Camp Snap Shrinks Its Retro Screen-Free Camcorder With the Kid-Friendly CS-8 Mini

Camp Snap has announced a miniature take on its screen-free CS-8 video camera, arriving just a month after the company rolled out new color options for the original model. The new CS-8 Mini measures less than half the size of its predecessor and is available now for $149.99.

Like the larger version, the Mini leans on a retro aesthetic modeled after Canon and Kodak Super 8mm film cameras from decades past. The redesign is not purely cosmetic: the grip has been scaled down so that smaller hands can hold it more comfortably, a clear nod to the young shooters Camp Snap is courting.

The smaller body comes with a trade-off in image quality. Where the original CS-8 can record 4K video, the Mini's 1/2.7-inch sensor tops out at 2.7K resolution.

The camera is on sale through Camp Snap's online store and at Target, with a choice of bright blue, orange, pink, or green finishes.

Camp Snap has kept its deliberately stripped-down philosophy intact. The Mini has no screen, no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, and no companion app to install. Footage is saved to an included 4GB microSD card, and a trigger-style recording button starts a fresh clip with each press.

Getting videos off the camera is an old-school affair. Owners can either pop the microSD card into a reader or plug the camera directly into another device with a USB-C cable.

Despite its kid-friendly positioning, the Mini borrows a respectable set of recording features from the full-size model. Users can pick from four aspect ratios: 16:9 widescreen, 9:16 vertical, 1:1 square for easier sharing on social media, and 4:3 for a retro home movie look. The camera also offers up to 8x digital zoom.

Rounding out the feature list are five film-style filters. Alongside a standard mode, there are two vintage looks, an analog option that leans heavily into film grain and flickering, and a black and white setting.