Tom's Guide Verdict
If you want a no-frills video camera with stripped-back controls, the Camp Snap CS-8 is the way to go. Reasonably priced and ridiculously easy to use, the CS-8 records 2.7K video at 30fps/18fps, and it features a few color profiles that make video look very nostalgic. However, the camera unfortunately records trigger sounds, quality quickly degrades when zooming in, and it isn’t the most comfortable for those with glasses.
Pros
- +
Incredibly easy to use
- +
Retro design reminiscent of Super 8 cameras
- +
Very nostalgic video quality
- +
Array of filters and aspect ratios
- +
Reasonably priced
Cons
- -
Camera records trigger sound
- -
Quality quickly degrades when zooming in
- -
Not comfortably for those who wear glasses
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Trends always make a comeback: whether that’s bell-bottom jeans, all-denim outfits, or film photography. One brand in particular has been capitalizing on the resurgence of the latter, and that’s Camp Snap, a brand that has come out with a video camera inspired by Super 8s. I’ve been testing the Camp Snap CS-8 for a few days and I’ve grown very attached to this weird, quirky, nostalgic camera.
The CS-8 captures 2.7K footage at either 30fps or 18fps, depending on the chosen color profile, and there are a bunch of aspect ratios to experiment with. It’s reasonably priced and ridiculously easy to use. While its video quality isn’t of the highest quality, and it records the trigger sound every time, it’s still a lovely camera, especially for those who yearn for a simpler time.
To find out if it’s one of the best cameras out there, read my full Camp Snap CS-8 review.
Camp Snap CS-8 review: Cheat sheet
- What is it? A screen-free camcorder reminiscent of 8mm film cameras
- Who is it for? Anyone who wants a stripped-back video camera
- How much does it cost? The Camp Snap CS-8 has a retail price of $139 / £150
- What do we like? The ease of use, retro design and video quality, and array of filters and aspect ratios
- What don’t we like? The camera records trigger sound, zoom quality isn’t great, and the viewfinder isn’t the best
Camp Snap CS-8 review: Specs
Specs | Camp Snap CS-8 |
|---|---|
Price | |
Max video resolution | 2.7K/30fps |
Stabilization | None |
Zoom | 8x digital |
AF system | None |
Focus modes | Automatic |
Viewfinder | EVF |
Display | None |
Ports | USB-C |
Wireless/bluetooth | No |
Battery life (rated) | 30 minutes |
Size | 8 x 7.9 x 2.3 inches |
Weight | 18.5oz |
Camp Snap CS-8 review: Price & availability
The Camp Snap CS-8 is one of two cameras the brand has ever created, the other being the Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera. At the time of writing, the CS-8 is available for pre-order from the official Camp Snap website, for $139 / £150. Shipping is expected in mid-September, just in time to record old-school-style spooky movies at Halloween.
Styled after the Super 8 cameras from the 1960s, the CS-8 is unlike any other modern-day camcorder. It’s similar to the Kodak Super 8 but you’d need to contact Kodak to buy one of those, and even then, it costs thousands of dollars and is meant more for filmmakers than hobbyists.
Camp Snap CS-8 review: Design
If you’re familiar with Super 8 cameras from the 1960s, you’ll recognize the inspiration behind the Camp Snap CS-8’s design. Sporting a combination of black and grey as well as a material that resembles faux leather, the CS-8 oozes retro charm. It’s made entirely of plastic but I never thought the camera felt or looked cheap.
At 18.5oz, the CS-8 has a good weight to it and weight distribution is great too, so the camera never feels heavy in your hands. It measures 8 x 7.9 x 2.3 inches so it isn’t exactly inconspicuous. You’ll probably get looks from strangers (as I did) and your friends may wonder why you’re lugging such an odd-looking thing around (as mine did).
Those well-versed with photography or retro cameras, though, will find the CS-8 charming, as the professional photographers in our testing lab / photo studio did. I personally really like how the CS-8 looks and handles. It’s vastly different from other cameras I’ve tested and I admire a brand thinking out of the box.
Ports
Ports on the Camp Snap CS-8 are minimal as it’s an extremely stripped back camera. The only port you’ll find on it is a USB-C one for charging and data transfer. The camera also comes pre-installed with a 4GB microSD card which you can replace and upgrade to a maximum of 128GB.
Viewfinder
The Camp Snap CS-8 features an electronic viewfinder which shows a live view of the chosen color profile and aspect ratio. You can’t use it to review any footage so it’s just there for shot composition. The live view also shows battery status, the chosen color profile, and how long you’ve been rolling for. However, the live view’s quality leaves a little to be desired as it doesn’t appear as clear as it does when you’ve offloaded the footage onto a computer.
Now, while I love the CS-8’s overall design, its viewfinder is a sticking point for me. It’s fine enough to use if you don’t wear glasses — but as someone who wears prescription glasses, I found the viewfinder uncomfortable to use for long periods of time.
Since I couldn’t press my eye right up against the viewfinder, I struggled to see the entire image displayed, and I had to constantly change the angle of my eye to see the recording status and other indicators. There’s also no diopter adjustment dial so it’s not like I could simply fine-tune the viewfinder’s focus to match my natural eyesight.
Camp Snap CS-8 review: Controls
The Camp Snap CS-8 isn’t a complicated camera at all. Its controls are so simple that anyone, regardless of their level of expertise in video cameras, could pick it up and start recording. In that sense, it’s very similar to the Camp Snap Screen-Free digital camera, with a straightforward control scheme that barely takes any time to get used to.
As I mentioned up top, you need to hold the CS-8 via its handle, and you must hold down the trigger with your index or middle finger to record — which makes it look like you’re a traffic cop holding a speed gun to catch speeding drivers. I found this comfortable to do as the trigger doesn’t require a lot of force to record, so shooting long videos was a walk in the park.
All the other buttons and dials are within easy reach too. On the CS-8’s left-hand side, you’ll find the power, aspect ratio and color profiles dials. I had fun experimenting with different combinations, and each gave me a different home-movie-like feel.
Over to the right-hand side. Here, you’ll find the zoom in and out buttons, as well as mode and navigational up and down buttons. Also located on both sides of the camera are dual analog meters which show how much battery and SD card storage is available. Nice retro touch but also practical — I like it.
Camp Snap CS-8 review: Video quality
The Camp Snap CS-8 is capable of shooting 2.7K video at different frame rates and in different aspect ratios. The aspect ratio dial lets you swap between 4:3, 16:9, 1:1 and 9:16 orientations, and the color profiles dial gives you access to Standard, Vintage 1, Vintage 2 and Black & White filters. All four of these record at 30fps, and there’s also an Analog color profile reminiscent of 8mm film and it shoots at 18fps.
While the CS-8’s video quality isn’t of the highest quality or the sharpest, that isn’t its intended purpose. The camera is meant to record footage that appears slightly grainy and imperfect to instil a feeling of nostalgia within you.
As a millennial, I remember homemade videos my parents made of my brother and myself, and I remember watching them on a dusty old VCR — that’s what the CS-8’s footage reminds me of, and I adore it.
As I said, the Analog color profile shoots at 18fps and adds fake scratches to the footage, and it’s perhaps my favorite setting on the CS-8. It’s far from perfect in terms of quality, and there’s no stabilization so it’s shaky and jerky. But really, I’d use my Google Pixel 7 Pro if I wanted those things. The point is to emulate an analog experience, which the CS-8 excels at. You can see what the Analog color profile and 1:1 aspect ratio look like in the video above.
In comparison to the Analog color profile, the other profiles don’t really stand out to me. Above you can see the Standard profile and footage shot in the 4:3 aspect ratio. It’s… fine, really, nothing to write home about.
But the video (and the ones that follow below) demonstrates the camera’s monaural audio quality and zooming capabilities. The audio is tinny and not pristine at all, and I hate that it picks up the sounds of the trigger clicking every time.
Also, as you’ll see, the 8x digital zoom works as intended but the video quality drops drastically. Footage appears slightly grainy at 1x and pushing it to 8x makes it almost unusable. I suppose that’s what’s charming about the camera.
There’s also a Black and White color profile available for when you want to shoot some dramatic footage, as you can see in the video above (16:9 aspect ratio). I always love the look of monochromatic footage and that’s true in the case of the CS-8 too.
In fact, I edited the footage in iMovie and added intertitles to it — you know, how they used to do for silent films back in the day. You can watch the clip above. While I’ve tried to keep it lighthearted, this just goes to show the CS-8’s potential.
You can also shoot in a vertical 9:16 orientation — as you can see in the video above — which is ideal for your Instagram story, Reels or YouTube Shorts. This footage was shot in the Vintage 2 color profile which gives it a washed out appearance, and I like it but it still doesn’t upstage Analog for me.
Overall, the CS-8 is a capable camera but it isn’t the one if you want the highest quality. It’s all about fun, and it succeeds at offering a no-frills shooting experience.
Camp Snap CS-8 review: Battery life
The Camp Snap CS-8’s battery life is nothing to write home about. On a single charge, the camera can last nearly 30 minutes. In my testing, I shot using the Standard color profile in the 4:3 aspect ratio, and the camera died after just over 45 minutes. Unfortunately, you can’t use the CS-8 while it’s charging which limits its potential.
Camp Snap CS-8 review: Verdict
If you want an extremely easy-to-use camera whose key selling point is that it records video that oozes nostalgia, then the Camp Snap CS-8 is the one for you. Its 2.7K footage is slightly grainy which reminds me of the home movies my parents made of me when I was a child — and I love it. There are many color profiles and aspect ratios to play with too.
I would, however, avoid this camera if you want extremely high quality as that isn’t the CS-8’s intended purpose. There are also a couple of things I don’t like, such as the sound of the trigger being recorded and the viewfinder being uncomfortable for people who wear glasses.
At the end of the day, the CS-8 is a good video camera for casual videography and for anyone who just wants to have fun without worrying too much about specs. I’m personally a big fan of that philosophy, and that alone is enough to make me overlook some of the CS-8’s flaws.
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