Cameras

Sony A7 III hands-on review

When the basic model is anything but

Published

July 26, 2018

The introduction of the A7 III follows last year’s 42-megapixel A7R III. Since this is the basic model, it’s a little cheaper, although nothing about it is basic, and we’ll tell you exactly why.

Design

The A7 III kept the basic compact look with a few but important changes. For one, we feel more confident holding the Sony A7 III now that it has a bigger grip than its predecessor’s. This is thanks to a bigger battery that extends its life significantly. More on battery life in just a bit.

Another thing we’re happy about is the use of a joystick for its autofocus point selection. Instead of using the rotating pad like its predecessor the A7 II, setting the autofocus point is now easier to do even on the fly.

It has dual card slots with one slot rated for faster, high-performance memory cards. Just like the A7R III, the A7 III supports charging through USB-C.

A touchscreen display tilts both ways and works well for when you need a low-angle shot or when you shoot from above. However, it doesn’t flip over for selfies since it’s designed more for professional use.

This compact camera is not only built for photos — videographers are kept in mind just like in the previous series. I personally found the video record button on the previous Mark II a little awkward in the corner, but I’m happy to report that it has now been moved to a place that feels easier and more natural to reach.

Features

So what does the A7 III offer and how does it compare to its predecessor, the A7 II? Well, Sony still implemented the same resolution at 24 megapixels, but the A7 III now has a backside illuminated (BSI) design. This means it should do better in both low and bright lighting conditions compared to its CMOS counterpart. Sony’s 5-axis image stabilization also made its way here.

More importantly, the A7 III now features 693 phase-detection autofocus points that almost cover the entire frame just like on the higher-end Sony A9. For comparison, the previous A7 II only had a 117-point AF system.

With its BIONZ X image processor, the A7 III can shoot images faster. How fast? Its 35mm full-frame sensor can shoot still photos continuously at up to 10 frames per second.

Additionally, the ability to shoot up to 4K UHD makes the A7 III a well-rounded camera. There’s Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth on board for wireless connectivity.

Image quality

We’ve been using it to shoot both for our travels and work, and we like how its autofocus system is snappy and locks on to subjects quickly. Quality-wise, we’re impressed with its dynamic range maintaining details on both the bright and dark areas. Sony is proud that the A7 III can reach a max ISO of 204800. With that ISO range and the camera’s ability to reduce noise, we get nice photos even with the least amount of lighting.

As mentioned earlier, the A7 III is an all-around shooter. It records at up to 4K resolution at 30fps, and for fans of slowing things down, the full-frame camera shoots up to 120fps at Full HD resolution. If you want more control over your footage, the A7 III can shoot on S-Log profiles just like the higher-end A7R III. In turn, this makes for easier and finer adjustments during post-production.

You can find video samples in our hands-on video embedded at the beginning of this article.

Battery

The same battery as the A9 and A7R III’s pumps life into the A7 III. Unlike from the Mark II series, the new battery has twice as much juice. Its updated processor also helps in making the battery more efficient. Sony claims that a single pack can shoot up to 710 shots before needing to be recharged.

In the real world, we were able to use it for more than one shooting session and as long as we start with a fresh pack, we didn’t experience problems running out of juice before our work was done.

Pricing

Here are the prices for the A7 III in the following countries:

United States – US$ 2,000 (body only)
Singapore – SG$ 2,899 (body only)
Philippines – PhP 115,999 (body only)

It’s half the price of Sony’s high-end A9, US$ 1,000 cheaper than the excellent A7R III, and costs just as much as Panasonic’s popular GH5 which has a much smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

From the time we’ve spent with it, we could definitely say that it excels both in photo and video categories. It’s got a really fast autofocus system which eliminates wasted shots, an option for shooting 4K videos with impressive details, and an improved design that feels more ergonomic to use.

So if you’re looking for a solid all-around performer with a price that’s relatively affordable for what it is and what it does, the Sony A7 III might be for you.

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.

Cameras

Sony launches the new Alpha 7 V

Get yourself a full-frame mirrorless camera for Christmas.

Published

December 4, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

Are you still wondering what to get yourself for Christmas? If you have a good amount of leftover money after shopping for everyone else, Sony has a new camera just for you. Right on the cusp of the holiday season, the Sony Alpha 7 V is here.

The Sony Alpha 7 V is the fifth generation of the aforementioned series. The full-frame mirrorless camera uses a partially stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor to take photos with 33.0 effective megapixels.

Further, the new BIONZ XR2 image processing engine uses the Alpha series’ AI technology to deliver better imaging, Real-time Recognition Auto-Focus, and Real-time Tracking. To add to this, Sony is also launching the FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II full-frame zoom lens to support the camera.

For connectivity, the camera supports Wi-Fi 6E GHZ for data transfers. It also supports USB-C connections for wired transfers.

To ease usage no matter the scenario, the Alpha 7 V comes with vertical format support and an adjustable electronic shutter sound. It also has a 4-axis multi-angle monitor for shooting in various angles. Finally, it has a better grip for stability.

For those long shoots, the camera has better power management. It also has a Monitor Low Bright mode to preserve the battery.

The Sony Alpha 7 V body is available from the end of December. Meanwhile, the kit and the lens will be available on February 2026. The body costs SGD 3,699. From now until December 31, customers will get a free 240GB CEA-G Series CFexpress Type A memory card.