This retro Kodak topped Japan’s compact camera rankings and it costs less than $100, but should you buy it?

On 12 January, Yodobashi Camera released its list of top 10 best-selling compact digital cameras in Japan. This list has been compiled on the basis of sales data from its online shop and 24 Yodobashi Camera stores nationwide during 16-31 December, 2025. And there are a few surprises there — so much so that I wouldn't have guessed this camera would have topped the rankings.

Before we dive into that, let's look at some of the cameras in the top 10. The Sony RX1R III comes in at #9, followed by Fujifilm's unicorn, the X100VI, at #8 — both quite expensive cameras! But there's a trend you'll notice as you go from the bottom to the top: the top-half of the list is dominated by cheaper compacts, such as the Fujifilm X half (#6), the Panasonic Lumix TZ99 (#4), and the Sony ZV-1 II (#2).

Kodak PIXPRO C1: $99 at Amazon

The Kodak PIXPRO C1 is highly compact and portable so you can take it anywhere, and it can capture 1080P/60fps footage. There’s a dedicated Macro mode that works well, and a flip-up screen for taking selfies. However, the hit-or-miss image quality, plasticky build, dim monitor and lack of stabilization let it down.

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That coveted #1 spot? It's occupied by the cheapest compact camera on the list, one that costs less than $100, and one I've reviewed and loved. It's the Kodak PIXPRO C1, a cheap and cheerful camera that takes surprisingly good photos with its 13MP 1/3-inch BSI CMOS sensor. If you're wondering whether you should buy it, you've come to the right place. Let me help make that decision easier for you.

Here are the top 10 best-selling compact digital cameras in Japan, according to Yodobashi:

1. Kodak PIXPRO C1: $99 / £78
2. Sony ZV-1 II: $1,048 / £769
3. Canon PowerShot SX740 HS: $748 / £610
4. Panasonic Lumix TZ99: $662 / £549
5. Canon IXY 650 M / PowerShot Elph360 HS A / IXUS 285 HS A: $509 / £409
6. Fujifilm X half: $849 / £699
7. Ricoh GR IV: $1,599 / £1,199
8. Fujifilm X100VI: $1,799 / £1,599
9. Sony RX1R III: $5,098 / £3,699
10. Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III: $1,489 / £1,035

Take it anywhere with you

As someone who has used and tested her fair share of cameras over the years, including the PIXPRO C1, I think the reason the Kodak is so popular is simple: it's a no-frills approach to photography. It doesn't matter what your photography skill level is, or if you're familiar with the technical side of it. Anyone can use the PIXPRO C1, and that's thanks to its stripped-back control scheme, easy-to-read menu system, and automatic shutter speed and ISO adjustment. All you need to do is point and shoot.

The PIXPRO C1's compact form factor has also helped it secure the #1 spot. The camera measures 4.05 x 2.36 x 0.79 inches and weighs 4.05oz, so it's easy to carry around in your bag, jacket's pocket, or even in your jeans' front pocket. Because the camera is so light, you barely feel it too. All of this makes the PIXPRO C1 is a great travel companion when you don't have much room left in your luggage.

Adding to the PIXPRO C1's charm is its 180° flip-up screen, designed for selfies. As someone who doesn't necessarily like taking selfies, I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed using it when I was testing the camera.

Lo-fi photos for the social media era

I won't sugarcoat this: the Kodak PIXPRO C1 isn't meant for serious, pro-level photography. It's a cheap compact camera that's easy to carry on a night out with friends, or while traveling. Fitted with a 13MP 1/3-inch BSI CMOS sensor, the PIXPRO C1 captures lo-fi images, similar in quality to the ones you often see on Instagram and TikTok these days.

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As you can see in the gallery above, the images have a vintage aesthetic to them. The quality reminds me of the photos in albums my mom used to lovingly compile when I was growing up. It's that sense of nostalgia, I believe, companies like Kodak are capitalizing on. No wonder the PIXPRO C1 is the best-selling compact camera in Japan right now.

Kodak is banking on that same sense of nostalgia packed into compact cameras with its Kodak Charmera — another compact I absolutely adore. And it isn't the only one doing it. We've seen it with the Camp Snap, and even the new Fujifilm Instax mini Evo Cinema. It'll be interesting to see where these cameras rank eventually — and if the Charmera ever makes it on to that list.

Is it worth the money?

Whether you should buy the Kodak PIXPRO C1 depends on your photography needs. If you're a semi-pro or professional photographer and want a stripped-back camera to use in your downtime, it's worth consideration. If you're an amateur and just want an easy-to-use point-and-shoot camera for casual photography, definitely.

I personally love the PIXPRO C1, and I strongly believe that you need two cameras in your backpack. The PIXPRO C1 makes it very easy to capture memories without having to manually adjust any settings, such as shutter speed, ISO and aperture.

Its retro image quality solidifies that this camera is more about fun than specs, and the PIXPRO C1 is very deserving of the #1 spot on Yodobashi Camera's list of top 10 best-selling compact digital cameras in Japan.

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More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve been testing the Kodak PIXPRO C1 — and it's ideal for those who don't mind imperfection
• You always need two cameras in your backpack (and one of them should cost under $100) — here’s why
• ‘A $30 camera meant for fun, not serious photography’: Kodak Charmera review