Cheap cameras as gifts: eight devices tested
16/12/2025
Translation: machine translated
I tested eight very affordable cameras for their suitability as gifts. You can expect to be disappointed with devices under 100 francs/euros - even if the person receiving the gift is a child with low expectations.
Budget compact cameras sell surprisingly well. Especially in the run-up to Christmas, which suggests that they are mainly used as gifts. Perhaps for a child who doesn't yet have a smartphone.
For this article, I took a close look at eight of the best-selling cheap snappers. The overall result is sobering. Five cameras have no real zoom, although some are advertised as having one. Two have no autofocus and two cannot transfer images via USB. When it comes to operation, there are also often things missing that I actually take for granted - for example, that the camera switches to shooting mode as soon as you tap the shutter button.
The Kodak brand cameras are the most suitable as a gift. Especially those with optical zoom. Although their image quality is also poor by 2025 standards, at least they are real compact cameras that work normally and not pseudo-cameras made from old mobile phone components.
The comparison pictures
I tested the cameras individually, but also compared them directly with each other. For the comparison, I photographed a comic strip from a distance of two metres and then selected a 10-centimetre image as a section. Cameras with an optical zoom have a clear advantage in this comparison. In a situation where no zoom is required, the order would probably be slightly different.
The Sony RX100 III, an older but high-quality compact camera, and the iPhone 12 mini as a representative of a smartphone camera, serve as a reference.
The reference: Sony RX100 III, which has a triple zoom.
The Kodak Pixpro FZ55 with a fivefold optical zoom comes in first place among the low-cost snappers. The comparison with the Sony model shows that it's not just the zoom factor that counts.
The Kodak FriendlyZoom FZ45 is similarly good. However, the small font at the bottom is no longer legible. It sharpens a little more than the FZ55.
The Agfaphoto Realishot DC8200 also has an optical zoom and therefore takes third place. However, the image also shows that the colours are usually completely wrong.
The iPhone 12 mini has the best quality of all devices without zoom.
The image on the Easypix V64 Flip is washed out and too yellowish. At least the two rows of teeth on the face are still recognisable.
The Kodak Pixpro C1 is roughly on the same level as the Easypix V64 Flip. The camera software is much more aggressive with contrast and sharpness. Ultimately, however, there is less detail, which can be clearly seen in the face.
The Rollei Compactline Pocket is also about the same. The resolution is slightly lower, but it has a very good colour reproduction.
Wrong colours and poor resolution: The Goxtreme Reef comes in second to last place.
You can hardly recognise anything in the picture of the mini digital camera from Rollei.
The cameras in detail
The Kodak Pixpro FZ55 is the most expensive, but also the best, of the budget snappers. It has everything that makes a fully-fledged camera. Of course, the image quality and functions won't knock anyone's socks off, but a child who receives this camera as a gift will probably not be disappointed.
The Kodak FriendlyZoom FZ45 is very similar. The zoom is four times instead of five, and it employs two AA batteries instead of a rechargeable battery. The connection runs via the outdated micro USB, which is not a problem with the small amounts of data.
A charming gift could be the cute mini digital camera from Rollei. The image quality is the worst of all, and that's saying something in this test field. It is therefore likely to be a short-lived gimmick. On the other hand, it is fascinating that such a small device works at all.
In my opinion, the Kodak Pixpro C1 has the most beautiful design. It also has a movable screen, which is a help both when taking selfies and when shooting close to the ground. Unfortunately, the zoom is only digital, which - as you can see above - leads to a loss of resolution.
The Easypix V64 Flip also has a movable screen. It can only be fully folded out and is therefore suitable for selfies, but not for taking pictures close to the ground. The camera also only has a digital zoom. Pictures with a lot of zoom look terrible. The lens is largely a dummy and makes the device unnecessarily bulky.
The Agfaphoto Realishot DC8200 has an eightfold optical zoom and is therefore quite far ahead in the comparison images. However, I cannot recommend it. The zoom can only be adjusted very coarsely and the image quality is generally poor. Images cannot be transferred via USB and the SD card can only be removed with the help of a narrow object. A really annoying device.
The Rollei Compactline Pocket attracts customers with its incredibly low price. However, with its digital zoom and generally low resolution, it is not worth much either. It also does not transfer images via USB and the SD card is unnecessarily difficult to get out. The only plus points: The screen is easy to read and the colour scheme is one of the best in the test field.
The Goxtreme Reef has the worst image quality apart from the mini camera. In addition to the optical zoom, it also lacks autofocus. However, it is the only one in the test field that can be used for swimming and snorkelling. The housing is said to be waterproof to a depth of three metres. Selfies can be taken with the small secondary screen at the front.
A much better, but also much more expensive compact underwater camera is the OM System Tough TG-7.
Conclusion: very cheap rather Occasion
The classic compact snappers have largely disappeared from the market due to the triumph of smartphones. They have been replaced by ultra-cheap cameras, some of which are too bad even as a gift for a child. The Kodak models with optical zoom are the most likely candidates. An alternative would be the second-hand market. Old Canon Ixus cameras are often available for less than 100 francs. The risk here is that the battery is no longer good after all these years. However, there are models that run on standard AA batteries.
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
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