Cameras

Sony A5100 review: Your next compact vlogging camera

Small and with a selfie screen!

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My needs for a camera are different. While others opt for all the frills and functionalities that come with a full-on camera and shooting rig, there are other things I tend to prioritize when looking for a camera — like it being in a size that my frail arms can actually carry. (Seriously, how do vloggers carry those heavy cameras with just one arm? 😱)

Sure, I want good photos and videos, but I also really need a camera small enough to fit inside my purse.

My grab-and-go vlogging attitude, in tandem with my tinier body frame and the small shoulder bags I bring when I run around, are all considerations when looking for a shooter I plan to use.

These things considered, the Sony A5100 looked like a good contender for being my next vlogging camera. But, was it?

Look and feel

The Sony A5100 is a pretty compact mirrorless camera — one of the smallest in the market. This thing was pretty easy to bring on my trips and events, even without a dedicated camera bag.

I got to play with the white unit, which made for a good camera look. The matte white finish certainly made it stand out from all the bland black cameras in the market.

It’s really the lens that makes up the bulk of this camera’s size — it’s almost as thick as the camera body. But, it’s the price you pay for having interchangeable lenses.

Up top is the shutter button and a dial that lets you zoom in and out. There’s also a movie record button and another button that makes the flash pop out.

You can find most of the controls on the back of the camera. There are dedicated buttons for “Menu,” “Playback,” and “?” — which gives you basic photography tips at the press of a button.

A series of button pressing and dial turning will navigate you through the camera menu and bring up anything you need the camera to do. It might take a while to get familiar with everything; and for those who like tactile camera controls, it might prove to be annoying.

The three-inch screen has touch capabilities but the best thing about it, though, is this:

Yep, not only is it easier to shoot because of the hinge, you can even go as far as entering selfie mode which is a big help for vlogging or composing timer photos on a tripod. Hooray for flippity screens!

Ready, set, shoot!

The A5100 is a good shooter. Focusing is fast and photos are crisp and bright. That bokeh mode effect is achievable with the stock 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens it came with. Here are a few unedited samples:

I’m definitely a sucker for any camera’s tap to focus capabilities, and this one isn’t an exception. However, I did find that the touchscreen capabilities are limited to this, which is a bummer for menu navigation or even photo and video playback.

Nevertheless, the A5100 was fun to shoot with. It’s light and looks good so I looked great with it. 😉

The big question: Is it a good enough shooter for your Instagram feed?

I sought to answer this question with a mini shoot. I took MJ, our resident IGBFF (that’s Instagram best friend forever, for those who are uninformed), and we did an IG challenge. Armed with this camera, we spent 30 minutes in a random well-lit balcony and the resulting photos are as follow:

Thanks to MJ and some pretty sick foreground action, I now have photos to post on my IG. I only did a little editing with Photoshop and Lightroom mobile (because that’s the only editing I’m capable of 😅) and I’m pretty happy with them.

Vlogging time!

Most cameras I review, I use to vlog. In my experience, the A5100 is definitely a good fit for novice vloggers such as myself. First of all, it’s pretty small so it was easier to bring it around — which meant more footage as I always had my camera on me. Trust me, it’s easy to get lazy to bring shooting gear when they’re big and bulky.

I especially love that this entry-level camera has a dedicated movie mode, which is something you’d think is pretty basic in 2018, but there are still new releases out there that don’t offer this specific mode. This is a pain if you want to be able to compose and adjust your settings before shooting the actual video. Thankfully, the A5100 offers this and different movie modes that range from fully manual to programmed auto.

Here are a few clips I put together featuring the time I had with the camera. No, I did not edit further after I strung them together and added music and transitions. (Also, no, this isn’t a full vlog because there’s no way I’m editing one in time for this review’s publishing date. 😂)

The camera shoots in 1080/60p or 24p which is just a bunch of numbers to me but know this: Video quality was good and focus was pretty quick. Again, I especially love that you can tap to focus, even while you’re shooting video. Even the stock lens the camera comes with has a good wider angle that’ll allow you to comfortably vlog without a Joby pod.

Unfortunately, there’s no audio jack or a hot shoe mount on this camera, so you won’t be able to add on a mic or even lights. It also doesn’t shoot in 4K, which isn’t as bad as it sounds since a lot of people don’t shoot in 4K (including me) anyway.

Is the Sony A5100 your next vlogging camera?

For my needs, the A5100 fared pretty well. It ticked off things that I prioritized: It was handy enough to bring around everywhere, it has a flippity screen, and content quality did not disappoint.

If you’re the type who loves to point and shoot, whether it be photos or videos, but want a capable entry-level camera that will give you more options when you do need it, the Sony A5100 may be for you.

Sure, it may not be able to do all the fancy shmancy stuff pro cameras can do, but it’s an easy camera to learn on. I found it to be one of the most enjoyable vlogging cameras I’ve tried.

The Sony A5100 retails for US$ 550 in the US and PhP 34,999 in the Philippines.

Cameras

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Pearl White now available globally

Pearl White joins DJI’s lineup

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DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Pearl White

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.

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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.

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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.

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Cameras

Sony introduces its 1st Fisheye Zoom G Lens

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

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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.

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