The Camp Snap CS-8 isn’t concerned with technical specifics like frame rates or stabilization. It’s not trying to replace your smartphone or compete with high-end camera setups. Instead, it focuses on the simplicity and enjoyment of capturing video. Similar to Camp Snap’s 2023 point-and-shoot still camera, the CS-8 harkens back to a time when cameras required more manual operation and images weren’t instantly reviewable.
Inspired by the 1960s Super 8 camcorders, the CS-8 embraces a retro design and functionality. Its mostly plastic body includes faux-metal details and leatherette texture meant to invoke a sense of nostalgia rather than act as a genuine recreation. It has a chunky and toy-like feel, with features like a fake cold shoe and imitation screws on the pistol grip’s base. This camera is for everyday use, priced at $199, meant to be carried around at social gatherings, and handled without overthinking.
The CS-8 lacks a screen, playback, or delete option—what you record is permanent. Options are minimal, featuring one dial for aspect ratio selection (4:3, 16:9, 1:1, or 9:16) and another for video effects, including standard color, monochrome, and three lo-fi filters. The “Analogue” filter, particularly notable, reduces the frame rate to 20 fps and adds digital scratches, creating a purposely imperfect video aesthetic. Other filters may seem less dynamic, though monochrome can deliver strong visuals in suitable lighting.
Operating the CS-8 is engagingly manual: Power it on with a dial, use the rubber-cupped viewfinder, and press the trigger to record. There’s no need to adjust focus, and zooming is done via “W” and “T” buttons for wide and telephoto, though it only offers digital zoom, with resolution quickly deteriorating when zoomed in too far.