Godox C100 review – this deeply weird toy camera has one clever twist

The Godox C100 is an unusual and quirky camera that merges several functions into one device - a camera, a video recorder and a light meter. Positioned vertically, it fits easily into a pocket. This pocket-friendly gadget is priced at $45 (£47) and has a 1920 x 1080 px sensor. Among its features is a 'transparent viewfinder' that presents a 6 x 5 cm window with an LCD information overlay, a feature that sets it apart from other cameras.

Despite its peculiarities, the C100 maintains a toy camera demeanor. It captures 2MP photos with various aspect ratios, from 16:9 to more compact 1:1 options. Interestingly, there are no manual controls or image-processing filters, which are common on cheap toy cameras. The camera module is embedded into a white plastic frame at the top of the device.

For video, the C100 records Full HD footage at 30 frames per second. It also allows for narrower aspect ratios down to 1:1, an unconventional choice for video. Mono audio is provided through an in-built microphone. In light meter mode, the user first selects their film speed, ranging from ISO 100 to ISO 800. Then, they can meter in either aperture-priority mode (from f/1 to f/64) or shutter priority (1sec to 1/8000sec).

The numbers are small and can be hard to read, but they provide accurate readings consistent with other light meters.

The device comes with a built-in lithium-ion battery that lasts for about 1.5 hours. The micro-SD slot for storing images and videos is located beside the USB-C port, which charges the battery and enables file transfers to a computer or smartphone. Despite its innovative design, the 'transparent viewfinder' doesn't function as intended, and the camera isn’t particularly impressive.