Camp Snap CS-Pro review: I finally found a retro compact camera that's underpriced, not overpriced

Compact cameras are trending – and particularly point-and-shoots with a retro design. But the trend comes with one major problem: price. Most retro-inspired digital compact cameras come with a pretty significant price tag, but I’ve fallen in love with a cheap point-and-shoot that’s actually a tiny percentage of the cost of the trendiest options. The Camp Snap CS-Pro is a retro camera that feels old school, but is 100 percent digital.

The Camp Snap CS-Pro feels film-like not because of what this tiny budget camera has, but what it doesn’t have: a screen. There’s no temptation to flip through all the photos. Framing shots in the tiny viewfinder didn’t take me away from the moment any more than using a disposable film camera would.

The CS-Pro builds on the success of the original Camp Snap. The Camp Snap originally launched as a way to send kids to screen-free summer camps with a fully digital camera, but the unusual design quickly found a following beyond kids' cameras, including adult digital minimalists and retro camera fans.

The Camp Snap CS-Pro feels far more grown-up than the original, yet every bit as retro.

Camp Snap CS-Pro Review: Specifications

Camp Snap CS-Pro Review: Price

The Camp Snap CS-Pro costs more than the original Camp Snap camera, but still qualifies as a cheap camera. The CS-Pro retails for about $99 / £90 / AU$153 / CA$141.

In comparison, the original Camp Snap sells for $65 / £53 / AU$106 / CA$85.

Camp Snap CS-Pro Review: Design & Handling

The Camp Snap CS-Pro still looks retro with its screen-free design, but takes on the beloved classic silver-with-a-black-wrap look. I love the iconic colors and shape of the CS-Pro, but what’s most important here is that Camp Snap fixed some of my biggest complaints about the design of the original.

First, there’s a film simulation dial at the top of the camera. This allows you to choose from four different digital filters, whereas the original camera needs to be plugged into a computer if you want to change the digital filter. This dial also serves as the camera’s off switch.

My other complaint about the original Camp Snap design was that the microSD card was annoyingly difficult to access. The CS-Pro still has a little screw in the card door, but there’s a quick-release catch there too, so you can loosen the screw and leave it off if you want, or keep the screw fastened if you’re handing the camera over to a child where the microSD may get lost or pose as a choking hazard. There’s also a quick-access USB-C port on the bottom, which can be used for charging as well as transferring photos.

While there’s a “Pro” in the name, the compact camera remains very simple. The only controls are the shutter release, the digital filter dial, and a flash toggle. There’s no label on the flash toggle, but down is off, the middle is auto flash, and all the way up is forced flash.

The back remains blissfully screen-free for digital minimalists and keeping a more film-like experience. There’s a small counter that tallies the number of photos that you’ve taken, and, if you press the menu button hidden underneath the SD card door, you can adjust the date so that the correct day writes to the photo’s metadata. Four small lights indicate the remaining battery life.

Another key change? The lens has a filter thread, so the compact camera can also take 37mm filters.

My only complaints about the design are minor. The hook to attach a strap is a bit small and isn’t going to accommodate every kind of strap on the market unless you add a keyring loop first. (And unlike the inclusion of a microSD card, there’s no strap in the box). The CS-Pro also feels a bit plasticky, but this isn’t really a con on a sub-$100 camera and is rather expected.

The Camp Snap CS-Pro both feels more grown up, yet remains simple enough that I think this camera would still work for school-aged kids as well as adults.

Camp Snap CS-Pro Review: Performance

The trend of fixing the original Camp Snap’s quirks continues in the CS-Pro’s performance. One of my biggest complaints with the more affordable camera from the brand is that the shutter lag – the time between when the shutter release is pressed and when the photo is actually taken. The original has a significant shutter lag, making it hard to time the photo just right.

With the CS-Pro, the shutter lag is significantly reduced. The artificial (but endearing) shutter sound happens immediately after pressing the button. I was able to get the timing down right far better than with the older camera. The lag is now very minor, and only the fastest motion, like my cat turning his head away, leads to a missed shot.

The CS-Pro has a fixed focus lens, which means you don’t have to wait for it to lock focus. But, that also means it doesn’t have the best of close-up capabilities. Camp Snap recommends standing at least three feet from the subject, and any close-ups I attempted were a bit soft. That includes selfies (unless perhaps you have arms longer than mine).

The CS-Pro also uses an upgraded Xenon flash that is pretty powerful for the small size – in fact, at times it was too powerful. The forced flash mode tended to overexpose indoors at a semi-close distance. The auto flash mode – the middle position on the switch on the front of the camera – fared much better, offering less noise and that retro direct flash look. Once I saw my flash images, I’m sticking to the auto flash and off modes, not the forced flash.

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Photos from the CS-Pro feel like a mix between the 2000s-era digicam trend and the look of a cheap disposable film camera. The images aren’t meant to be perfect, and that’s actually kind of the point.

The Camp Snap CS-Pro upgrades to a 16MP resolution, and it feels a bit sharper, but it’s still a camera that embraces old-school imperfections rather than making an attempt at pixel-peeping perfection. Images are charming, not perfect. If you want images better than a smartphone, you’ll be disappointed – but at this price, you really shouldn’t expect better photos than a device that costs ten times more.

Those imperfections that feel like a retro throwback include noise in low light – and even outdoors on a cloudy day, there’s some slight grain to the images. The lens also creates some noticeable colored fringing, which seems most obvious around backlit tree branches and other thin objects. The lens still has a bit of softness and flare to it that reminds me of a disposable film camera.

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That’s all par for the course, however, and in line with what I was expecting both from the price point and my experience with the original. The dial to change the digital filter or color mode is fantastic. I loved being able to swap looks without having to connect the camera to a computer.

The camera ships with four digital looks pre-installed: a neutral standard, a warmer retro look, a cooler retro look, and a black-and-white mode. If you don’t love those looks, you can connect the CS-Pro to a computer and download different ones or use Camp Snap’s online tool to create your own.

Camp Snap CS-Pro Sample Images

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Camp Snap CS-Pro Review: Verdict

The Camp Snap CS-Pro is a wonderfully retro compact camera with an impressively cheap price tag. The images feel like a throwback mix between early digital compact cameras and disposable film.

But what I love about the CS-Pro isn’t just the old-school feel of the images, or the classic silver-and-black look. The screen-free design brings back the film-like ability to capture memories without the distracting notifications and apps of a smartphone or the temptation to check each shot as moments are still unfolding.

But if you’re considering the CS-Pro, it’s also important to understand what this cheap little compact camera is and what it is not. It is not going to snap better photos than a decent smartphone camera. But it is going to take nostalgic images with the feel of a film camera, but the convenience of digital.

The Camp Snap CS-Pro is an easy choice over the original, fixing complaints like shutter lag and adding space for up to four swappable digital filters without a major jump in price. The more affordable original feels more like a disposable and will be easier for younger kids with fewer controls, but for nostalgia-seeking adults and digital minimalists, the CS-Pro is well worth the price difference.

Alternatives

Camp Snap Original Screen-Free Camera: at digitalcameraworld.com

The original Camp Snap is simpler and more affordable. I think the price difference is worth opting for the CS-Pro for the reduced shutter lag and built-in filters, but the original is still a good buy for kids.

Flashback One: at digitalcameraworld.com

The Flashback One is similarly screen-free and feels like a digital version of a disposable film camera. The key difference is that the Flashback will wirelessly send photos to your phone, rather than the CS-Pro's corded image transfers. Flashback One has a new V2 coming out in mid-December 2025 with enhanced resolution.

Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo: at digitalcameraworld.com

The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo is my favorite retro compact camera under the $300 / £200 price point. It's a digital camera with a built-in instant film printer, plus it has more retro effects than the CS-Pro, including light leaks and double exposures. The resolution is lower though, and the built-in printer makes it much bulkier.

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