The compact camera trend is putting portability back in the spotlight, but one start-up is working to build a camera so small, it’s only about the size of a lipstick and weighs less than a golf ball. The SNYP Pocket Camera is an unusually shaped camera with a rotating lens.
The SNYP Pocket Camera weighs just 33g, but the rectangular shape and small size mean you'd be forgiven if you mistook it for a tube of lipstick.
The size isn’t the only unusual feature. The camera’s lens, which sits at the top of the “lipstick” tube, can rotate 360 degrees. That rotation allows users to still see the 1.45-inch screen when snapping selfies.
The small camera still manages to fit in a 16MP resolution for stills and 2K for video, though the start-up doesn’t say what size or kind of sensor is tucked inside the tiny camera.
The SNYP Pocket Camera comes with a handful of built-in filters that swap with the press of a button. There’s one inspired by retro film, but there’s also another inspired by CCD sensors and early 2000s compact cameras.
Because of the small size, there's no built-in flash.
Along with shooting photos and videos, the camera has an audio-only mode, allowing it to double as a voice recorder.
At the bottom, the camera has a microSD card slot and a USB-C port for charging and transferring images. At the top, the camera has a vent for cooling and heat dissipation.
The size of the Pocket Camera reminds me a bit of the Kodak Charmera. The camera from SNYP lacks a keychain and comes with an unusual rotating lens and higher resolution, but the compact design, built-in screen, and different filter options feel like the upcoming camera could be trying to go after the same audience.
The SNYP Pocket Camera is launching on Kickstarter, with the campaign ending on August 26. Pledges begin at $49 (about £36 / AU$69 CA$68), with shipping estimated for November 2026. The camera is expected to retail for twice that outside of the crowdfunding platform.
All crowdfunding pledges carry some risk. The Pocket Camera is the first campaign from the startup SNYP.
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