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Godox Transparent Viewfinder Camera C100

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Re: Godox Transparent Viewfinder Camera C100

#11

Post by makeitdouble »

juancn wrote: post #4

Optical viewfinder cameras see through a lens and force-align your eyes, so when you change the lens, what you see is different but highly aligned to what the sensor sees. Here, depending on where you place the thing you see a different thing than the sensor does, the optical path is completely uncontrolled, unless they're doing eye tracking and post processing? This seems somehow worse than a cell phone camera.

You're right on the principle, and this camera is purposefully aimed at a subpar viewfinder experience.

As a comparison point, many people shoot street photography "from the hip", aiming the camera at the rough spot they want to get with a forgiving aperture setting (around 8 or more). This help either for speed, or engage with the scene without having to stick a camera on one's face.

I think this camera is basically aimed at the same crowd, those who will want some idea of what the camera is pointed at, but want to stay "in the moment" and no fully focus on the capturing process. This is pretty close to a phone camera perhaps, but I'd assume it's a lot more fun and carefree.

I'd totally love to play with one.

Re: Godox Transparent Viewfinder Camera C100

#12

Post by juancn »

makeitdouble wrote: post #11
juancn wrote: post #4

Optical viewfinder cameras see through a lens and force-align your eyes, so when you change the lens, what you see is different but highly aligned to what the sensor sees. Here, depending on where you place the thing you see a different thing than the sensor does, the optical path is completely uncontrolled, unless they're doing eye tracking and post processing? This seems somehow worse than a cell phone camera.

You're right on the principle, and this camera is purposefully aimed at a subpar viewfinder experience. As a comparison point, many people shoot street photography "from the hip", aiming the camera at the rough spot they want to get with a forgiving aperture setting (around 8 or more). This help either for speed, or engage with the scene without having to stick a camera on one's face. I think this camera is basically…

I still don buy it.

The from-the-hip cameras typically have a waist-level viewfinder, which still is a good approximation of the optical path or you don't and you shoot completely blind. In that case any camera does the trick and so does a phone.

Usually the hip part is so you get a better, more candid, portrait due to being inconspicuous. There's some composition advantage due to the perspective difference too.

Re: Godox Transparent Viewfinder Camera C100

#15

Post by Daneel_ »

Given how cheap this is, I feel like this makes for a great camera to give to a kid. The camera gets out of the way (no built-in games like a lot of kiddy cameras have) and the focus is placed on framing and taking photos, then reviewing later.

I'll probably pick one up just for my kids to experiment with.

Re: Godox Transparent Viewfinder Camera C100

#16

Post by mrheosuper »

omoikane wrote: post #9
monitron wrote: post #3

Waitasec...wouldn't you have to hold it at a very specific distance from your eye for the "viewfinder" to be accurate?

It's probably not that different from rangefinder style cameras[1]. I don't think the problem with this one is with its transparent viewfinder, it's more that its output quality just aren't that great according to someone who tried it[2]. Seems like a neat toy at $45 though. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangefinder_camera [2] https://www.reddit.com/r/Godox/comments/1urlp8u/first_test_s...

The quality is much better than expected, a little too sharp but still passable for me.

I was expecting another "retro-like" throwaway toy camera.

Re: Godox Transparent Viewfinder Camera C100

#17

Post by close04 »

juancn wrote: post #12
makeitdouble wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're right on the principle, and this camera is purposefully aimed at a subpar viewfinder experience. As a comparison point, many people shoot street photography "from the hip", aiming the camera at the rough spot they want to get with a forgiving aperture setting (around 8 or more). This help either for speed, or engage with the scene without having to stick a camera on one's face. I think this camera is basically…

I still don buy it. The from-the-hip cameras typically have a waist-level viewfinder, which still is a good approximation of the optical path or you don't and you shoot completely blind. In that case any camera does the trick and so does a phone. Usually the hip part is so you get a better, more candid, portrait due to being inconspicuous. There's some composition advantage due to the perspective difference too.

The website tells you what you need to know:

> Vibe Over Pixels

This isn't about getting a good shot, it's about the vibes and the fun. The viewfinder is the gimmick that catches the eye but it technically doesn't do anything.

Re: Godox Transparent Viewfinder Camera C100

#18

Post by jauntywundrkind »

it'd be fun to have a version where a ToF sensor or some distance measure can help make sure you are holding it the right distance away.

i also think people are really going a bit too wild over the "hold it the right distance". sure it's not perfect! but hold your arm out away from you & look through a "viewfinder" box you create with thumb and finger, and move your hand forward and back half a foot. if you start with your hand close to you, yeah, it's going to make a big difference. but if your hand is away from you a good bit, that back and forth does not make that much difference.

and as others have pointed out, there's plenty of street photography where people really do try to shoot from the hip. not all picture taking needs to be precise. heck, i often shoot blind from my phone! hold it up, point, and shoot.

this feels like such a great device to get up the hackles of highly-constrained people. :)

Re: Godox Transparent Viewfinder Camera C100

#19

Post by Arainach »

King-Aaron wrote: post #2

I literally cannot see the point to this thing. The transparent display is cool I guess. They don't state the camera specs on it though which seems odd for a camera.

Specs aren't important to what this is. Megapixels and burst speed matter less than actually having a camera that's with you. There's a big community intentionally stepping back from technology and focusing on the experience, the process of creation, and the community around it.

That might be an old film body. It might be a modern rangefinder with retro aesthetics and color profiles. It could be a Polaroid or Instax. Sometimes it's a toy that's simply fun and simple to shoot with. The C100 fits in great in this community and ethos. If the price is right I might grab one.

Re: Godox Transparent Viewfinder Camera C100

#20

Post by 10729287 »

juancn wrote: post #4

Optical viewfinder cameras see through a lens and force-align your eyes, so when you change the lens, what you see is different but highly aligned to what the sensor sees. Here, depending on where you place the thing you see a different thing than the sensor does, the optical path is completely uncontrolled, unless they're doing eye tracking and post processing? This seems somehow worse than a cell phone camera.

Well, it's a toy camera.
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