Is plastic really fantastic? Why I just don’t get Lo-Fi cameras

A puzzling trend has emerged in recent times for cheap, low-fi plastic compact cameras, and it seems I am among those who simply do not comprehend the allure. When presented with the chance to spend a few weeks with the Camp Snap 2, a successor to one of the most popular cameras in this niche, I viewed it as an opportunity to understand the hype that surrounds these devices.

The Camp Snap 2 shares similarities with its predecessor, being a plastic, screen-free digital camera that resembles a disposable film camera but offers the advantage of being reusable. This second iteration has incorporated a few enhancements from the original, all for a price of around £54/$70.

Equipped with an 8MP sensor and a fixed-focus 26mm equivalent lens, the Camp Snap 2 also features a built-in flash, a tripod thread, a USB-C port for charging and downloading photos, and a data screen that displays the picture count and allows the selection of six color filter effects. These effects, including black and white, add a creative touch to the images.

Available in 11 colors, including translucent ones that reveal some internal components, the Camp Snap 2 is designed with kids, campers, climbers, and other individuals who would be wary of risking a more expensive camera in mind.

While alternative options, such as basic 35mm cameras, are available at a lower cost, the expense associated with film must be taken into account. Consequently, the Camp Snap fills a practical niche for its intended audience. However, it is essential not to overlook the fact that the user experience is fundamentally functional and utilitarian, and that the image quality falls short of that of even a 10-year-old iPhone.

It is not a finely crafted precision instrument and does not claim to be one. The images produced by the Camp Snap 2 are sharp in the center but lack sharpness around the edges.

What perplexes me, though, is why otherwise rational, intelligent adults who possess high-end mirrorless cameras or decent smartphones would opt for using one of these cameras in risk-free situations, such as a visit to the local park, a museum visit, or a stroll around town. Even some of my colleagues at the Associated Press have succumbed to the charm of these inexpensive little plastic boxes.

For instance, a shot taken on the Camp Snap 2 in Castle Combe shows that highlight detail in the house on the left is completely lost. In comparison, the same scene captured immediately after using my Xiaomi 15 Ultra smartphone reveals a different outcome.

This phenomenon is not limited to the Camp Snap. As this is a growing market sector, it appears that the closer these cameras resemble the experience of using disposable film cameras, the more their enthusiasts seem to appreciate them. The Flashback One35 V2, for example, even includes a ratchety film-advance thumbwheel, which serves no practical purpose other than producing an annoying noise and allowing the owner to cosplay as an analogue hipster.