Cameras

Polaroid Snap Touch Review: Print photos with a digital camera

Published

August 7, 2017

Isa Rodriguez

The Polaroid camera is making a comeback with the Snap Touch, and I am giddy with nostalgic excitement.

I grew up in a time when, in the famous words of OutKast, we “shook it like a Polaroid picture.” (During the same time, Myspace was the in social networking site, Yahoo Messenger was the go-to chat app, and BlackBerries were still a thing — though BBs may still be making a comeback.)

I have fond memories of Polaroid, but I’m almost sure I never touched one in my childhood. That isn’t the point, though; growing up, I’ve heard enough about it from the artsy cool kids to want one of my own. I never did.

Fast-forward to 2017 and here I am, an adult — and still thrilled over the prospect of a Polaroid camera. In the time of social media and high technology, the novelty of having printed photos has not subsided, at least for me.

The Polaroid Snap Touch is very, very cute

It comes in a slew of pretty colors which include blue, pink, violet, and red. The unit we tried was in clean, crisp white. I love the look of the Polaroid rainbow detail on this particular model.

Basically, it’s a digital camera

Remember those? Yes, machines that are dedicated to one function: taking photos.

The Snap Touch does just that and more.

This camera is light and a little compact; about the size of digicams circa 2000s — small enough to carry around in your bag, but a little too big to lug around with your smartphone. This matters because I only have two tiny hands and one of them will definitely be occupied by a smartphone.

It has a built-in flash and instead of a viewfinder, it’s equipped with a touchscreen that allows you to view the photos you’re about to take and edit them on the spot.

But it prints your photos as stickers!

Now, there’s no need to shake your prints!

What’s great about this nifty device is you can use it on its own to shoot pictures, or with your smartphone coupled with the free Polaroid Print app.

Like I said, it’s a digital camera which does everything a basic camera does: take photos, store them, and transfer what you want to your laptop or social media account! When connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth, it allows you to print not only photos taken from your phone, but also whatever media you have on that device.

The smartphone route would be a better way to go about things, as the app has more sticker options and it’s easier to navigate. For all its cuteness, the Snap Touch’s flaw is its not-so-responsive screen.

Unlike old Polaroid camera models which used a purely mechanical method of having photos printed, the whole process with the Snap Touch is now digital — this means better photo quality and longer-lasting sticker prints (yes, sticker!).

Is this your GadgetMatch?

I’ve always found that toy cameras like these make picture taking more fun and thoughtful. Photos from these fun gadgets cease to be just another selfie on your camera roll. If you’re the same type, this may be a camera worth checking out.

Polaroid has come a long way, and the Snap Touch is proof of this. What we have now is a hybrid of technology that was and what it could be.

Although I’m quite amused by all that this camera can do, I feel like there’s more that can be improved on. Fair, considering this is one of Polaroid’s first forays into camera-printer tandem devices. (There’s also the Polaroid Snap, which is a version without the touchscreen).

Regardless, I had fun with this camera and I will continue to look forward to Polaroid’s next releases.

The Polaroid Snap Touch retails in the US for US$ 175 and PhP 10,990 in the Philippines.

SEE ALSO: Paper Shoot camera review

[irp posts=”17398″ name=”HP Sprocket Review: The smallest instant printer”]

Cameras

Canon PhotoMarathon returns, introduces video, open categories

Happening on April 18 in BGC, Taguig

Published

February 1, 2026

GadgetMatch

The Canon PhotoMarathon is officially returning this year and is introducing more categories for enthusiasts to join in.

The 2026 edition, the 19th in the Philippines, will happen on April 18 at the BGC Amphitheater in Taguig City.

For the first time, Canon is opening the competition to non-Canon users. Even those with just smartphones can register. The brand has also added a video category.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the contest categories and their corresponding prizes:

Main Category (Photo)

Open to Canon users only
Prize: Canon EOS R6 Mark III with RF24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM

Open Category (Photo)

Open to all camera brands
Prize: Canon EOS R8 with 24-50mm

Video Category

Open to all camera brands
Canon Prize winner: Canon EOS R50 V
Non-Canon Prize winner: Canon Powershot V1

The full mechanics will be announced on the day of the competition itself to make it even more challenging for those taking part.

To join, simply download the Canon PH Delightful app, create an account, go to the Events tab and select the Canon PhotoMarathon banner. Registration is already open.

To build up hype for the upcoming event, Canon will host photowalks, school tours, and regional tours leading up to the PhotoMarathon.

These are designed to engage photographers at every skill level. Admission is free and open to all digital camera users.

Cameras

Canon EOS C50 cinema camera price in the Philippines

Smallest, lightest cinema camera made for today’s filmmakers, creators

Published

December 6, 2025

Manila Connoisseur

Canon Philippines is capping the year strong with the release of the Canon EOS C50 in the market. The cinema camera is priced at PhP 189,998 for the body along with an XLR handle.

The Canon EOS C50 is designed for both filmmakers and creators who need mobility and professional-grade quality.

It has the same 3:2 Open Gate recording feature also on the EOS R6 Mark III, which gives users flexibility for post-production.

Creators can extract full 4K footage along with cropped 2K vertical or square versions from the same capture with the Simultaneous Crop Recording feature.

This is ideal for producing multi-platform content, like 16:9 landscape videos for YouTube then vertical shortform videos for social media.

Also, an added edge is the up to 7K 60p RAW recording capability on the C50, compared to just 7K 30p for the Mark III.

Filmmakers can also record at up to 4K 120fps should they need high frame rate captures. Recording in 4:2:2 10-bit is also available for rich color and flexibility in post-production.

In addition, the EOS C50 features dual CFexpress and SD card slots. 7K RAW can be saved to CFexpress while other formats can be saved to the SD card.

Different format, resolutions, and color sampling can be assigned for backup, distribution, or quicker edit-ready files.

Photo performance

For stills, users can take advantage of the 32MP CMOS sensor for capturing up to 40 shots per second (with electronic shutter).

The camera also supports pre-continuous shooting and AF performance improvements with its Dual Pixel CMOS AF II.

Enhancements include Auto setting, animals, vehicle priority, and eye AF, as well as the new left/right priority.

Moreover, the camera features Dual-Base ISO with Auto Selection, automatically switching between ISO 400 and ISO 3200 depending on the scene.

This ensures the highest signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining a wide dynamic range. Users can also manual select the ISO to match lighting conditions.

Professional interface

Onto its controls, the EOS C50 has a TIME CODE terminal, which is perfect for seamless multi-camera setups. It also features two XLR terminals and a handy control dial for professional audio input.

There are 14 assignable buttons, each thoughtfully positioned for quick, instinctive access while filming. There are about 100 customizable functions available so the camera can match a user’s workflow.

During the launch event, Canon Philippines demonstrated a wide range of scenarios for the EOS C50, including multi-angle live broadcasts with just one camera.

Cameras

Sony launches the new Alpha 7 V

Get yourself a full-frame mirrorless camera for Christmas.

Published

December 4, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

Are you still wondering what to get yourself for Christmas? If you have a good amount of leftover money after shopping for everyone else, Sony has a new camera just for you. Right on the cusp of the holiday season, the Sony Alpha 7 V is here.

The Sony Alpha 7 V is the fifth generation of the aforementioned series. The full-frame mirrorless camera uses a partially stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor to take photos with 33.0 effective megapixels.

Further, the new BIONZ XR2 image processing engine uses the Alpha series’ AI technology to deliver better imaging, Real-time Recognition Auto-Focus, and Real-time Tracking. To add to this, Sony is also launching the FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II full-frame zoom lens to support the camera.

For connectivity, the camera supports Wi-Fi 6E GHZ for data transfers. It also supports USB-C connections for wired transfers.

To ease usage no matter the scenario, the Alpha 7 V comes with vertical format support and an adjustable electronic shutter sound. It also has a 4-axis multi-angle monitor for shooting in various angles. Finally, it has a better grip for stability.

For those long shoots, the camera has better power management. It also has a Monitor Low Bright mode to preserve the battery.

The Sony Alpha 7 V body is available from the end of December. Meanwhile, the kit and the lens will be available on February 2026. The body costs SGD 3,699. From now until December 31, customers will get a free 240GB CEA-G Series CFexpress Type A memory card.