I may be a little addicted to my phone (working on it, okay?!) but I have a special spot in my heart for real cameras. Seriously! My collection currently consists of a DSLR, a mirrorless camera, the Canon G7 X, a vintage point-and-shoot, and a film camera, not to mention the 20 or so disposables I've gone through over the past few years. But last year, I took two disposables to the photo store to get developed and all 50 photos somehow came back blank, and that was the last straw—there had to be a better solution. Enter: Camp Snap.
When I saw that Camp Snap makes a reusable, screen-free (!!) digital camera that's only $70 that gives you infinite amounts of the exact same type of photos, I RANNNN to snag one. That's a steal compared to the $40 per disposable that I'm used to spending.
Camp Snap's camera seemed to be the best of both worlds—the screen-free delayed gratification and the fact that you can transfer the pics off your camera at the end of the night for no extra cost. It also seemed like a great, dare I even say the perfect gift idea for anyone under the age of 30—so obviously as your resident Shopping Editor, I had to test one out to see if it actually lives up to the hype.
obsessed with the bows tbh
Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera
How the camera works
The Camp Snap camera is so simple that a literal child could use it (no, really, apparently people have been giving these to their kids to take pics with, lol). There isn't much to set up—I simply charged it with my Macbook charger (USB-C, if you're fancy like that) right out of the box and then I was ready to start using it. There are only two buttons: the flash button and the shutter. Just hold down the shutter button to turn it on and snap away!
The camera can take up to 2,000 pictures—there's a tiny counter on the back of the camera—stored on an internal SD card that you never need to take out. I just plugged the camera into my computer using that same USB-C cord and immediately downloaded all of my photos.
So, how's the quality of the actual camera?
Don't expect crystal-clear, high-definition, 4K images—the photos that this baby takes (beautifully, may I add) have that grainy, vintage look with lots of retro colors and blurriness that totally achieves that throwback aesthetic. The camera comes pre-loaded with the Camp Classic filter, but you can download other filters to the camera—or even customize your own.
I used mine at a Halloween party and everyone was like, "I love your film camera!". I passed it around for party pics and everyone was also like, "Wait, don't use up all of her film!" which was very nice but not something they needed to worry about. It was seriously so fun seeing how the photos turned out once the party was over.
Also, I've been on such an anti-screen kick (she says, while typing this on her laptop, lol) that I love having a camera that's purely for capturing memories—no notifications or instant gratification. It's totally distraction-free, aka I don't end up scrolling on IG after taking a photo, and I loved being surprised by pics that I forgot that I took.
One thing about my friends—they love their film cameras and their point-and-shoots, so I'm definitely going to be gifting the Camp Snap camera to a few of them this year. This bad boy would also make a great stocking stuffer for a younger sibling/cousin (see: our gift guides for teen girls and teen boys).
these make great holiday gifts (you're welcome)
Camp Snap Crimson Red Digital Camera
Can the Camp Snap camera record videos?
So, the point-and-shoot can't. However! The brand recently released the CS-8 Digital Video Camera, which is their digital, screen-free version of the Kodak Super 8 camera. There's been a huge resurgence in the nostalgic aesthetic of film video, but those cameras can cost up to four figures (!!) and that's not even including the cost of the expensive film and processing fees.
The CS-8 is significantly more affordable at just $149, and it can record unlimited video footage with multiple different vintage-inspired filters. You can zoom in and out on the camera, record audio with the built-in microphone, check on battery levels, and even have it film in 9:16 (for TikTok or Reels), 16:9 (for a cinematic, widescreen look), 1:1, or 4:3. The included SD card can hold about 30 minutes of footage, but you can swap it out with one up to 128 gigabytes for up to 16 hours of video.
And best of all, just like the Camp Snap camera, there's no film involved. All you need to do is plug it into your computer or phone using a USB-C cord, and you'll be able to upload all of your footage!
Ok, I'm buying one. Where can I snag the Camp Snap camera/video camera?!
Yay, join the club! You can buy a Camp Snap camera directly on their website (some styles are out of stock due to high demand, but plenty are still available) or through Urban Outfitters, which carries two exclusive prints. There are more color options on the Camp Snap website, but you can score free shipping on the Urban Outfitters site with any $50 purchase!
As for the CS-8 camera, Camp Snap has been releasing them in small batches that keep selling out. It's currently available for pre-order, which will ship by mid-September, but if they are sold out again by the time you're reading this, just keep checking back in for a restock!
Camp Snap Camera
CS-8 Digital Video Camera
Why trust us?
Hannah Oh is the Shopping Editor at Cosmo and a social media connoisseur who prides herself on being the unofficial photographer of her friend group. She’s tested a variety of cameras and dabbled in various art mediums including portrait and event photography in addition to her 9-to-5 as an editor, and currently enjoys helping all of her friends get iconic profile pics and party photos.
