Leapfrog Magic Adventures Binocular Camera Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS…
Reviewed by Deborah Banasko
We are huge fans of Leapfrog toys in our house, so being asked to review the Leapfrog Magic Adventures Binoculars was received with much enthusiasm. This toy boasts 340 real-life photos and videos from the BBC, whilst allowing you to take your own photos too! But is it as good as it sounds?
My children are aged 6, 10 and 13, and whilst my youngest son was my nominated “chief tester”, the other two were just as eager upon seeing the box. The packaging alone is impressive; compact, with a flip-open door to have a peep inside at the binoculars, and covered with brightly coloured information boxes and photographs depicting the amazing features of this product.
Even standard binoculars are a hit with kids, so this is a genius idea. They require 4 AA batteries, which you need to buy (especially if you are considering this as a Christmas gift) as only demo sets are included.
Looking initially at the size and feel of the binoculars, they are a lovely for little hands and feel chunky and sturdy. We decided not to do a “drop test” for obvious reasons, but they do appear to be robust.
The eye cups are a soft rubber which can be adjusted to size (even I could use them), and there is a focus dial which is very child friendly to use.
They can be used as standard binoculars with a 10x optical zoom, but it is the colour digital screen which is really going to wow you. As a general overview it has a camera, colourful photo-quizzes which are accessible and fun for children, games based on animals and nature, night vision (2x zoom to see animals or plants in the dark) and the array of photos, videos and over 720 nature facts.
There is a lot packed into this toy, but it is not as overwhelming to operate as you might think.
My son prefers not to let me read instructions and would much rather press buttons until he figures out how to use the toy. Based on his method, he didn’t fare too badly and managed to play for a while before he asked me to clear a few things up. Once you turn the device on, there is a brief video prompt directing you to the key features and buttons which is great, and there are verbal and visual prompts throughout guiding children on how to navigate their way.
Whilst the written instructions were easy for an adult to follow, they aren’t exactly exciting for a 6-year-old so this product covers all the bases. The screen is clear and bright, and it takes some really quality photos.
I love that the images section is organised into 9 categories such as amphibians, water mammals, and land mammals, followed by further subcategories, as it makes it much more accessible for children so that they can choose what interests them the most. The Biologist in me loves that children are being introduced to key scientific terms and the idea of classification early on, plus the explanations of the plants and animals is so fascinating (again with key terms) so you are expanding their knowledge and vocabulary. They can just sit scrolling through different animals and plants, looking at pictures and listening to interesting information.
The games have really fantastic graphics, and the photo quiz went down a treat whilst being so easy to follow. This really does have the “wow” factor.
The only feature which I was less keen on was the continuous low-level background music whilst you play. The children didn’t seem bothered by it and, as this is a toy for children and not middle-aged women, I think this is possibly a feature more suited to them. I suppose it’s us grownups who prefer the silence!
The microSD card slot is really useful as you are able to save the photos that your child has taken… or not if they are anything like my 6 year-olds initial efforts. The card is not included, but I would not expect it to be. The product itself holds around 100 images in its internal memory so this buys a bit of time for you to buy a card should you want one.
The suggested age range of 5 to 9 seems fair. I personally would buy this toy for a bright 4-year-old up until perhaps the age of 8 or 9 as the appearance and design is appropriate for this age group. However this is with the understanding that they would probably still gain enjoyment and play with it at the age of 10, 11 or even older (based on how much my middle child and I loved it).
It’s one of those toys that you could play with for hours and keep coming back to as you get drawn into the videos and photos, but equally if your child is in a more active mood they have the option of taking their own pictures at home or in the garden, so it is a versatile toy to suit a variety of moods and alleviate boredom. Top tip, it is fantastic if you want to encourage family walks and make them more fun!
This product ticks all the boxes for a Christmas gift; education, fun, hi-tech and quality. The price point of £69.99 for a toy that offers so much is certainly worth it, as this is something that will last a few years in terms of entertainments value. Plus, it can be enjoyed both inside and outside the home, and even on holiday.
It makes a perfect Christmas gift as there are so many play options to capture their interest. I would award this toy 5 stars out of 5.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £69.99
You can purchase this product from Leapfrog here.