Cheap and cheerful.

CAMERA FINDS #3: CAMP SNAP (v1.5)

What follows is based on the 1.5 camera. Since writing this, CAMP SNAP have now released several upgraded versions of their camera which now include some of the features missing from this earlier iteration. Find out more over on their website.

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I’ve always been lucky enough to have a swath of cameras at my disposal (at least since getting into photography properly after leaving college). Most were analogue, as they were affordable at the time, and at the pinnacle of their design as the digital camera took over. In more recent years, since acquiring a Pentax K-X many, many years ago, and later a Canon 5D Mk2 around 2010/11, I’ve always had a decent digital camera to hand, and since mobile phones have caught up, I’m basically never without a camera - a benefit which most of us enjoy. When travelling, or when I know there are likely to be scenes worth capturing, my go to camera nowadays is my FujiFilm X-Pro3, but that has limitations much like the 5D. It’s not as bulky or heavy as the Canon, but I do have to treat it with some respect, which means being mindful whenever I use it - and it’s also not so light that I forget it’s around my neck, but it’s always my preference to use it over my other cameras, as I love the quality of the images I can take with it (the film simulations especially are great). This aesthetic is something that my wife found very appealing when looking back at our holiday snaps, and she longed for a camera of her own, but didn’t want the responsibility of an expensive piece of equipment. For a time she was happy enough with her phone, but conveniently, around the time of her her birthday last year, I saw an advert on Instagram for a cheap and cheerful camera which would tick both the inexpensive equipment box, and the slight film aesthetic of a disposable camera box - with the added bonus of being super cheap to use - capable of capturing ~2000 images (based on the capacity of the included card) before emptying rather, than the traditional 24 or 36 of a roll of 35mm film. It also lasts a decent amount of time on one charge, although I’m not quite sure it can last for the advertised 500 captures (more like 200 in our experience), although this will depend on how often you use the flash and how long you leave it switched on between use - although it does switch off automatically after a while, so you don’t have to worry too much about this.

There are filters to download too, which can alter the look of the images automatically (although we haven’t tried those yet, liking the default look), and the camera itself comes in a wide variety of colours to match most peoples tastes. Using the Camp Snap is very authentic to the experience of using a disposable film camera, both in ease of use and the rather cheap build quality. It is essentially a plastic shell, there is no heft to it at all, which is of course its selling point. It feels cheap, because it is, and that’s perfectly ok. In fact, its the exact reason I got one for Lottie, as she could drop it into her bag and forget about it until needed, and operate it with the use of a single button (although you can control the flash separately). The only indication of use in the shutter count, and a little light around the shutter button (as well as some beeping and a charging light). It is even simpler than its analogue ancestors, and like I say, produces fantastic images for the price point. You wouldn’t want to do any extensive editing on the images, as it outputs in JPEG only (no RAW), and the file sizes are only around 8 megapixels. The card that comes with the camera is more than adequate, but I replaced it for a larger capacity one anyway as I had a few spares, although this really isn’t necessary.

This is more than adequate for printing out images for photo albums or looking at on a computer/phone though, and as the old adage goes, the best camera is the one you have with you, and you’re far more likely to take this with you on your adventures if weight and concerns for the safety of your equipment are at all an issue. A couple of revisions I’d like to see in subsequent versions would be the addition of a mount thread, and, more importantly, a way to attach a wrist or neck strap. I had to take the camera apart and attach one (taken from a staple gun, but works just the same) to the screw mounts inside. This was easy to do and works fine, but would be better if it was implemented into the design of the camera - as not everyone will want to do this.

There are also no specific cases for this camera, and although the point is that it’s rather rugged and you’re meant to pay it no mind, I would recommend picking up a hard case to go with it - we found this on Amazon* which seems to work perfectly well, although it appears to have been discontinued. Other alternatives such as this one are available*, and would likely be just as effective. When looking for one, keep in mind that the dimensions of the camera are 2.54cm x 6.35cm x 11.43cm. As well as these issues, I would prefer a slightly quicker powering on process, as it is a little sluggish having to hold down the shutter button to wake it up. It’s not egregious, but long enough to miss a shot.

The camera has accompanied us on a couple of trips since we brought it, and below are some of the finer examples of the quality of the images.

So there we go, just a few examples (as we’ve gotten most use out of it during family events). We’ve not had it all that long but it’s quickly becoming something we miss when leaving it at home. And the joy of looking back at the photographs when getting in is something we relish. And best of all, it’s getting Lottie interested in taking photos, which is great! A cheap, fun, and useful camera. The addition of a tripod mount screw, a quicker start up, and a way to attach a neck or wrist strap would be appreciated in a revision, but overall, at the price point of £51 (at the time of writing this), there really isn’t any downside, and I can heartily recommend it, either as a fun toy, or even an addition to your serious kit (as it would be great for behind the scenes photographs for example). You can find out more about the camera on the Camp Snap website.

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Do you have a Camp Snap camera? If so, what do you think? Do you like the aesthetics and how it feels to use? And does it work as an alternative to its disposable analogue counterparts?

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