Camp Snap Screen-Free digital camera review

Ditching your smartphone for a screen-free camera like the Camp Snap can be freeing as it allows you to live in the moment instead of constantly reviewing the photos you’ve taken. In the past, I’ve ditched my Google Pixel 7 Pro to take photos exclusively with film and compact cameras, and this time around, I forewent my phone again for the Camp Snap Screen-Free. The results? Film-like photos.

The Camp Snap is extremely easy to use thanks to its straightforward control scheme, and it boasts a long battery life. While there’s no accessible SD slot for upgrading storage, a 4GB microSD card is hardwired inside so your shots are saved. The camera isn’t expensive either, costing just $65. However, there are some noteworthy shortcomings, like delayed shutter response which can lead to missed shots.

Is it one of the best cheap cameras around? For the complete breakdown, read my full Camp Snap review.

Camp Snap review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A screen-free digital camera with a 4GB microSD card included
• Who is it for? For people wanting to ditch their smartphone for photography
• How much does it cost? $65 / £53 from Camp Snap
• What do we like? The ease of use, respectable image quality, long battery life, and accessible price point
• What don’t we like? The delayed shutter response and exclusion of a camera strap or lanyard

Camp Snap review: Specs

Camp Snap review: Price & availability

The Camp Snap Screen-Free has a retail price of $65 / £53 and can be bought directly from Camp Snap. There’s a plethora of colors to choose from, like sunbeam yellow, stealth black, flamingo pink, midnight blue, arctic white, chestnut brown, forest green, crimson red, and more.

Like the name suggests, the Camp Snap is a screen-free digital camera whose image quality is similar to that of reusable film cameras, like the Kodak Ultra F9 ($49) and the Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm (£43). The only difference is that it doesn’t shoot on film; it’s a digital camera so you can offload photos onto your laptop — and you can always get them printed, of course.

Camp Snap review: Design & build quality

The Camp Snap Screen-Free has a simple, cutesy design. Like I said, it’s available in a variety of colors and Camp Snap sent us five models, so I can confidently say that they all look lovely. I, personally, tested the arctic white colorway. All variants have a black body and all that changes is the color of the faux-leather on the front.

While the camera looks lovely, it has a very plasticky feel to it, which makes it feel cheap — and that’s fine, considering it costs just $65. The Camp Snap is comfortable to hold with one or both hands, and it measures just 4.52 x 2.36 x 0.98 inches, so I could easily slip it into my jacket’s pocket and carry it around. It isn’t very heavy either, weighing 3.28oz, so you don’t even feel it in your pocket.

The Camp Snap doesn’t have a screen to review your photos, just like the Fujifilm Instax Pal ($99). You do get a small ticker that lets you know how many photos you’ve taken, and I found it easy to read even in bright sunlight. The whole point of this camera is for you to live in the moment by simply taking a photo and not looking back at it until you’re at your computer.

On either side of the camera, you’ll find two hooks to attach a camera strap. However, Camp Snap doesn’t provide an attachment in the box, and I really wish it did. Otherwise, it’s incredibly easy to carry around.

As Camp Snap gave us five cameras, I distributed a couple to my colleagues to get their impressions. “The camera’s pocket-sized so it was easy to carry around,” said Harry Padoan, TechRadar reviews writer. “Also, you can attach a lanyard or strap to it if you feel so inclined, and I love that.”

“I tested the Camp Snap while out testing another larger camera,” says Pete Wolinski, reviews and cameras editor here at Tom’s Guide. “I already had a camera around my neck, so it was really handy to be able to slip the Camp Snap into my jacket pocket.”

Camp Snap review: Lens & viewfinder

The Camp Snap Screen-Free has a 4.8mm fixed-focus lens, which means you can’t zoom in. Camp Snap doesn’t specify the shooting range but in my testing, the camera was well-suited to landscapes and portraits. This is a point-and-shoot camera, so all you need to do is point at a subject and press the shutter button to take a photo. You don’t get any manual control over shooting settings, so shutter speed is limited to 1/100s while the ISO is set to 400.

That’s what makes the Camp Snap child’s play: anyone can use it. “As someone with limited camera experience, I found the Camp Snap super straightforward and easy to use,” Harry told me.

The Camp Snap is fitted with a small viewfinder right in the centre on the back. I wear prescription glasses and I found it easy and comfortable to look through. It’s similar in size to that of the Kodak Ultra F9’s and the Novocolor Swiss+Go 35mm’s.

As for the aperture, the Camp Snap has an f/3.2 aperture which makes it good enough for shooting in dimly lit environments, as you’ll soon see in the image quality section. To aid in low-light conditions, the camera has a built-in flash that can be set to on, off or auto.

Camp Snap review: Controls

Contributing to the Camp Snap Screen-Free’s ease of use is its straightforward control scheme. There are only two buttons on the camera. The top plate houses the shutter button which doubles as the power button. Holding it down for a couple of seconds turns it on, and pressing it takes a photo. You’ll hear a loud click every time you take a photo or power it up and down. It’s towards the right-hand side of the plate so apologies to my left-handed comrades.

One thing to note is that the shutter response is delayed, so when you press the shutter button, the camera takes a second or two to respond. This means that when you press the button and move the camera away right after, your photo may come out blurry.

A switch next to the viewfinder on the back lets you toggle the flash. I recommend keeping it set to auto if you have a tendency to forget to switch it on and off, but remember to push it to on when shooting in the dark. But the good thing is that you don’t have to worry about wasting precious film as the photos are saved to the camera’s 4GB microSD card — which is included in the box.

Camp Snap review: Image quality

The Camp Snap Screen-Free takes 8MP photos that have a vintage aesthetic, similar to the photos taken on film cameras. Because there isn’t a screen that shows you the photos you’ve taken, you’ll have to rely on your instincts and just go for it. Camp Snap also says that the memory card can store up to 2,000 images so you won’t have to worry about running out of space either.

Image 1 of 3

Photos captured by the Camp Snap in bright conditions turn out lovely, as you can see in the examples above. I love the first photo of what appears to be a pigeon giving the other a kiss. Color reproduction is faithful and the camera has added a vintage hue which I like. The camera also did well to capture the photo of the cygnet flapping its wings in the second photo — I wasn’t expecting the Camp Snap to since the wings were moving quickly. And yet, the photo is sharp. Impressive!

Image 1 of 2

Like I said before, the Camp Snap is great for capturing landscapes and portraits. Both photos above turned out exactly how they looked through the viewfinder, which I’m very happy about as that means you can confidently rely on it.

Image 1 of 3

Harry used the Camp Snap around Bath, U.K. too, and took the photos of his partner above. “The film-like appearance of photos is very attractive — and it has given me a real reason to switch from the convenience of my phone's snapper,” he said. The second photo was taken in Harry’s dimly lit apartment, with the flash on, and has turned out really nice and bright. I took the third photo of the guitars in a dark room with the flash on, and the guitars look sharp and bright too.

Image 1 of 4

Pete took the Camp Snap out on a sunny day in Bath shooting architecture, and was fairly happy with the results. “I was pretty happy with the look and feel of the photos," he said. "The color reproduction isn’t very accurate and the vivid colors of the bright, sunny day were lost. A low contrast, nostalgic effect is kinda the point of this camera, though, so I can forgive it. The Camp Snap genuinely reminds me of disposable cameras in the 2000s. Images look pretty good from mid-distance, although when you zoom in, they’re not that sharp. It’s important to remember, though, that this is a $65 camera and is all about fun — which I definitely had while using it.”

Image 1 of 2

It’s important to note that the Camp Snap struggles to focus on subjects too close to the lens, as you can see in the photos above. The bunch of flowers and Marshall amp are out of focus and the photos aren’t usable. The small camera isn’t fitted with an advanced autofocus system as found in the best mirrorless cameras, of course, so this isn’t a massive con — just something to remember.

Overall, I’m pleased with the Camp Snap’s results. Are they the best photos I’ve ever taken? No, and they aren’t always properly exposed either, but that’s not the point of the camera. It’s to allow you to live in the moment while capturing film-like photos.

Camp Snap review: Battery life

Unlike film cameras that typically use AAA batteries, the Camp Snap Screen-Free camera uses a 600mAh rechargeable battery. A rubber flap covers the USB-C port located on the bottom plate.

Camp Snap claims that this camera can shoot 500 photos on a single charge, depending on usage conditions. I put this to the test by shooting in a lit up room indoors, and a single charge yielded 459 photos. This is fantastic from such a small camera. It outperforms the likes of the Fujifilm Instax Pal (rated for 350 shots).

Camp Snap review: Verdict

As cheap digital cameras go, the Camp Snap Screen-Free is a great and affordable camera for film-like photos. Its included 4GB microSD can save thousands of photos, and a single charge should last you just under 500 photos — perfect for when you’re snapping away on vacation. The camera takes good photos in bright conditions too, and there’s a built-in flash for low-light environments.

However, while the camera has hooks for a lanyard or camera strap, neither of these is included in the box which is a shame as not everyone will have a spare lying about. Also, the delayed shutter response can result in missed shots which can be frustrating.

If you’re looking for a cheap camera that lets you live in the moment and don’t mind a delayed shutter response, then the Camp Snap could be right up your alley.