Cameras

Begin again, on film

On my birthday and on a Wednesday, with the instax mini 41

Published

July 28, 2025

MJ Jucutan

I didn’t think I’d be printing memories this year.

Since February, I stopped writing from my heart. Stopped making anything at all. A relationship that lasted two and a half years ended, quietly and painfully. And the silence that followed swallowed up the parts of me that used to reach for joy.

He was in all of my instax stories. Always in the frame, or just out of it. So, when he left, I tucked the cameras away too. Until now.

This birthday, I didn’t plan anything big. A hair spa, a massage, and maybe a bit of reflection. But something else unfolded instead. A joy that found its way back. And in the middle of that reset, the instax mini 41 helped me hold onto the moments I didn’t expect to love.

A camera that didn’t ask for attention

The instax mini 41 is dressed in vintage black with sleek silver trims. Classic, like something I used to love. But it has a pop of orange now. A new detail. A little boldness. Maybe that’s what I needed too.

It’s easy to use. Just twist the lens to turn it on, and twist again for Close-up Mode. There’s a small mirror beside the lens, so you can frame yourself without overthinking. Parallax correction keeps your selfies aligned.

It doesn’t overcomplicate anything. It simply lets you show up in the photo and in the moment. And that day, I did.

Light that doesn’t miss you

Between warm restaurant lights and the pale glow of the mall, the instax mini 41 adjusted with grace.

Its Automatic Light Adjustment balanced flash and shadow, giving each print that signature soft, dreamy finish I’ve always loved from instax.

Even when I didn’t think I’d want to keep the memory, I clicked the shutter. And then I did want to keep it.

Prints that feel like progress

There are photos I keep returning to. My smile, which was unguarded and unplanned. The kind I thought I’d forgotten how to make.

There’s one from dinner with my closest friends. Grateful, full, a little spontaneous. Another from a date where we had plenty of quality time. We watched a movie premiere that got rescheduled. He took me home in the rain.

Looking at the prints, I realized they weren’t grand and posed, but they’re mine. I dated each one and slipped them into the back of my journal. Not because I was trying to replace what I lost, but because I wanted to remember what I found: that I could still feel joy.

That I’m still here, heart open, hands steady, and learning to love the moment again.

So… is the instax mini 41 your GadgetMatch?

If you’re in a season of starting over — or gently letting someone new into your frame — the instax mini 41 might be your GadgetMatch.

It’s classic, easy to use, and beautifully unintrusive. It’s a camera that doesn’t demand a moment but honors the one choose to keep.

And if you’re not quite ready to write the next chapter, that’s okay. Sometimes all you need is a Wednesday to begin again, a little black camera, and a maybe that makes you smile again and walks you home in the rain.

The Fujifilm instax mini 41 retails for PhP 6,599. It’s available in Fujifilm authorized dealers.

Cameras

Osmo Pocket 4 makes a surprising appearance in public

Is the built-in light real?

Published

February 19, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 might be the most popular camera in recent history. The tiny action camera constantly sells out, thanks to creators and would-be vloggers. Because of the current generation’s popularity, everyone is looking forward to the next-generation Osmo Pocket 4. Though it’s still unannounced, the new camera has suddenly made a surprising appearance out in the wild.

The leak shockingly comes from an authorized DJI retailer in Kuala Lumpur. Supposedly, a customer entered the store with what they claimed was an Osmo Pocket 4. The store, DronesKaki, even shot a now-deleted video of the unannounced camera, rescued by New Camera.

Based solely on the short video, the Osmo Pocket 4 looks and feels very familiar to those who’ve already used the Pocket 3. The three-axis gimbal system still keeps shots in place for taking videos while on the move. The 2-inch rotating screen looks identical to the current one, especially because of intuitive settings and controls.

However, the biggest standout is the built-in LED light sitting atop the camera. Despite how convenient and easy to use it is, the Pocket 3 doesn’t exactly shine in low-light conditions, prompting users to always bring an external flash. If the leak is true, the Osmo Pocket 4 cures this issue to some extent. (Built-in flashes aren’t usually standout solutions, but they can work in a pinch.)

Still, take the leak with a grain of salt. Though the store could have deleted the video because of a request from DJI, they could have also deleted it because it’s not the Osmo Pocket 4. At this point, we won’t know, but current rumors speculate that the camera is launching soon.

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.