silly mirrors effect. Whereas my youngest three-year-old loved the kaleidoscope setting. 

There are eight photo settings your child can choose from that offer a combined 75 special effects, specifically: 

• Photo Frames

• Stamps

• Fantasy effects

• Funny faces

• Silly mirrors

• One click, two pics

• Kaleidoscopes

• Three photo burst mode

There’s also the chin puppet theatre feature (which is quite funny to use!) the cartoon studio, as well as five different creativity apps they can use to enhance their captures: 

• Voice recorder

• Panorama

• Wacky slideshow

• Animation maker

• Photo editor

The cartoon studio allows your child to apply one of three cartoon filters to their face - I’m not a huge fan of using filters on children’s faces personally as I feel like this is a one-way ticket to a complex but I can appreciate why this would be funny for young ages.

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What age group is the VTECH Kidizoom camera best suited for?

The camera has been designed for ages three to nine years old, although children older than seven who are more familiar with touchscreen devices may be disappointed and in need of a camera designed for their age group - like a Canon IXUS.

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What’s the image and video quality like? 

The VTECH KidiZoom’s image quality is basic - but again, this is unsurprising as it is inline with its toy camera design. Colours tend to have a blue cast and fine detail is lacking. 

Plus, we found that indoor shooting can be challenging due to the camera’s low light sensitivity. It quickly became evident that this was an easy way to get blurred images.

A nice shot of me and my double chin enjoying my morning coffee

Outside, however, the focus accuracy is generally more reliable where there’s good lighting. So, my advice would be, if your child was taking more pictures indoors, turn on the flash setting. 

Overall, while the image quality won't impress adults and older children, it's adequate for its intended young users who are more interested in the act of taking fun photos than the technical aspects of image quality and all that. 

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How long does the battery last, and how is it charged?

The camera is battery-powered and requires four AA batteries for power, with two batteries placed in each hand grip. 

I particularly like the fact that it’s designed this way - mainly because it’s one less thing that I need a USB charger for. It also removes the panic if you run out of battery while out and about, you know, in case you’re faced with tears and a tantrum.

My three year old hasn’t quite mastered the distance for a selfie 

There is a USB port in the camera, but this is not for charging - rather for transferring files easily to your desired device. I also like that the camera itself automatically turns off when dormant and unused after several minutes to help save its battery life. 

Read next: Take a look at our guides to the best smartphone for kids, best dumb phones for kids, best games consoles and best laptops for kids.

Is there internal storage or does it require a memory card? 

The camera comes with built-in internal storage, but also supports additional storage through a microSD card (sold separately) should you need it. 

I’d recommend investing in a memory card if your child will be using the camera extensively - mainly because it doesn’t take long for them to clog up the camera roll with selfies.

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Does the VTECH Kidizoom camera have any parental controls? 

Parental controls in the camera aren’t as advanced as you’d expect to see on say, a tablet or smartphone. There are, however, basic controls that you can set - and you can only access these by holding the star button and answering a simple mathematical question. 

Once in, you can set a game time limit, choosing from no limit to disabling them altogether, 15 minutes per day, 30 minutes per day, 60 minutes per day or 90 minutes per day. Personally, after finding my eldest on the camera’s games, I decided to disable them entirely.

The colourful interface is easy to navigate with the joystick

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Are there any games included with the VTECH Kidizoom camera? 

Yes, I’ve found that there are five which are called: 

• Quack Quack Queue

• Hoppy Frog

• Alien Rescue

• Crazy Juice Lab

• Chomp Challenge

I can appreciate when games like these would come in handy - particularly if you’re out and about and want to carry less devices with you. A child-friendly camera with child-friendly games is most likely preferable than an expensive kids’ tablet. 

Plus, as you can limit the time they’re playing games via the parental controls, restricting their use does become easier.

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The VTECH KidiZoom camera versus other VTECH cameras

If you’re shopping for a kids’ camera, the VTECH KidiZoom DUO FX certainly stands out as the best overall thanks to its dual-lens setup, fun filters, ease of use and durable design. 

However, you might also consider other models by VTECH, like their VTECH KidiZoom PrintCam, which offers instant photo printing that might appeal to older children or kids with more specific creative interests (like scrapbooking, for example).

Ultimately, the right camera depends on your child’s age, interests and level of creative control they want.

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Is the VTECH Kidizoom Duo FX camera good value for money?

With a retail price of £60, I would argue that yes, it is great value for money. Especially when sites like Currys and the Early Learning Centre offer discounts and particularly when you consider the longevity of the device. Purchase it for your child’s third birthday and it’ll stay with them until they turn seven, eight or nine. 

Plus, it isn’t one of the dearest options in the VTECH KidiZoom range - the Snap Touch and Studio versions are more expensive. 

About the author

Rebecca Roberts is a writer, editor, and content marketing expert hailing from Leeds. Here at Mumsnet, she commissions, writes, and edits to bring parents content designed to make life easier. Having birthed two DC just 15 months apart, she knows all too well how much research goes into finding the right toys, technology and educational tools for children. So, she’s fully invested in helping parents the right products for their children. 

Beyond her role as an editor here at Mumsnet, Rebecca can be found balancing life as a working mum of two toddlers and when she’s not at her desk, you’ll likely find her at a local playgroup, in a nearby coffee shop, or walking the dog.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

All prices correct at time of publication

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