Godox C100 review: unusual camera and light meter misses the mark

The Godox C100 combines a slim point-and-shoot camera with a light meter in an unusual body built around a transparent screen that also serves as the viewfinder.

Its Star Trek-style design attracted attention, and the camera is light enough to slip into a pocket. However, using the transparent viewfinder is difficult. It is hard to keep the subject and framing lines visible at the same time, and the lines do not always correspond accurately to the captured image.

• Light meter functionality works well
• No settings control or image filters
• Transparent viewfinder is hard to use

Image quality is middling. The C100 has a tiny 2MP sensor and a fixed-focus plastic lens. Colors can be punchy and detail is acceptable at close range, but dynamic range is poor. The camera also lacks image filters or film-style looks, while video quality is very poor, with pronounced rolling shutter and some dropped frames.

The light meter produces readings consistent with a dedicated light meter, but it cannot attach to an SLR hot shoe. A physical switch selects photo, video or light meter modes, while buttons adjust aspect ratios or light meter parameters. There is little camera settings control.

At $45 / £47, equivalent to about AU$64, the C100 is cheaper than many compact cameras and most light meters. Even so, its unusual design does not fully overcome its practical limitations.