The Godox C100 is the weirdest camera and the weirdest light meter I've ever used it's an intriguing concept, but it misses the mark on both counts

Date:
Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Description:
Difficult to use, and producing middling imagery, the C100 isn't quite what I hoped.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Godox C100: two-minute review Well, this is a new one. Godox caught everybody by surprise when it announced the C100, a slim, rectangular point-and-shoot camera built around a transparent rectangular screen that also functioned as the viewfinder and it also worked as a light meter for film photography.
What, many asked camera nerds, was going on here?

Having now used the Godox C100 for myself, it remains to me a borderline inexplicable release, two devices wrapped in one very unusual shell. I did
not hate using it. But I did find myself returning again and again to
niggling questions like, Who is this for?, What is the point of this?, and I still dont think I can answer them. The sleek, sci-fi design of the Godox
C100 is what got a lot of people excited on the cameras announcement, and
lets start there since its an excuse to be positive. This is a cool-looking object theres no denying that. While I was testing the C100, the design received admiring compliments from friends and strangers alike a common refrain was that it looked like something out of Star Trek . The transparent screen/viewfinder is exciting to use, in concept at least, and its a fun camera to slip in and out of a pocket for quick grab-shots. Latest Videos
From TechRadar Watch full video here: Godox C100 at Amazon for 39 But youll have noted that I said in concept. Once you actually start using the thing
in my view, it doesn't quite work. Theres nowhere thats comfortable to hold the camera and keep both the subject and the frame lines in view; you find your eyes flicking from one to the other like a hunting autofocus system. And besides, unless you hold the camera quite close to your eyes (which I did end up doing), from your perspective, the frame lines arent going to particularly correspond to what ends up being captured.

In terms of image quality, I thought the Godox C100 was more or less decent for a camera of its type. With a tiny 2MP sensor and fixed-focus plastic
lens, its never going to produce jaw-dropping images, but its colors can be quite punchy and detail is okay-ish even if dynamic range is quite poor. But I think Godox missed a trick by not adding image filters or film-style looks to give its images a bit more intrigue. Honestly, I found the shots it produced a bit boring, in stark contrast to the cameras striking exterior. Video quality was also very poor, with pronounced rolling shutter and even some dropped frames.

And how about that light meter functionality? Well, it works, producing readings that were consistent with my dedicated light meter. But unlike my dedicated light meter, it wont attach to an SLRs hot shoe. And that has me again asking the question that was constantly rattling around my brain while testing the camera who, exactly, is this for? The Godox C100 with screen activated. (Image credit: Jon Stapley) Godox C100 specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Godox C100 specs

Type:

Compact camera

Photo resolution:

2MP

Video resolution:

Full HD 30fps

Storage:

microSD card slot

Screen:

2-inch OLED

Connectivity:

USB-C

Dimensions:

104 x 71.7 x 19.1mm

Weight:

65g Godox C100: Price and availability The Godox C100 comes at a starting price of $45 / 47 / about AU$64 At this price, its cheaper than most cameras and most light meters It was announced in June 2026 and is available now As mentioned, one of the main things that got a lot of people excited about the Godox C100 was its unique design the other was its price. At an asking price of $45 / 47 (equivalent to about AU$64), the C100 is cheaper even than most 'cheap' compact cameras like the Camp Snap , and is also cheaper than pretty much any light meter I can think of. Furthermore, I've already seen discounts on the original asking price. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in
your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Godox C100: Design Slim design built around a transparent display with digital framing lines Very simple point-and-shoot operation Framing with the display/viewfinder is challenging like trying to focus on two things at once In a slim body not much bigger than a playing card, the Godox C100 houses a transparent plastic panel that functions as both viewfinder and screen all in one. Turn the camera on, and the display window is overlaid with mode information, battery level and framing lines. Image 1
of 4 (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) Image 1 of 4 View Original Image 2
of 4 View Original Image 3 of 4 View Original Image 4 of 4 View Original The screen isnt touch-sensitive makes sense, since you wouldnt want to be smudging it with fingerprints. A physical switch on the side allows you to toggle between photo, video and light meter modes, while a row of buttons beneath the screen switches between aspect ratios or adjusts light meter parameters. Theres no camera settings control to speak of its a point-and-shoot situation.

Its an odd camera to use. I like the lightness of it, the way it slips into a jacket pocket, and how easy it is to whip out and capture an image. I never got to the point where I found framing comfortable, mind you.

When I was capturing product images of the C100, my cameras autofocus would frequently flick between the body of the camera and the view through the transparent window and the human eye does the same thing. When youre
focusing on a subject through the window, you cant really see the framing lines, and vice versa. Or at least, I couldnt.

Theres no distance to hold the camera between yourself and subject that feels comfortable, no sweet spot; I actually caught myself holding the screen right up to my eye a few times, and must have looked ridiculous. In my view, the concept just doesnt quite work. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) Image 1 of 3 View Original Image 2 of 3 View Original Image 3 of 3 View Original Godox C100: Performance Image quality offers decent color rendition but poor dynamic
range and detail Video is very poor, with rolling shutter and dropped frames The light meter functionality works, delivering readings consistent with dedicated light meters Ive tested a lot of cheap cameras with small sensors particularly in recent years as theyve become more popular so I was bracing myself before I first took a look at my first few Godox C100 sample shots.
The result? A long way from good but not as bad as they could have been.
Image 1 of 12 (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Jon Stapley) (Image credit: Future) Image 1 of 12 View Original Image 2 of 12 View Original Image 3 of 12 View Original Image 4 of 12 View Original Image 5 of 12 View Original Image 6 of 12 View Original Image 7 of 12 View Original Image 8 of 12 View Original Image 9 of 12 View Original Image 10 of 12 View Original Image 11 of 12 View Original Image 12 of 12 View Original
The colors in a lot of shots were punchier than I expected, vivid and nicely rendered. Detail is basically okay, though quickly gets smudgy if your
subject is distant or if you look too close. Dynamic range, inevitably, is quite poor images are easily blown out by bright sunlight, and shadows can quickly become murky and indistinct. Its okay for what it is but I think
that adding some filters or looks for images la the Camp Snap 2 or the RewindPix might have helped give the Godox C100 a bit more intrigue and make it more fun to use for longer.

As mentioned, the Godox C100 shoots video, but Im hard-pressed to see why you would do so. I tested it with a few short walking-around clips, and my reward was jittery video with no stabilization, some pronounced rolling shutter
jello effect, and even some dropped frames.

The light meter functionality works I tested it alongside my TTArtisan Light Meter II and it gave me settings recommendations that lined up. Of course, this also highlighted some of the conceptual issues with having a light meter in this format. The TTArtisan Light Meter II, which is also quite cheap, has
a cold shoe mount that allows it to be affixed directly to the top of an SLR film camera the Godox C100 does not. Practically, this restricts its usefulness as a light meter to tripod-based shooting only youre not realistically going to be juggling the C100 in one hand and a film camera in the other. The Godox C100 with a TTArtisan II light meter. (Image credit: Jon Stapley) If I mentally squint, I can construct a use-case scenario where the Godox C100 functions as both a light meter and a means of capturing a quick record shot of a scene thats going to be captured on film similar to the way that pro photographers used to use Polaroids, back when Polaroids were somewhat cheap. Maybe that sounds like something thatd be useful to you. Its not for me. Should I buy the Godox C100? Buy it if...

You want a camera that literally fits in your pocket Many cameras claim to
be pocketable the Godox C100 actually is.

You want a completely new photographic experience Fair play, shooting with the Godox C100 didnt feel like shooting with any camera or phone Ive used before.

You want a light meter for film shooting The light meter functionality works well, and the Godox C100 is cheaper than many dedicated light meters. Don't buy it if...

You want high-quality images and videos Move along.

You want a light meter for fast-paced street shooting The lack of a hotshoe mount means the C100 better suits slower pursuits like landscape photography. Also consider

For similar cheap point-and-shoot vibes, you might want to try the latest
Camp Snap a screen-free compact with an emphasis placed firmly on fun rather than image quality.

Read our full Camp Snap 2 review

Kodak's keychain camera has a similar novelty factor to the Godox C100. It's also cheaper, is one of the few cameras with image quality that's actually worse than the C100 but as its name implies, it's kind of charming.

Read our full Kodak Charmera review The Godox C100 with a film SLR. (Image credit: Future | Jon Stapley) How I tested the Godox C100 I tested the Godox C100 indoors and outdoors over several days of highly changeable weather in London I shot video across a long weekend trip to northeast England, plus my hometown I used the light meter mode to take readings and compared them to readings I had taken on a dedicated light meter from the same point I was
sent the Godox C100 shortly after its official release. I took it on several photo walks around different areas of London in varying light conditions, tried out the photograph and video modes and swapped between aspect ratio settings. I also compared the light meter readout to my TTArtisan Light Meter II to verify its accuracy. First reviewed September 2026 Godox C100: Price Comparison 37.14 View 39 View We check over 250 million products every day
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/compact-cameras/godox-c100-review


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