I tested Kodak's cheap and cheerful PixPro C1 compact camera it was like going back in time, and not in a good way

Date:
Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
Kodak's PixPro C1 looks great and costs just $99 / 79 but I'm still not sure I'd buy one

FULL STORY ======================================================================Kodak PixPro C1: Two-minute review

Compact cameras are suddenly trending, including simple pocket-sized point
and shoot cameras , and Kodak is riding the wave with the PixPro C1. Its pretty, its cheap and it looks like the perfect antidote to complex
mirrorless cameras or expensive smartphones. But can a camera this cheap be any good?

Sadly, it doesnt take long to answer that question. The PixPro C1 is pretty plasticky, as you would expect at this price, but it looks the part and it
has a flip-up selfie screen and a basic but effective set of controls that makes it easy to use. Its whats inside thats the problem.

The C1 uses a very small 13MP 1/1.3-inch sensor of unknown vintage that exhibits all the characteristics of old point and shoot cameras that weve conveniently forgotten, with image quality thats OK in good light but rapidly disintegrates if you need to use a higher ISO in low light or if you use the digital zoom. The PixPro C1 looks smart, but inside is a tiny 13MP sensor and a digital, not optical zoom. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

Yes, its a digital zoom not an optical one. The tiny sensors image quality is already stretched to the limit in perfect conditions, so the digital zoom
just magnifies its limitations. At the maximum 4x zoom setting you get photos that might look OK on a phone screen, but not so much on a tablet and definitely not in a print. You really are better off sticking to the native focal length, and at 26mm equivalent, this is pretty wide, much like the main camera on a phone.

This cameras other major issue is its slow response. The single (center)
point autofocus can take half a second or a second to lock on, and when you press the shutter release theres a further delay of a second while the screen goes black and then you get the shutter sound. Its very difficult to time
your exposures with moving subjects, and the Kodaks slim, slippery shape
makes it difficult to keep it steady theres no image stabilization.

So from the outside the Kodak PixPro C1 is quite smart, but inside it uses tech that could have come straight from an old phone or a very cheap point
and shoot compact from ten years ago. Its very disappointing. Kodak PixPro
C1: price Priced at $99 / 79 / AU$154 USB cable and wrist strap included Available now

The Kodak PixPro C1 sells for around $99 / 79 (about AU$154). That doesnt sound much for a fully-functioning pocket-sized digital camera, but its quite a lot to spend on something that you end up not using because your smartphone is so much better. That price doesnt include a memory card, though our sample included a microSD card and card reader, so bundles may vary. Kodak PixPro
C1: specs Kodak PixPro C1 specs

Type:

Pocket sized compact camera

Sensor:

13MP 1/1.3-in CMOS

Lens:

3.57mm (26mm equivalent) f/2, up to 4x digital zoom

Focus range:

0.6m-infinity, 0.08m macro

ISO:

100-1600

Video

1920x1080 up to 60fps

Storage:

microSD, up to 32GB

EVF:

No

Stabilization:

No

Flash/light:

Built in

Screen:

180-degree tilting, 2.8-in, 230k-dot

Battery:

Built in, non-removable, 200 shots approx.

Size:

103 x 60 x 20.3mm, 115g Kodak PixPro C1: design Slim, light, smart styling Plasticky feel but solid enough at the price Memory card slot exposed in the base no door Phone-style LED flash The Kodak's rear screen flips upwards to face the front, so it's ideal for selfies. (Image credit: Rod Lawton) The
menu system has only a few basic options, but that's ideal for a beginner audience. (Image credit: Rod Lawton) The battery is good for around 200
shots. It's non-removable, so you charge it via the USB-C port on the side. (Image credit: Rod Lawton) The PixPro C1 takes micro SD cards up to 32GB. Unusually, they just slot into the base, with no door or cover. (Image
credit: Rod Lawton)

We forget how small point and shoot cameras used to be! The Kodak PixPro C1 will easily slip into a shirt pocket or a trouser pocket, and because it weighs just 115g, youll hardly know its there. Its available in a black or
tan or brown finish mine came in brown, and it does look pretty classy.

It does feel plasticky when you pick it up, however, especially round the
back where the screen and the controls are. The top edge of the screen has a hinge so that you can flip it up to face forward for selfies, and to the
right youve got a four-way controller, menu, playback, mode and record buttons, plus a rocker for the zoom.

You can shoot in full auto mode, switch to program mode for a little more control, or use a small selection of scene modes. The menu button displays options for picture styles, metering pattern, resolution (just in case you want less than 13 megapixels!), white balance and continuous versus single shot mode. The menus are basic but clear.

There is a built in flash well, sort of, as its actually a phone-style LED, but thats fine. Underneath, in the base of the camera, youll find the memory card slot, which takes microSD cards. Theres no door or cover of any sort
the card just pushes into the slot, where its flush with the base so you can still stand the camera on a flat surface.

Its all very basic but effective, and exactly what you would expect from a cheap camera. Its not too daunting for beginners, either. Kodak PixPro C1: performance Sluggish shutter action Poor image quality at higher ISOs Digital zoom not worth using Autofocus struggles/fails in low light The Kodak PixPro C1 delivers decent enough image quality in good light, but not really on a
par with a modern smartphone. (Image credit: Rod Lawton) The metering system did a good job with the tricky lighting in this shot. The brightest parts of the sky might be a little blown out, but you can see all the detail in the foreground. (Image credit: Rod Lawton) The sensor can go up to ISO 1600, but by this point any fine detail in the image has been swallowed up by heavy noise reduction. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

Physically, the PixPro C1 is pretty decent at this price. Its the performance thats disappointing. You could argue that you shouldnt expect much for this money, but there comes a point where a product just isnt good enough to use, regardless of how cheap it is, and the PixPro C1 sails pretty close to the wind here.

Before you even get to look at its images, its operation feels very vague and sluggish. The AF is not particularly quick, but the worst part is the shutter action, which takes about a second to complete and only makes a shutter sound at the end. This is not a camera for fast action or grabbed shots. Not only that, the rear screen gets quite hard to see in bright light. It's best to
use the PixPro at its native 26mm equivalent zoom setting, which is pretty wide and a bit like the main camera on a smartphone. (Image credit: Rod Lawton) With smaller subjects like this, you can switch to the macro mode to get a whole lot closer. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

As for the pictures well, it depends on what you are expecting. The resolution, dynamic range and noise are just what you would expect from a small sensor of the old days, and not a patch on what a modern smartphone camera array would produce. In good outdoor light where you dont need a
higher ISO and theres little risk of camera shake, the images are OK. But in poor light at higher ISOs the detail smudges and object edges become hyper-processed and things arent good at all. Just so that you can get an
idea of what the digital zoom does, here is a shot taken without the zoom. Sorry about the weather, by the way. I live in the seaside tow Weston-super-Mare in the UK. This is what it looks like between October and March... (Image credit: Rod Lawton) Here is the same subject captured with
the 4x digital zoom. Click the gadget, bottom left of the photo, to see the full size version if you dare. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

If you do use the zoom, you quickly realize that the 13MP sensor really cant stand a lot of cropping. Or any cropping, to be honest.

I did try the flash indoors. Theres nothing wrong with the illumination it provides, but it only comes on when the camera has focused, and in my tests the autofocus struggled if it was too dark, and without sharp focus the flash wasnt much help. The inbuilt lamp does a good job of illuminating indoor scenes. Unfortunately, it was too dark for the AF system to focus, so the
shot isn't sharp. (Image credit: Rod Lawton) Should you buy the Kodak PixPro C1? (Image credit: Rod Lawton) Buy it if...

You just need a cheap camera

The PixPro C1 makes a certain amount of sense as a basic camera you dont need to worry about for school trips, as a gift, or as a just in case camera to keep in your vehicles glovebox or your coat pocket

You want a lightweight pocket camera

The Kodak is lighter than a smartphone, probably wont fall out of your pocket as easily and has a simple clarity of purpose that a lot of people like in their gadgets

You want to relive those retro point-and-shoot years

This is a big thing at the moment, as modern photographers yearn for the simplicity of the old days and the flawed but characterful look of old
digital cameras. If character is the word Don't buy it if...

Youre expecting modern digital quality

The PixPro C1 uses very old, very basic sensor technology that would have earned it a bit of a roasting even ten years ago

You want a cheap and effective street snapper

The Kodaks responses are way too slow for any kind of snap reaction photography. Its actually quite difficult to time your shots, and you have to hope your subjects will wait

You need the versatility of a zoom

Ive seen the PixPro C1 advertised (mistakenly) in some places as having a 4x optical zoom. It doesnt. Its digital, and the sensor really doesnt have the resolution or quality to make the digital zoom feature useful. Also consider

Akaso Brave Lite

Yes, the Akaso Brave Lite is an action, camera, but hear me out. Its small, its rugged, it takes 20MP stills and shoots 4K video. An action camera is
like a point and shoot but with added versatility. The Brave Lite doesnt even cost a whole lot more than the PixPro C1.

Read our Akaso Brave Lite review

CampSnap camera

Think the Kodak PixPro C1 is cheap? How about the cheaper-still CampSnap camera? It's essentially a digital reimagining of the single-use disposable film cameras, with a memory card already inside that can hold up to 2,000 pictures.

Read our CampSnap camera review

Fujifilm X Half

The Fujifilm X Half is perfect if youre serious about re-living those retro shooting vibes and you dont want to take a big drop in image quality and responsiveness. Yes, it costs a LOT more than the PixPro C1, but it will take far better pictures and probably give you a lot more pleasure.

Read our Fujifilm X Half review How I tested the Kodak PixPro C1 (Image credit: Rod Lawton) I tested it over a period of two weeks I tried it with a variety of subjects and lighting conditions I also assessed its
responsiveness and ease of use

Ive had the Kodak PixPro C1 for a couple of weeks, which has given me the chance to try it out in all kinds of situations where a camera like this
might be used, including outdoor shots, close-ups, indoor scenes and pet pictures. I wanted to give it every chance to show what it could do and how
it would react to typical point and shoot situations.

Obviously I wasnt expecting top image quality, just pictures that were good enough for the purpose. I did feel the Kodak needed to prove it was better than a smartphone or at least as good. Most poeple already have a smartphone with a decent camera, so the Kodak did need to bring something else to the table.

Its not just the image quality thats important, but overall handling, usability and responsiveness, and thats how I approached the PixPro C1. First reviewed November 2025



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/compact-cameras/kodak-pixpro-c1-review


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