
Matthew Richards
Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners!
His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related.
In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.
Latest articles by Matthew Richards

The best Micro Four Thirds lenses for Olympus / OM System and Panasonic cameras in 2026
By James Artaius last updated
UPDATED We round up the best Micro Four Thirds lenses, including primes, ultra-wide angles and super-telephotos

The best L-mount lenses: check out these best buys for your Panasonic, Sigma or Leica mirrorless camera
By Matthew Richards last updated
Buying guide Team players Leica, Panasonic and Sigma formed the L-mount Alliance back in 2018, giving rise to a fabulous line-up of lenses. Here’s my pick of the crop...

The best lenses for the Sony A7 IV: still one of Sony’s most exciting mirrorless cameras in 2026, the A7 IV deserves great glass. Here are my top choices
By Rod Lawton last updated
Updated I’ve picked out the best lenses for the Sony A7 IV, so you can take advantage of its hybrid potential for both stills and video when shooting weddings, events and pretty much anything else

The best lenses for the Sony A7 III: this camera hits the sweet spot for price and performance, and my choice of lenses seal the deal
By Rod Lawton last updated
Updated The best lenses for the Sony A7 III need to offer quality, performance and versatility, because this camera body is a great all-rounder. Here’s what I think are the best buys

Best lenses for the Sony A1 and A1 II in 2026: these flagship cameras deserve top-class glass
By Rod Lawton last updated
Buying guide It’s the most powerful and versatile camera Sony has ever made, so what are the best lenses for the Sony A1 II?

Panasonic Lumix S 40mm f/2 review: it’s a full-frame standard prime but aims to set new standards for featherweight compactness
By Matthew Richards published
Review The Panasonic Lumix S 40mm f/2 for L-mount cameras gives a slightly wider perspective than a classic ‘nifty fifty’ with a downsized, ultra-lightweight build

Canon RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM review: the expansive view of this lens comes with an expensive price tag
By Matthew Richards last updated
Review The Canon RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM takes the company's hybrid VCM series of lenses to new widths. It's fast too, in more ways than one…

Best Canon flashgun in 2026: which Speedlite is best for you?
By Matthew Richards last updated
UPDATED My comprehensive guide will help you choose the best Canon flashgun that suits your needs and budget

The best lenses for the Canon EOS R50 in 2026: this camera is a proper little powerhouse and deserves the right lenses
By Rod Lawton last updated
Updated I think that the Canon EOS R50 is one of the all-time best cameras for beginners, but it doesn’t stop there. Here are some lenses that’ll take your creativity to the next level

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 Lab N FE is a new version of existing lens for Sony cameras that aims to prove that less is more
By Matthew Richards published
NEWS One of Viltrox’s fastest and most pro-grade lenses gets an update that ditches one of its standout features

Yashica DigiPix 100 review: digital cameras don’t come much cheaper than this, and it's only about the same size and weight as a pack of playing cards
By Matthew Richards published
Review The supremely affordable, compact and lightweight Yashica DigiPix 100 has a certain retro charm, complete with ‘vintage’ image quality!

Best Nikon telephoto lenses in 2026: long reach for Nikon Z-system cameras and DSLRs
By Matthew Richards last updated
buying guide I pick out the best telephoto zooms and primes for Nikon Z and F-mount cameras, at reasonable prices

I spent ages trying to decide between two Nikon Z super-telephoto zooms, and ended up buying something completely different…
By Matthew Richards published
opinion I’ve been universally impressed by all of Nikon’s Z-system lenses but once in a while, I feel they’re not necessarily the best buy

Kodak PixPro FZ45 review: a ‘proper’ digital camera that’s as cheap as chips
By Matthew Richards last updated
Review The Kodak PixPro FZ45 is well-suited to beginners and the budget-conscious, with zoom lens, flash and low, low price tag

Viltrox launches two new lenses, taking its Evo range from one to three prime numbers
By Matthew Richards published
New Viltrox 35mm and 55mm Evo series prime lenses for full-frame Nikon Z and Sony E-mount cameras add to the previous 85mm offering

Viltrox AF 55mm f/1.8 Evo review: a few millimeters longer than your usual ‘nifty fifty’, this one’s a prime candidate for both full-frame and APS-C cameras
By Matthew Richards published
Review The Viltrox AF 55mm f/1.8 Evo is a relatively compact, lightweight and inexpensive yet sturdily built and feature-rich prime lens for Nikon Z and Sony E mount cameras

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 Evo II review: a compact, high-performance prime lens, ideal for street photography, everyday shooting and hybrid content creation
By Matthew Richards published
Review The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 Evo II brings high-end handling and strong build quality in Nikon Z and Sony E mount options, with a very affordable price tag

Canon RF 7-14mm f/2.8-3.5L Fisheye STM review: it’s genuinely two different fisheye lenses in one package
By James Artaius last updated
REVIEW The Canon RF 7-14mm f/2.8-3.5L Fisheye STM saves you the problem of trying to choose between a circular and diagonal fisheye – it’s both!

Best carbon fiber tripods in 2026: get solid support while lightening the load
By Matthew Richards last updated
Updated More than just a touch of luxury, carbon fiber enables tripods to be sturdy and resistant to vibration, while shedding around 25% in terms of carrying weight

Best monopods in 2026: stable support that can take a load off
By Matthew Richards last updated
Updated For wildlife and sports photography, or anytime you’re using a big heavy lens, a monopod can give some much-needed relief

Best travel tripod in 2026: lightweight, stable supports for taking on the road
By Matthew Richards last updated
Buying Guide The best travel tripods have to be small enough to pack, light enough to carry, and sturdy enough for shake-free photos!

Sigma 12mm f/1.4 DC | C review: Go fast and wide but keep the weight off
By Matthew Richards published
Review The Sigma 12mm f/1.4 DC | C for APS-C format Canon, Fujifilm and Sony mirrorless gives you an epic viewing angle packed into a compact and lightweight build

Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM review: The super-fast glass that's super affordable – and punches way above its weight and price point
By James Artaius published
Review The Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM gives you really rapid apertures and bokelicious backgrounds, for less than 500 bucks!

Best tripod for photographers in 2026: full-size tripods for rock-steady support
By Matthew Richards last updated
Buying guide The best tripods offer high performance and sturdy build quality at a fair price, but which will win the three-legged race?

Even when I’m zooming about on my travels with my camera, I’ve still got this one prime number under my belt…
By Matthew Richards published
Opinion Nobody likes to feel their creativity is being constrained into a narrow vision of what’s out there. Here’s how I supersized my view of the world
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