TechRadar has reviewed the Photo Creator Mini Digital Camera series 3 (also known as Canal Toys), calling it the cheapest and smallest digital camera it has ever seen. According to TechRadar, the camera is currently available for £9.99 at Very (was £12.99) in the UK, and $22 at Amazon in the US. At that price, the reviewer purchased all four varieties for the price of one Kodak Charmera.
Product Overview
The camera comes in four styles: Retro (silver), Pro (black), Compact (pink), and Instant (white). There are additional styles available, including an Instant Camera variant. TechRadar tested the pink Compact version. The reviewer and three colleagues each tested one, confirming identical specifications across styles.
Specifications and Features
TechRadar reported the following specifications:
- Dimensions: 1.8 x 1.2 x 1.0 inches (W x H x D) — smaller than a Lego figure.
- Battery: 150mAh, charged via USB-C.
- Storage: micro SD card (not included).
- Display: Approximately 1-inch diagonal LCD, 16:9 aspect ratio (image stretched from 4:3).
- Buttons: Four buttons with dual functions; power/playback, shutter (photo/video), and up/down for effects.
- Effects: 14 picture effects including color filters (source text mentions "including color f..." — truncated but indicates multiple effects).
- Video: Records video with audio via built-in microphone.
The camera's screen is described as "possibly the smallest LCD display I've ever seen in a digital camera." The image is stretched from 4:3 to fill the 16:9 display.
Pricing and Availability
| Region | Price | Retailer |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £9.99 (was £12.99) | Very |
| US | $22 | Amazon |
The camera is currently cheaper in the UK than in the US. At the UK price, a buyer can purchase all four variants for roughly the cost of a single Kodak Charmera.
Verdict
TechRadar described the camera as a "lo-fi bargain" and noted that despite its limitations, it is an intriguing novelty item. The camera's extreme affordability and tiny size make it a conversation starter. For manufacturing executives, this product illustrates the trend toward ultra-low-cost consumer electronics and miniature component integration, potentially relevant for OEMs exploring niche toy and novelty camera markets.
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