Godox’s first camera is a $45 transparent-viewfinder compact that doubles as a light meter. Videographer Jesse Calis rates the concept, even though image quality is comparatively modest.
The Godox C100 is a compact device that combines a stills and video camera with a built-in light meter. To be honest, a lot of people haven’t known what to make of it. As Godox’s first camera it’s a potentially significant new device from one of the increasing heavyweights in the field, but then its $45 price point makes you think more stocking filler than serious production too.
We asked videographer Jesse Calis at Halate to put it through its paces, and he seems to be equally unsure. He lists pros as a unique shooting experience, light weight, transparent viewfinder, built-in light meter, and that low price. Cons, however, are modest image quality, no live preview, minimal controls, and loud button sounds with no option to turn them off.
He suggests the C100 might end up in kit bags for behind-the-scenes shots on set or as a lightweight travel camera. Certainly it’s something that will spark a few conversations wherever it gets used.
For our money, it’s an interesting proof of concept. As we wrote when it was first released, if Godox ever fancies making one with higher resolutions and, for example, the ability to display stored pictures on that semi-transparent screen, it might really be onto something.