There’s something funny about taking a digital photo and not being able to look at it. I brought my new Camp Snap 2 screen-free digital camera with us to the lake over Labor Day weekend, and that ended up being the thing I loved most about it. No checking the photo, no asking everyone to pose again because someone’s eyes were closed and no taking 14 versions of essentially the same shot. You simply point, click and move on.
It reminded me so much of being little, taking pictures on a film camera (I had the long rectangular kind that you advanced by pushing in a long button with your thumb, in bright orange) and dropping the roll off at the drugstore. You had to wait to see what you’d actually captured. And somehow, because we weren’t trying so hard, we ended up with some of my favorite photographs from the weekend.
SHOP CAMP SNAP: I have the Camp Snap 2 in Forest Green. Use my code A-SCHOENITH0 for 10% off this Labor Day weekend, in addition to the current Labor Day sale pricing. After the holiday, my code will return to the regular 8% off.
What Is a Camp Snap Camera?
Camp Snap is essentially a screen-free digital camera designed to bring back some of the simplicity and surprise of shooting with film. I have the Camp Snap 2 in Forest Green, the second generation of the original Camp Snap camera.
There is no display screen on the back, so you can’t immediately review the picture you just took. Instead, you keep shooting and transfer the photographs later. That’s really the whole point. It gives you some of the nostalgia of a disposable or film camera, but because it’s digital and rechargeable, you aren’t continually buying film or paying to have it developed.
The Camp Snap 2 has an 8MP sensor, six built-in filters, USB-C charging and transfer, and a pre-installed MicroSD card that holds approximately 2,000 photos. Camp Snap estimates the battery will last for approximately 500 photos per charge.
What I Loved About My Camp Snap 2
You Can’t See the Photos
This is easily my favorite thing about it. At first, not having a screen sounds like a disadvantage, but once I started using it, I realized that was exactly what made the experience so much fun. We’re so accustomed to taking a photo, immediately looking at it and deciding whether it’s “good enough.” Then someone wants another one, and another.
With Camp Snap, we just kept going. Nobody was waiting while I checked the picture, the kids weren’t posing for a second attempt, and I wasn’t stopping what we were doing to edit or post anything. We ended up with actual candids, something I feel like we rarely capture anymore.
Some of the pictures were imperfect. Some weren’t exactly what I thought I was taking. But that was part of what I loved about them. Looking through the photographs later genuinely reminded me of picking up a packet of developed film from the drugstore and flipping through it for the first time.
It’s So Lightweight
I especially loved the Camp Snap on the boat. It’s incredibly lightweight and easy to throw into a bag, carry around or hand to someone else. I didn’t feel like I was hauling another piece of equipment around with me.
The Camp Snap 2 is also 15% slimmer than the original Camp Snap. For lake weekends, vacations, beach trips and everyday family outings, I think the portability is a big part of its appeal.
It Feels Like a Digital Disposable Camera
This is probably why Camp Snap appealed to me in the first place. I love Polaroids, old photographs, black and white photos and film cameras. I love photographs that aren’t perfectly crisp and edited. There’s something about the graininess and unpredictability that makes them feel like an actual memory rather than another photo on your camera roll.
Camp Snap photos have that same spirit. You point, you shoot, and you don’t know exactly what you got. But unlike a traditional disposable camera, you can keep using it. The camera is rechargeable and the included memory card holds approximately 2,000 photographs. It’s sort of a digital answer to the disposable-camera experience, which feels like the perfect combination of old and new to me.
Camp Snap Photo Filters + Examples
One of the features I was most excited to play with was the different Camp Snap photo filters. The Camp Snap 2 has six built-in filter options: Standard, Vintage 1, Vintage 2, Vintage 3, Analog and Black & White.
I switched between the filters while we were out on the lake, which gave me a chance to see how each one handled essentially the same setting. Below are my Camp Snap camera filter examples so you can compare the differences in color, warmth, saturation and contrast. I tried to take very similar photos in consecutive order while I just hit the filter button one after another so you can most easily compare.
Camp Snap Camera Filter Comparison
Standard –
Warm but fairly natural color. Strong/rich blues and greens. Think cleanest and most normal-looking of the color shots.
Vintage 1
More saturated/punchy color, especially a noticeably deeper blue sky. Colors feel richer than Standard.
Vintage 2
Cooler overall tone. Whites and skin should look less golden/warm, with the image leaning cooler.
Vintage 3
Warm/yellow cast but more washed-out color. Less saturation than Vintage 1. This may feel softer, sunnier or slightly faded.
Analog
Probably the easiest color one to spot. Faded colors with a pink/magenta cast. More obviously “film-y” and imperfect.
Black & White
The most obvious and one of my favorites, always. Camp Snap’s version of black and white tends to be fairly strong and contrasty rather than soft gray.
The One Thing I Didn’t Love
My biggest frustration was actually knowing which filter I was using. The filter indicator is quite small, and the first time I used the camera I found it difficult to remember which setting was which. I basically just kept switching them and seeing what happened.
And honestly, that ended up being kind of fun. I wasn’t always entirely sure what the photograph would look like, which added another element of surprise when I finally transferred the pictures. I suspect once I’ve used it more and learned the different settings, this will be much less of an issue, but there is a little bit of a learning curve with the filters the first time you use the camera.
But now I think I’ll settle into knowing which ones I like the most and start remembering the order, but my 40+ eyes will probably have no chance at actually reading that tiny text on the camera in the moment.
Camp Snap Camera Pros + Cons
After using my Camp Snap 2 for a full weekend, these are the things that stood out to me most.
What I loved:
- No screen means you’re actually present instead of reviewing photos.
- We captured FAR more candid photographs.
- It’s extremely lightweight.
- It’s very simple to use.
- It’s reusable rather than disposable.
- The filters give you several different vintage-inspired looks.
- It’s small enough to take practically anywhere.
- There’s something genuinely fun about waiting to see your photographs.
- The kids loved using it.
- The battery & storage is plenty for a normal day / excursion without having to download or charge
- I LOVE the nostalgic look of the photos personally
What I didn’t love:
- The filter indicator was difficult for me to read at first.
- You will inevitably end up with some bad photographs.
- Sometimes (esp on the first photo when you have taken a break) there is a slight delay in when you take the photo and when it takes the photo so you have to hold it for a moment longer until you hear the “click” noise.
- You don’t have the control or image quality you’d expect from a more serious digital camera.
That last point is important. I wouldn’t buy a Camp Snap because you want the technically best photographs. I’d buy one because you want a completely different experience of taking photographs. For me, that’s where the charm is.
Is the Camp Snap Camera Worth It?
For me, yes, but I think it depends entirely on what you’re hoping to get from it. If you’re looking for the sharpest possible digital photographs or want complete control over every image, this probably isn’t the camera I’d choose.
But if you miss the experience of taking pictures without knowing exactly how they’re going to turn out, I think that’s where Camp Snap is special. I loved having it for our lake weekend because I could throw it into my bag, hand it around and let everyone take pictures without turning our weekend into a photo shoot.
When I finally looked at the photographs, they actually felt like the weekend. Slightly imperfect, completely candid and a little nostalgic. I think the price point is totally reasonable enough to give this one a try and makes a great gift for the same reason.
The Other Camp Snap Cameras I Love
I bought the Camp Snap 2, but there are two other versions that have caught my eye. The CS-Pro is particularly beautiful and has more of an old rangefinder-camera look. It upgrades the concept with a 16MP sensor, Xenon flash and a physical four-position filter dial. I personally just love the vintage look of this one with the metal lense ring and metal top / dial that to me it’s almost worth buying just for the aesthetic alone.
Then there’s the CS-8, a digital video camera inspired by old Super 8 movie cameras. Rather than immediately playing back your footage, it brings some of the same wait-and-see philosophy to home movies. It’s like the camcorder for today. I’ve seen other folks sharing their video footage and it is just SO good and nostalgic. This would make the best new baby gift for a young family, oh my.
I haven’t personally used either of these, so I can’t review them, but I LOVE the concept and vintage styling of both. The CS-8 especially intrigues me because old family home movies have the same kind of magic that I think we’re slowly losing with thousands of little video clips living on our phones.
If I end up trying either one, I’ll update this post with my experience.
Camp Snap Discount Code
If you’ve made it this far in my Camp Snap camera review and want to try one for yourself, I have a Camp Snap discount code you can use on your order.
Use code A-SCHOENITH0 for 10% off this Labor Day weekend, in addition to the current Labor Day sale pricing. After the holiday promotion ends, my code will return to its regular 8% off.
I have the Camp Snap 2 in Forest Green, which is the camera you see in all of the photographs throughout this post. I also love the vintage-inspired look of the CS-Pro and CS-8 camcorder if you’re comparing the different Camp Snap cameras.
Camp Snap Discount Code: A-SCHOENITH0
SHOP CAMP SNAP + SAVE 10%
*Discount and promotional offers can change, so check the current offer at checkout but i’ll try to keep them up to date.
Camp Snap Camera FAQs
Does the Camp Snap 2 have a screen?
No. The Camp Snap 2 is intentionally screen-free, so you can’t review your photographs immediately after taking them. That’s one of the defining features of the camera.
How many pictures can a Camp Snap take?
The included MicroSD card holds approximately 2,000 photographs, while Camp Snap estimates the rechargeable battery lasts for approximately 500 photographs per charge.
What filters does the Camp Snap 2 have?
The Camp Snap 2 includes six built-in filters: Standard, Vintage 1, Vintage 2, Vintage 3, Analog and Black & White.
Can you see Camp Snap pictures right away?
No, and that’s actually my favorite part. You take the photographs without reviewing them and transfer them later. That delay is what makes using it feel so much more like shooting with an old film or disposable camera.
Is Camp Snap like a disposable camera?
That’s probably the easiest way to describe the experience. You point, shoot and don’t immediately see the result. The difference is that Camp Snap is digital, rechargeable and reusable, so you don’t need to continually buy cameras, film or pay to have photographs developed.
Is Camp Snap good for kids?
I think the simplicity makes it especially appealing for families and kids. Camp Snap also includes its CampLock feature, which allows parents to lock certain camera settings.
Does Camp Snap have a discount code?
Yes. You can use my Camp Snap discount code A-SCHOENITH0 when shopping Camp Snap. My code normally saves 8%, and for Labor Day weekend it has been increased to 10% off, on top of the current Labor Day sale pricing.
Some Final Thoughts About the Camera
The thing I expected to love about my Camp Snap was the vintage look of the photographs. What surprised me was that I loved the way it changed how we took the photographs even more. We weren’t checking them, retaking them, editing them or stopping what we were doing to decide whether everyone looked good. We just took the picture.
Later, I got to look through a collection of completely candid photographs from a family weekend at the lake. It felt a little like getting a roll of film back again, and for an old soul like me, that’s probably the best review I can give it.
