I’ve already talked about how GadgetMatch covered gamescom for the first time. This time, let me tell you about the other “first” that shaped the trip: walking the massive halls of Koelnmesse with the Canon EOS R50 V in hand.

You already know this was my first gamescom. What you don’t know is that I didn’t have my usual setup. Instead of my trusty Sony a6500 with a 35mm lens, I had the Canon EOS R50 V paired with the RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM.

Unfamiliar gear in unfamiliar territory. Spicy combo, right?

Zero prep, full send

Here’s the thing: I picked up the R50 V just hours before my flight. Zero time to get cozy with it. I went straight from unboxing to event mode, no warm-up lap in between.

And while the R50 V is compact, that RF15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM lens is anything but. Fitting it into my bag felt like stuffing sneakers into a clutch.

But the size had perks. With its wide-to-zoom range, it felt like carrying multiple prime lenses without the weight. I could capture a sprawling booth one second and zoom in for a portrait the next.

Cosplayers noticed it too—many struck a pose as soon as I pointed the lens their way. The camera practically invited interaction, which made shooting the Sights and Sounds reel a lot more fun.

@gadgetmatch Sights & Sounds at #gamescom2025 ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch

The vlogger button that got benched

One of the R50 V’s cool tricks is the front-facing record button. Perfect for vloggers. But paired with that massive lens? Not so much. Holding the setup out for a selfie felt less “on-the-go creator” and more “arm day workout.”

Still, I gave it a shot. If you watch my ROG Xbox Ally X first look video, you’ll spot a few clips where I used it. But for the most part, I stuck to capturing everything else happening around me.

Missing my dials, finding my groove

What I missed most were the physical dials. My Sony setup lets me adjust settings with a quick flick. With the R50 V, a lot of those changes live on the touchscreen. It’s workable, but I’m not the biggest fan of poking a screen mid-shoot.

That said, Canon nailed the ergonomics. Stubby fingers, chunky hands, smaller body—still comfortable. The grip never felt flimsy or cramped. For its size, it’s solid.

After a few days, I found my rhythm. The Samsung PlayGalaxy reel is probably the best showcase of what I was able to do once I got past the learning curve.

@gadgetmatchAll fun and games at the Samsung Play Galaxy at Gamescom 2025!♬ original sound – GadgetMatch

A surprise player for stills

The R50 V is clearly made with video creators in mind, but the stills surprised me too. Even in the chaos of gamescom, I managed to snap a handful of shots worth sharing.

Sharp, clean, detailed. That L-series glass obviously helps, but the camera itself is no slouch.

Coverage tested, coverage ready

So how did the Canon EOS R50 V hold up at my first gamescom? Honestly, pretty well. I had maybe ten minutes to fiddle with it before diving into one of the busiest events of the year, and I still came home with reels, clips, and photos I’m proud of.

That, to me, says a lot.

Would I trade my usual setup for it? Not completely. I still crave the physical dials and the vlogger button works best with a smaller lens. But the R50 V proved it can keep up with the demands of real event coverage.

Is the Canon EOS R50 V your GadgetMatch?

The Canon EOS R50 V is a Swipe Right—but not without caveats.

First, ask yourself: do you really need something with an interchangeable lens? If yes, then this is an investment worth making in your content creation journey.

But think carefully about the kind and size of lens you’ll need. Wide lenses are great for vlogging. Prime lenses shine for portraits and product shots. Zoom lenses come alive at big events like gamescom. Figure out what you’ll use it for the most, and match your setup accordingly.

If you’re not ready to make that leap, Canon has another option: the Powershot V1. Think of it as a half-step up if you’re moving from smartphone shooting. Less intimidating, easier to carry, but still a noticeable jump in quality.

As for me, I survived my first gamescom with Canon. And while I may not be a full convert just yet, I can say this much: the R50 V earned its spot in my bag, sneakers and all.

From launching their first set of mirrorless cameras seven years ago to their silent disregard of DSLRs, Nikon has surely made another way of surviving in this revolutionary camera industry.

ICYMI, Nikon has already acquired the renowned cinema-camera brand RED last 2024.

While it comes as no surprise to fans and professional cinematographers alike, it’s still something worth noting here.

Smallest Z CINEMA camera

At just 540 grams (body-only) or 630 grams (with battery and lens), the all-new Nikon ZR is undoubtedly featherlight.

And with the Nikon x RED synergy already established, it’s currently the smallest full-frame mirrorless camera found in the two brands’ entirely new Z CINEMA product line.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

This might even be considered as Nikon’s direct response to the freshly-released Canon EOS C50 and Sony FX2.

Found within Nikon ZR’s core is the EXPEED 7 image-processing engine. It’s the same unit that runs the flagship-grade Nikon Z9. And with Nikon’s deep-learning based AI excellency, it enables better and more accurate subject detection and tracking.

To be precise, it can automatically detect nine (9) types of subjects including people, animals, vehicles even. Precise focusing on small faces and distant human subjects is also possible.

It also has dual-base ISO sensitivities (800 / 6400) plus 15+ stops of Dynamic Range that promises noise-free footage regardless of your studio setup and specific lighting condition.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The ZR also has a large 4.0-inch fully-articulating display with approx. 3070k dots and 100% DCI-P3 support.

Cinema-Grade Excellence

Being a camera meant for videos, it boasts 5-axis image-sensor-shift vibration reduction. This reduces camera shake especially in handheld video recording.

Speaking of, 12-bit RAW recording is doable: up to 59.94p in 6K resolution and 119.88 fps in 4K Ultra HD. ProRes 422 HQ format is also possible under 5.4K resolution, though limited to 29.97 fps frame rate. Shutter angle can also be adjusted from 5.6-degrees all the way to 360-degrees.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Audio quality wasn’t compromised. The Nikon ZR is the world’s first camera to have 32-bit float audio recording capabilities via its 3.5mm audio jack. It possesses both external and built-in microphones alongside three high-quality MEMS.

Those internal mics are powered by Nokia’s OZO Audio tech with five (5) pick-up patterns for better scene-matchups and utmost audio quality output.

Despite being small, the camera body is effective when it comes to heat dissipation. Nikon ZR promises around 95 minutes of shooting using its built-in battery.

If you’re already in a pinch, it supports undisrupted shooting via the faster USB-C PD (Power Deliver) standard of up to 125 minutes under the 6K / 59.94p R3DNE setting. This is especially advantageous for continuous coverages like weddings, concerts, and interviews.

Truly RED

The all-new Nikon ZR boasts RED’s mastery in cinema-grade color. This includes the R3D NE video codec, an all-new video recording codec based on RED’s R3D RAW codec specifically made for Nikon’s new model.

There’s also the Log3G10 format for HDR video formats, and the REDWideGamutRGB color space for vivid yet true-to-life colors.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

There are even nine (9) RED-curated CineBias imaging recipes (with complicated naming schemes):

• CineBias_RED
• CineBias-T-Cool Atmosphere
• CineBias-C-Crisp Teal Contrast
• CineBias-CC-Noir Vibes
• CineBias WC-Grit & Glow
• CineBias-TC-Green Edge Experimental
• CineBiasOffset
• CineBias Achromic
• CineBias BleachBypass

More styles can be selected from Nikon’s Imaging Cloud service.

And while already on the topic, Nikon ZR supports Frame.io C2C (Camera to Cloud) connectivity via NX MobileAir available on both iOS and Android devices. This automatically transfers video datat directly to the cloud for a faster and more seamless editing workflow.

Pricing and Availability

Specific pricing nor regional availability of the Nikon ZR has not been declared through Nikon’s official websites.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

However, the renowned American retailer B&H already accepts pre-orders for US$ 2196.95 (body only).

Three NIKKOR Z lens kit configurations are also available:

• 24-50mm f/4.0~6.3 = US$ 2496.95
• 50mm f/1.4 = US$ 2746.95
• 35mm f/1.4 = US$ 2846.95

There are also additional accessories such as the MC-N10 Remote Grip as well as the ME-D10 Shotgun Microphone.

Thanks to Y2K K-Pop and Gen Zs, the popularity of digital cameras suddenly rose back from the dead. So as the steadfast rise of blind box collectibles and bag charms obsession.

Kodak, the popular camera-maker back in the day, has then grabbed this much-awaited opportunity.

Charm x Camera

Going around with the “camera” and “charm” wordplay, Kodak has created the “Charmera.”

Kodak’s newest tiny shooter only weighs 30 grams and can fit onto anyone’s palms.

This also means you can hang it whenever you want like any type of keychain. Be that a bag handle, a zipper hole, even your pants or jeans’ belt loops (badly missing you, NewJeans / NJZ / MHDHH).

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

These cutesy camera comes in seven (7) uniquely vintage designs to choose from.

There’s even a “Secret” edition that comes in a transparent shell. Being able to get one is a very rare with a chance rate of 1/48.

And, much like charms and collectibles in blind boxes, grabbing one Charmera (either for you, a family, friend, or even a loved one) is completely random. And it’s undoubtedly its biggest charm.

Collage by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Getting the full set guarantees you all basic colorways with no repetitions. Kodak states though that if the Secret Edition appears, it will replace one basic edition out of the set.

Y2K fun in 2K25

Once you get hold of your latest Kodak Charm, it has four (4) built-in frames that brings back the old-school nostalgia:

• Painter
• Negative Film
• Kodak
• 1987

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Moreover, seven (7) filters are also present for you to add more fun to your shots:

• B&W (Black and White)
• Cool Tone
• Warm Tone
• Pixel (Yellow)
• Pixel (Red)
• Pixel (Blue)
• Pixel (Gray)

GIF by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The Kodak Charmera has a 35mm f/1.4 lens with a 1/4-inch CMOS sensor beneath it. It’s also able to shoot 1.6MP photos in JPEG format.

Another better thing? It can shoot 1440 x 1080 / 30fps videos too in AVI format — giving that utmost nostalgia whenever, wherever.

Kodak Charmera Package Contents with included key ring

Don’t worry, unlike vintage cameras, the Charmera is still digitally-friendly with its rear display as well as an optical video viewfinder.

It doesn’t have onboard storage but relies on the very much reliable microSD card of up to 128GB.

No one’s sure how its 200mAh built-in battery can hold up but charging can be done via USB-C (thankfully).

Pricing and Availability

As of this writing, the Kodak Charmera is currently sold out in the US. Kodak says to stay tuned on Instagram for further updates.

Once stocks are replenished, a single blind box retails for US$ 29.99 while buying one set retails for US$ 149.74 (around US$ 60 in savings).

Additionally, it has a retail price of PhP 2000 for one Blind Box in the Philippines via Henry’s Cameras. Buying the whole set costs as much as PhP 12,000 — which is still PhP 2000 in savings.

However, ordering is limited to one quantity only.