Camp Snap returns with another ultra-cheap screen-free compact camera — and this is the new feature I’m most excited about

• The Camp Snap 2 is the latest screen-free digital compact camera, designed to provide a simple experience and film-like feel
• It adds a new filter button, similar to the dial on the CS-PRO but with even more options for giving images a vintage look
• The shutter has also been upgraded for faster responsiveness and instant quick-draw shooting

Camp Snap, producer of affordable retro-styled digital cameras, has announced the successor to its mega-viral original Camp Snap camera — the Camp Snap 2.

The original Camp Snap came somewhat out of nowhere to become an unexpected hit. An ultra-affordable compact camera with a tiny sensor and no screen, meaning you couldn’t see your images until after you’d shot them, it proved hugely appealing to consumers looking for a simpler photography experience that evoked some of the feel of shooting film without the ongoing expense.

Since then, we’ve also seen the Camp Snap CS-8, a video camera aping Super 8 camcorders, and the CS-Pro, a slightly upgraded Fujifilm X100-styled version of the original Camp Snap with a higher-resolution sensor and filter dial. But now, we have the mainline sequel to the original camera that started it all: the Camp Snap 2.

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So, what’s new? At first glance, not much — this is still a screen-free digital compact with a small 1/3.2-inch sensor that has a resolution of 8MP. Once again this is paired with a fixed-focus wide-angle lens (26mm equivalent), in a camera with fixed exposure settings, a small optical viewfinder and an LED flash. All these things were true of the original Camp Snap.

However, once you dig in a bit further, there are a few upgrades that I really like the sound of. And with the price still tantalizingly low ($69.95 at launch, equivalent to about £52 / AU$97), I think it’s quite possible that Camp Snap is going to have another hit on its hands. I have the camera on my desk now and will be testing it out fully over the next few weeks — but here’s a quick rundown of the key new features.