Cameras

Half a frame, full of feeling

A week with the Fujifilm X-Half showed me love, loss, and light

Published

June 16, 2025

MJ Jucutan

They say healing isn’t linear. I say healing is made of light, color, and fleeting moments that feel like film. That’s what the Fujifilm X half (X-HF1) captured for me.

I was staying in Shangri-La Mactan for a week — not to escape, but to find something again. Myself, maybe. Or at least what was left of me after a heartbreak that still hurt to name.

I needed quiet and distance. I needed something to hold without shattering in my hands. Picking up the X half didn’t feel like pressure, but an invitation.

To see things differently. To remember that beauty still exists in between the ache.

Nostalgia, reimagined

There’s something incredibly comforting about the X half. Inspired by the FUJICA Half from the ’60s, this little camera — only 240g — feels like a whisper of the past. It’s compact enough to slip into a small tote or hang from your wrist without weighing you down.

I loved its vintage look, especially the Charcoal Silver finish that reminded me of my grandpa’s old film camera (which he never let me borrow).

There’s a tactile satisfaction to the Frame Advance Lever. It feels nostalgic yet new. Pulling it was meditative, like turning a page you’re not yet ready to close.

Somehow, the X half didn’t ask for big moments. It just waited. For a laugh over breakfast, for sunlight breaking through white curtains.

A different way to see the world

Built around a 3:4 aspect ratio, the photos are in vertical orientation. It felt strange at first, like writing with your non-dominant hand. But quickly, it made sense.

Vertical compositions made everyday scenes feel like they were made for storytelling — ready to be posted online, yet coated in the softness of film. I took portraits, my feet in the sand, coconut drinks in hand, and the mundane beauty of life by the beach.

This format mirrored how I was seeing the world: upright, trying to stay steady, reaching toward something more.

There’s also a 2-in-1 feature where you take two vertical shots, and the camera stitches them together.

It can be two photos, or a photo and a video. At first, I just had an inkling to try it. But the more I used it, the more it felt like journaling with light.

The scenes evolved beyond being just two frames. They became a feeling — two moments bottled up into one photograph. When mixed with a video, it felt like seeing the story behind the photo you took. It felt alive.

Finding warmth in a frame

Cebu, for all its postcard beauty, became even more alive through the filters on this camera.

I used Light Leak the most — not just as an effect, but as an emotional layer. It gave my photos the kind of softness that matched the state of my heart: fragile, hopeful.

My photos looked like little accidents, a reminder that everything doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.

Switching to Film Simulation modes felt like flipping through old love letters written in different inks.

I spent a lot of time on Nostalgia Neg. and Classic Neg. to match how I was feeling. That’s the beauty of having options: you choose what reflects your mood, right after capturing something real.

When I reviewed the photos I took, I caught myself smiling. They were nowhere near perfect, but they felt real. I was surrounded by people — from close friends to strangers — with comfort in the air. I captured a lot of candid moments, people’s laughter bouncing off bottles of beer, completely unaware of the camera.

Seeing those photos, I told myself: this is what healing looks like. You don’t have to be alone to be whole.

There is peace in not knowing

Halfway through the trip, I turned on Film Camera Mode. It disables the LCD screen, teaching you patience. You take a shot, and then you wait. No previews, no retakes, no deleting.

You wait until you finish 36, 54, or 72 shots before seeing anything. It’s a reminder that some things take time to develop like trust, love, and healing.

Then, you move forward by pulling the Frame Advance Lever, like how life pushes you on, whether you’re ready or not.

It reminded me of the magic of not knowing. Of surrendering to peace. Sometimes, you just have to trust that what comes next will surprise you. No obsessing over the perfect shot, just capturing the moment for what it was.

When I finally transferred the photos to the X half app, it felt like opening a letter from a past version of myself. Sometimes shaky, sometimes bold — but always trying.

The app’s minimalist look made it easy to organize photos and create collages. I even printed one with the instax mini Link 3. I made contact sheets and framed some moments, and I didn’t delete any of them.

Because even the blurred ones told the truth: I was there, I laughed, and I healed, little by little.

Candid, compact, and completely mine

The 32mm f/2.8 lens and 1-inch sensor captured Cebu’s warmth in full detail. It’s not a loud camera. It doesn’t demand to be noticed. But it sees you — and everything around you — with a tenderness that surprised me.

I watched my friends grow more comfortable as the days went on. I took portraits when they weren’t looking, and every shot became a secret I got to keep. That’s what made it special. Even the most mundane things looked like poetry through this camera.

I held a lot of things that week, trying not to break: emotions, expectations, silence. But in between, this tiny camera held me. It made me slow down. It reminded me that every small thing can be worth remembering.

There’s joy in anticipation, in imperfection, in capturing something just for yourself. There’s still beauty to be made — and I can still make it, even in the middle of healing.

Is the Fujifilm X half your GadgetMatch?

The Fujifilm X half is a modern reinterpretation of the classic half-frame camera: compact, creative, and intuitive.

With its vertical-first 3:4 sensor, 32mm f/2.8 fixed lens, and an optical viewfinder, it makes slice-of-life photography simple, expressive, and deeply personal.

Film Camera Mode and the Frame Advance Lever simulate the feel of analog shooting, while built-in Film Simulations, Light Leak, and Halation effects allow you to create artistic, memory-soaked photos straight out of camera.

Seamless app integration, collage tools, and Instax printing support make it easy to relive and share your moments that are raw, romantic, and real.

If you’ve ever longed for a camera that sees the quiet beauty of your life and turns it into something lasting, the X half might just be it.

The Fujifilm X half retails for PhP 44,990. It’s available at official Fujifilm stores and authorized dealers.

Cameras

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Pearl White now available globally

Pearl White joins DJI’s lineup

Published

October 21, 2026

Her

DJI has announced the global availability of the Osmo Pocket 4P Pearl White, a new color option for its dual-lens gimbal camera. The new edition retains the camera’s 1-inch CMOS sensor, 17 stops of dynamic range, 10-bit HDR video recording, and dual-lens system.

The Pearl White finish uses mica-infused pearlescent pigments and a multilayer spray coating that creates subtle changes in appearance under different lighting conditions. DJI designed the new colorway for creators who want a camera that complements lifestyle photography, travel vlogging, and everyday video production.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Pearl White features

The Osmo Pocket 4P Pearl White features two lenses with different focal lengths. Its primary 20mm wide-angle lens has a 1-inch CMOS sensor and an f/2.0 aperture. It supports video recording at up to 4K at 240 frames per second, with LOFIC technology helping preserve highlight and shadow details in challenging lighting conditions.

The camera also supports up to 17 stops of dynamic range and a 10-bit D-Log 2 color profile. These features give creators greater flexibility when adjusting colors, exposure, and contrast during post-production.

For portraits and tighter compositions, the 60mm medium-telephoto lens has an f/1.8 aperture and supports 3x optical zoom and up to 12x zoom. The camera combines both lenses with gimbal stabilization in a compact body weighing approximately 230 grams.

Other creative features include:

Slow-motion video: Record up to 4K at 240fps for slow-motion footage.
High-resolution photos: Capture still images at up to 37 megapixels.
4K Live Photos: Record 1.5-second clips alongside photos.
ActiveTrack 8.0: Track subjects such as people, vehicles, and pets.
Fast file transfers: USB 3.1 support enables transfer speeds of up to 800MB/s.
Extended battery life: Record for up to 210 minutes on a single charge.
Fast charging: Reach 80% battery capacity in as little as 18 minutes.
Automatic iOS transfers: Transfer newly captured footage to compatible iOS devices after powering off the camera.

Automatic media transfer works best with an iPhone 16 series device or later running iOS 26.4.1 or above, provided the camera battery is above 15%.

The camera also supports HDR 10-bit video recording for footage with a wider range of colors and greater flexibility during editing.

Compatible with DJI Osmo accessories

The Osmo Pocket 4P Pearl White works with DJI’s existing Osmo accessory ecosystem. Compatible accessories include the Osmo Pocket 4 Fill Light, ND and polarizing filters, wide-angle lens adapters, battery handle, and OsmoAudio microphones.

These accessories are sold separately, allowing creators to customize their setup for different shooting scenarios.

DJI Care Refresh coverage

DJI Care Refresh is available for the Osmo Pocket 4P Pearl White. The protection plan covers accidental damage, including collisions and water damage, through a replacement service for an additional fee.

The one-year plan includes up to two replacements, while the two-year plan includes up to four replacements. Other benefits include official warranty coverage, international warranty service, and free shipping, subject to DJI’s terms and conditions.

Pricing and availability

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Pearl White is now available globally. The Standard Combo is priced at £529 in the UK and €599 in Europe.

For more information, visit the official DJI Osmo Pocket 4P website.

Accessories

Fujifilm’s new instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 make room for more creative memories

A new pocket camera and a collage-making printer join the instax family.

Published

October 18, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Seeing a memory take shape beyond your screen changes how it feels. A favorite photo becomes a print you can tuck into a journal or pin beside your desk, and the everyday moments you capture get a little more room to live.

That was the spirit of Fujifilm’s instax Playhou2e launch in Makati, where visual artist Jill Arteche brought her signature illustrations into the event space.

Her artwork surrounded the latest additions to the instax family, the instax Pal 2 and instax Link WIDE 2. Both devices treat photography as a form of personal expression, from the snapshots you take throughout the day to the printed memories you want to keep close.

A pocket-sized camera that goes wherever you do

The original instax Pal made the case for carrying a camera without a full-sized setup. Its successor, the instax Pal 2, builds on that with a refreshed design and improved image quality.

The palm-sized camera is built for everyday adventures and can capture angles that are awkward to get with a smartphone. Its compact body also makes it easy to bring along if you like documenting your day as it happens.

Fujifilm gave the Pal 2 a semi-matte finish. A new monitor on top lets you review shots right after you take them, and the added viewfinder, control dial, and lever give it a more tactile feel to shoot with.

The specs have moved up, too. The Pal 2 captures 10-megapixel images, double the original’s five megapixels, and its internal storage holds up to 100 images compared with 50 before. A separately sold microSD card adds more room.

The creative options are where the Pal 2 gets playful. It offers 30 effects, so you can give images different moods without editing each one from scratch. Its instax Animation mode strings up to 10 consecutive shots into a flipbook-style animated video.

Transferring your photos is straightforward. The Pal 2 supports wireless Bluetooth transfers, and a USB Type-C connection offers faster transfers to compatible smartphones. From there, you can edit the images and post them to social media or keep them in your camera roll.

Because the Pal 2 is part of the instax ecosystem, its digital photos can also be printed on instant film through compatible instax printers. That means you can shoot first and decide later which moments deserve a physical copy.

Turning your camera roll into something worth keeping

Taking photos is only half the fun. The other half is deciding what to do with the hundreds of images that pile up on our phones.

The instax Link WIDE 2 is Fujifilm’s answer for anyone who collects travel photos or documents celebrations. As the brand’s WIDE-format smartphone printer, it prints at twice the image area of the instax mini format, which leaves more space for group photos and landscapes.

Its biggest new feature is Photo Mixer, which builds scrapbook-style collages from multiple images you pick in the dedicated app. Instead of printing a single photo, you can combine highlights from a trip or a gathering into one larger keepsake.

The app suggests layouts based on your chosen photos and adjusts image sizes, angles, text placement, and fonts to keep the design cohesive. You can then add your own text and stamps. A cutout function identifies people and objects in your photos so you can layer them into the collage.

With Photo Mixer, printing becomes part of the creative process, and your camera roll turns into material for building a visual record of an experience in a single print.

The Link WIDE 2 also gets a design refresh, with two-tone finishes in Duo Beige and Duo Blue. The light and dark surfaces give it a polished look on a shelf or desk, and an illuminated instax logo glows while it prints.

Connectivity has expanded, too. Beyond smartphones and tablets, the printer works with PCs, Fujifilm X Series cameras, and the instax Pal 2, so digital artwork and other compatible images can become physical prints.

A more personal way to keep your memories

The instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 share the idea that photography is a way to express yourself. The Pal 2 makes it easy to capture moments as they happen, and the Link WIDE 2 gives those images a place in the physical world.

Jill Arteche’s artwork at the launch backed that idea up. Her illustrations filled the space with personality and showed how photos and art can make an environment feel more personal. The event also made a case for revisiting and reinterpreting the images we collect.

Taking a photo takes seconds, and printing one can make the memory feel more special. The instax Pal 2 and Link WIDE 2 bring that into everyday life and give your snapshots room for creativity, from the moment you press the shutter to the moment you find a place for the print.

In the Philippines, the Fujifilm instax Pal 2 retails for PhP 10,599, while the Fujifilm instax Link WIDE 2 is priced at PhP 10,999. Both devices are now available on Fujifilm’s authorized stores and retailers nationwide.

Cameras

Sony introduces its 1st Fisheye Zoom G Lens

Broad range for landscapes, architecture, sports, and video production

Published

September 9, 2026

GadgetMatch

Sony has just launched its first fisheye zoom G Lens for full-frame Alpha E-mount cameras: the Sony FE 8-14mm F3.5 Fisheye G. It will be available from late September for an SRP of US$ 1,599.99 / SG$ 2,049.

The 8 mm to 14 mm zoom focal range covers a broad set of fisheye perspectives in one compact lens.

At 8 mm, the lens shoots circular fisheye with a 180-degree angle of view projected as a circular image on a full-frame sensor.

Meanwhile, at 14 mm, it shoots diagonal fisheye across the full frame with a 180-degree diagonal angle of view.

Users can match the angle of view and composition to the subject and creative intent, across various scenarios like landscapes, architecture, sports, and more.

An optical design with ED (extra-low dispersion) glass and aspherical elements suppresses chromatic and other aberrations across the image area.

This enables high resolution throughout the zoom range with fast and precise autofocus and Linear Response MF. All these while suppressing focus breathing and operating quietly for movie production.

Controls include a focus mode switch, zoom lock switch, and an aperture ring with switchable click stops.

A minimum focusing distance of 0.15 meters and maximum magnification of 0.22x at the telephoto end also allow close-up fisheye perspectives both for stills and movies.

The Sony FE 8-14mm F3.5 Fisheye G measures about 63.1 mm in maximum diameter and 82.8 mm in length.

It weights about 314 grams, giving it mobility for handheld, gimbal, and rig-based shooting. It is also dust and moisture-resistant with a fluorine coating on the front.

In addition, users can opt for a dual-lens configuration with the VENCE Extension System Mini.