In 1987, Fisher-Price sold kids a $179 camcorder that recorded grainy black-and-white video onto ordinary audio cassettes. According to the original report, the PXL-2000 flopped as a toy and then won a cult following among art-school filmmakers. Camp Snap is now aiming a similar idea at children with the CS-8 Mini, a screen-free kids camcorder.
Film cameras have long drawn collectors who value the physical act of capturing an image, as seen in Graciela Iturbide’s Leica Hall of Fame honor for her powerful visual narratives.
The CS-8 Mini is a screen-free kids camcorder for ages 6 and up, styled after a Super 8 film camera. It costs $149.99.
A smaller version of the CS-8
Camp Snap says the Mini is less than half the size of its full-size CS-8. It measures 6.0 by 5.6 by 2.0 inches and weighs 0.58 pounds (262 grams), according to PetaPixel and Digital Camera World.
The body keeps the boxy shape of a 1970s home movie camera. A forward-jutting lens sits in a knurled ring, and a pistol grip sits underneath. Zoom works through two oversized T and W keys on top, sized for small fingers. The Mini comes in blue, green, orange, and pink. The full-size CS-8 was black, and the Mini drops that option.
The battery and storage meters carry over from the original, redesigned to fit the smaller body. Digital Camera World describes them as reimagined meters, while The Verge says Camp Snap now uses LEDs for them. The original report describes analog needle gauges, so the exact display may differ from what the reports describe.
Using the screen-free kids camcorder: one trigger pull, one clip
Recording works like the Super 8 cameras that inspired it. Pull and release the trigger to record a clip. The Verge reports that each press creates a new clip, and Camp Snap’s product page says each one saves as its own MP4 file.
Two dials control the look. One cycles through five film-style filters: standard color, two vintage looks, an analog option with heavy film grain and flicker, and black and white. The other sets one of four aspect ratios: 4:3, 16:9, 1:1, or 9:16. Camp Snap’s own list of suggested shoots leans into 9:16 with Pokémon card openings, unboxings, and mini YouTube vlogs.
The camera has a built-in microphone and up to 8x digital zoom. Its sensor is 1/2.7 inches and records 2.7K video. The Verge and Digital Camera World both report that figure, while the original CS-8 captures 4K, according to The Verge.
There is no playback screen on this screen-free kids camcorder. Camp Snap’s product page says the filters are applied during capture, so what you shoot is what you get. Footage can be reviewed only after the camera is plugged into a phone or computer over USB-C. The product page says it then mounts like a flash drive.
Storage depends on the card. The included 4GB card holds about 30 minutes of footage, and a 128GB card holds up to about 16 hours, according to the product page. The Verge describes the included card as a microSD. Check the card type when buying extras.
Price, shipping and the audience
Camp Snap sells the Mini for $149.99 on its website, and Target also sells it, per The Verge and Digital Camera World. The product page estimates one to two weeks to ship and lists free shipping. It also warns that stock is very limited. The original report puts a carrying case at $19.99.
Reports disagree on how the price compares with the full-size CS-8. PetaPixel says the original launched at the same price. Digital Camera World says the Mini costs about $50 less. Both agree that the Mini is the smaller kids camcorder of the two.
Camp Snap started out making screen-free cameras for kids to take to summer camp, according to Digital Camera World. The grown-up CS-8 later found an adult audience. Digital Camera World reports that the original drew attention from celebrities and creators. Camp Snap says the Mini is designed for smaller hands and bigger adventures.
Parents weighing screens and young kids will also want to see how regulators are moving, in this UK law to block explicit kids’ phone images story about protecting children’s devices.
The idea is an old one. Kodak introduced Super 8 film in 1965, and the PXL-2000 later became popular with adults. The screen-free kids camcorder asks a new generation to wait for the footage until they get home. The camera makes that wait the point.
Source: yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Camp Snap CS-8 Mini camcorder cost?
The CS-8 Mini costs $149.99 and is sold on Camp Snap’s website, and Target also sells it. The product page warns that stock is very limited.
What age range is the CS-8 Mini kids camcorder designed for?
The CS-8 Mini is designed for kids ages 6 and up. It is styled after a Super 8 film camera.
How do you watch footage shot on the CS-8 Mini?
The camera has no playback screen, so footage can be reviewed only after it is plugged into a phone or computer over USB-C. Once connected, it mounts like a flash drive.
How much footage fits on the CS-8 Mini’s included memory card?
The included 4GB card holds about 30 minutes of footage. A 128GB card holds up to about 16 hours, according to the product page.
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