Cameras

Best of 2019: Our favorite cameras

Carefully curated for your camera needs

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Best for professionals

The professional photography world is (and will always be) divided into two: Mirrorless camera users versus DSLR camera enthusiasts. Here’s a list that caters to both.

Mirrorless

Sony a7R IV

Being the first 61.2-megapixel 35mm full-frame shooter, a lot is expected of this camera. Other than the 5-axis SteadyShot stabilization, 10fps continuous shooting, 567 phase-detection AF points, and Real-time Eye AF Tracking, you also get a professionally-inclined 15-stop dynamic range plus 4K 30fps recording (whether full or crop) with S-Log 2/3 and HDR for manual color grading. ISO sensitivity can be expanded to 102,400 and it has two SD card slots that both support a faster UHS-II interface.

SEE ALSO: Sony a7R IV has a massive 61MP sensor

Sony a7 III

The A7 III is already a year old, but it’s still a great contender when it comes to full-frame mirrorless photography and videography. It sports a 24-megapixel sensor  and shoots as intense as 10fps. It also offers 693 phase-detection AF points (93 percent coverage), plus 425 contrast AF points for accuracy. Other than those feats, the 5-axis SteadyShot stabilization is usually present for smoother video footages, while ISO sensitivity can go as high as 204,000 through Expanded Mode. It also retails much less than its other counterparts from both Sony and other brands, making it a great buy overall.

SEE ALSO: Sony A7 III hands-on review

Canon EOS RP

Canon made the RF lens mount in mind for better lens optics on the EOS RP, which is also meant for the newest R-series. People might say the EOS RP skimps on most areas compared to its larger sibling: lower 26.2-megapixel sensor, slower shutter speed at 1/4000 sec., up to just 5fps continuous shooting, limited 25fps 4K video without Canon Log, and lack of a second card slot — but it’s far from being bad. What makes this better than the EOS R? It’s a more practical full-frame choice because it’s a lot more affordable.

SEE ALSO: Learning street photography with the Canon EOS RP

DSLR

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Its predecessor has been triumphant in the full-frame DSLR category for years. Three years had passed since the fourth iteration was announced, and it performs better than ever. The 30.4-megapixel full-frame sensor is handy as well as the max shutter speed of 1/8000 sec. 7fps continuous shooting and 61 AF points (plus 41 cross-type) are also notable. ISO sensitivity (when boosted) can reach as high as 102,400, ideal for low-light shooting and astrophotography. It shoots DCI 4K for up to 30fps. Some users may find the fixed 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD disappointing, but the long-lasting battery life and dual CF/SD card slots are great deals.

Nikon D850

Unlike the 5D Mark IV, the D850 features a larger 45.7-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and has a tilting 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD. Shutter durability and battery are aboth rated to last longer. There are also a better number of AF points (153 plus 99 cross-type) and up to 9fps continuous shooting with a battery grip. What remains is the boosted ISO sensitivity of up to 102,400. It can shoot 4K 30fps video but internal video stabilization only works in 1080p mode. Unlike CF slot, this features an XQD card, together with an SD card slot that’s UHS-II compliant for faster speeds.

Canon EOS 6D Mark II

The 6D Mark II is a year younger than the 5D Mark IV, but it features a smaller 26.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and video recording is limited to only 1080p 60fps with no stabilization. There are 45 AF points (that can also be cross-type). Burst shooting is rated up to 6.5fps. Max native ISO is at 40,000 and can be boosted up to 102,400. Most specs may sound downgraded, but it’s a step ahead of its predecessor. Although there’s only a single SD card slot, kudos to Canon for including a 3-inch VariAngle touchscreen LCD and larger batteries — something you can’t find on higher-end full-frame Canon DSLRs.

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Cameras

Insta360 X6 brings 8K 360 capture, AI-powered editing

Sharper 360 footage, longer battery life, and an AI that edits your clips while you charge?!

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Fresh off its global release, Insta360 brings its latest entry in the X series, the Insta360 X6, to the Philippines.

Upgraded imaging for every moment

The headline upgrade lands straight in the image sensor. Dual custom Sony 1/1.1-inch square sensors power the Insta360 X6, delivering a full 1-inch equivalent 360 imaging experience.

This hardware update brings noticeably sharper detail and stronger low-light performance compared to older X Series cameras. It shoots up to native 8K at 50fps with 10-bit color and native in-camera Dolby Vision, giving creators maximum flexibility during post-production.

Beyond the larger sensor, the X6 functions as three cameras in one: a full 360 shooter, a subject-tracking camera, and a single-lens action camera. You can capture everything around you now and pick your angle later. Alternatively, you can pull flat 4K footage through InstaFrame 2.0 or switch to single-lens mode for a traditional action cam experience.

Battery life sees a major boost as well. The new 2600mAh Xtreme Battery offers up to 140 minutes of continuous 8K30fps recording. Meanwhile, a Star-Ridge cooling system keeps the camera cool during longer 8K sessions. You also get 64GB of built-in storage (47GB usable), allowing you to start shooting immediately without a microSD card on hand.

For anyone building out a rig, the X6 supports over 100 accessories. It easily adapts to travel, motorcycle rides, cycling, diving, and other high-action pursuits.

Intelligent AI editing

Software plays an equally big role in this launch. Insta360 introduces PanoMind, its first AI model built specifically for 360 footage. Instead of analyzing a flat frame, PanoMind reads full spherical scenes.

Through AI Director, the X6 reviews your footage while charging, generates highlight edits on its own, and sends them directly to the Insta360 app. This feature saves you from spending hours scrubbing through raw clips for key moments.

If you want more say in the final cut, Auto Edit 2.0 turns single or multiple clips into finished videos, handling framing, camera movement, cuts, music, and transitions automatically. For deeper workflows, the X6 still supports I-Log, 10-bit recording, Insta360 Studio, and Insta360+ cloud editing tools.

Price, availability in the Philippines

The Insta360 X6 is now available in the Philippines through authorized retailers and official online channels.

The Standard Bundle costs PhP 45,390 and includes the X6 camera, a USB-C cable, a protective pouch, and a lens cloth.

Meanwhile, the Essentials Bundle costs PhP 49,990. It adds an extra Xtreme Battery, a 114cm Invisible Selfie Stick, a lens cap, and a Fast Charge Case on top of the base package.

Insta360 Philippines is also expanding its retail footprint across key cities while hosting hands-on community workshops tailored for travel, riding, cycling, and filmmaking enthusiasts.

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Cameras

Sony launches FE 100-400mm F5.6-8 OSS telephoto zoom lens

Super telephoto zoom lens for hobbyists

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Sony has launched the FE 100-400mm F5.6-8 OSS super telephoto zoom lens tailored for hobbyists and for a competitive price.

The compact and lightweight lens (approx. 654 grams) is meant for 35mm full-frame Alpha E-mount cameras, making it easy to carry to capture subjects that are difficult to appraoch.

This includes birds, sports scenes, and more. Landscape photography unique to super-telephoto lenses can also be enjoyed by making use of the compression effect. This makes the distance between nearby subjects and distant background elements appear closer together.

When used with a teleconverter, users can double the distance they can capture, with the lens supporting focal lengths of up to 800mm or up to 1,200m in APS-C mode.

With the latest optical design incorporating two ED glass elements and two aspherical elements, excellent image quality is achieved across the entire zoom range. These elements reduce chromatic and other aberrations for clear rendering.

Subject shooting can stand out as well in a natural and soft bokeh, with the lens’ 9-blade circular aperture. This makes the lens also ideal for close-up photography of flowers, insects, and other nearby objects.

In addition, the lens features a linear motor drive for fast, precise, and quiet AF performance to help capture moving objects. The lens also supports high-speed continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking at up to approximately 120 frames per second when used with the Alpha 9 III.

Built-in optical image stabilization also supports handheld shooting in the super-telephoto range, suppressing camera shake. Users can also utilize the camera body’s Active Mode image stabilization and coordinate image stabilization control.

In Singapore, the Sony FE 100-400mm F5.6-8 OSS will be available by the end of August for SG$ 1,099.

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Accessories

OBSBOT’s Meet Flip is your next best pocketable 4K webcam

Fold the Flip for further protection

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OBSBOT Meet Flip
Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Several months ago, you might remember that OBSBOT revealed the Tiny 3 series of web cameras.

Six months after, they also unveil the all-new Meet Flip. From the name itself, it’s the company’s latest foldable 4K webcam that puts hardware privacy front and center.

Foldable and pocketable

Despite weighing just 37.7 grams, the Meet Flip aims to deliver premium webcam features for all types of users. Be it remote workers, professionals, or content creators.

OBSBOT Meet Flip

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Undoubtedly, the biggest highlight has got to be the webcam’s folding design. Not only it’s portable, it protects your privacy too.

Closing the device physically blocks the lens, giving users a visual confirmation that the camera is no longer active. When it’s time for a meeting, simply unfold it and it’s ready to go.

That lightweight body also features a built-in mounting clip that works with laptops, monitors, and tripods. Users can mount it in landscape, portrait, or even upside-down orientations depending on their setup.

OBSBOT Meet Flip

Despite that absurd amount of lightweightness, the OBSBOT Meet Flip is still able to house a 1/2-inch Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor with Quad Bayer technology. That’s something more commonly found among bigger and higher-end web cameras.

Video Call

Other camera features include:

  • 4K video recording / 30fps
  • 1080p recording / up to 60fps
  • HDR support for challenging lighting
  • Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)
  • 4x digital zoom
  • f/1.8 aperture with ISO 100-6400 support for low-light environments

Beyond just video calls

The OBSBOT Meet Flip isn’t just packed with serious camera hardware, it’s seriously intelligent as well.

The Meet Flip supports AI Auto Framing. This automatically keeps users centered during meetings — regardless if they are presenting alone or with a group. Gesture controls also let users activate framing or adjust zoom without touching the keyboard or mouse.

Video Call

Another standout feature is AI Magic Notes which provides real-time meeting transcription and automatically generates summaries, action items, and key discussion points.

The feature works with Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams through OBSBOT Center. Every webcam includes complimentary transcription of 120 minutes.

With that being mentioned, OBSBOT Center also makes users gain access to software features such as background blur, virtual backgrounds, beauty mode, and picture-in-picture overlays for presentations.

Those who want more advanced controls can enable Smart Eye Tracking, teleprompter support, and manual image adjustments.

Conference Meeting

Audio also gets an upgrade through an intelligent dual-microphone system that offers four recording modes:

  • Directional Mode / solo calls
  • Dual-Directional Mode / interviews
  • Smart Omni Mode / group meetings
  • Pure Audio Mode / unprocessed stereo recording

AI Noise Reduction and Automatic Gain Control are also available across most modes to help improve voice clarity.

OBSBOT Meet Flip

OBSBOT’s Meet Flip is also compatible with mobile devices through the OBSBOT Live app and supports integrations with accessories including Elgato Stream Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, and UVC-to-NDI/HDMI adapters.

Pricing and Availability

The OBSBOT Meet Flip is available starting today for US$119 through OBSBOT’s online store, Amazon US, and select retailers worldwide. Regional pricing may vary.

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