Latest articles by Gavin Stoker
Once the digicam’s last gasp, here’s why the waterproof cameras kept the compact market afloat
Opinion Recent history suggests point-and-shoot cameras vanished entirely until being rediscovered – or adopted for the first time – by Gen Z TikTok users. But that’s not entirely true, as one key compact category never went away…
Forgotten memories: From SmartMedia to xD cards, CompactFlash and Memory Sticks, here are the camera memory card formats we’ve loved – and lost
Opinion Remembering the quirky and at times short-lived formats for securing our digital photographs and video, exploring what they offered and why they failed
"It feels like cheating": Over-reliance on AI editing software is making photographers lazy – and core camera skills are not being learned
opinion Is AI making it so easy to create perfect-looking photos that there’s less incentive to get them right in-camera? And if so, what’s that doing to our photography skills?
If there really is a decline in mirrorless and DSLR sales, as CIPA is saying, has the interchangeable lens camera had its day?
opinion With the booming popularity of fixed lens compacts, interchangeable lens cameras aren’t the big deal they once were
It’s easy for us photographers to mock cheap compact cameras. But I believe they’re the gateway drug to serious photo addiction
Opinion If smartphone-addicted teens are the main audience for today’s compact digicams, rather than nostalgic parents, that’s got to be a good thing for the future of photography – right?
The best binoculars with cameras in 2026
Buying guide Take photos or videos of faraway objects with the best binoculars with cameras
EVF vs LCD: Which one could I live without on my camera?
Once I was happy taking photos using the tiny optical viewfinder on my 110 film camera. Now spoilt by LCD screens and EVFs, if I had to live with just one, here’s what I’d choose…
The best trail camera in 2026: for wildlife photography and nature watching
Buying guide Expert guide to the best trail cameras, tested to help you to track and photograph wildlife remotely, day or night
The Lumix L10 'compact camera' is anything but compact. What on earth was Panasonic thinking?
Opinion Panasonic is aiming for a viral hit with its latest fixed-lens camera. But isn’t it a bit of a misnomer to call it 'compact'?
This is why two of photography’s biggest camera brands disappeared entirely
Opinion Until the late 2000s, Konica and Minolta were two of the most recognisable and respected photographic brands, growing stronger still in partnership. So why did they disappear completely – and why do Sony users owe a debt of gratitude today?
There’s no such thing as the perfect camera tripod, and it's the laws of physics that are to blame!
Opinion The frustrating truth about finding the perfect three-legged photographers' friend
Believe me, your next camera should be binoculars that take photos (and particularly if you are a birdwatcher)
Opinion With the news that Gen Z birdwatchers are flocking to nature reserves in greater numbers, I believe we could also see sales of binoculars that shoot photos and videos taking flight
I can’t believe Instax cameras continue to be so popular, when the offering and technology have barely changed in almost 30 years
Opinion Debuting in 1998, the Instax instant camera is nearly 30 years old – and it’s barely changed. So how does it continue to be a roaring success?
Why third-party licensees of Kodak and Yashica brands are succeeding where more major camera manufacturers aren’t
Opinion Basic digital compacts at pocket money prices are topping the worldwide bestseller lists, at times nudging bigger players with better tech like Canon, Fujifilm, Sony and Nikon lower down the charts. What on earth is going on?
Why is Nikon is leaving millions of loyal photographers in the dark this year?
opinion Once one of the ‘big two’, the Japanese marque has been conspicuously absent in camera discussions this year, with its Z6 II, to take one prominent example, released back in June 2024. So, can we expect something new soon?
The growing number of black-and-white-only cameras is a good thing – they don't restrict creativity, they actually enrich it!
opinion Leica, Pentax and Ricoh all have cameras that lack the ability to shoot color – and what’s been taken away is making our creative palette richer
Best darkroom equipment in UK: photo enlargers, film tanks, trays, safelights
buying guide You’re shooting on film and want to process and print the results yourself. You need our recommendations for the best darkroom equipment…
The best binoculars: for astronomy, wildlife, sports fans, and more
Buying Guide Choosing the best binoculars is easy when you know what the specs mean and what to look for
Leica Monovid 8x25 review: a pocket-sized monocular that goes extra-large on quality and features
Review When binoculars seem a little too bulky and portability is paramount, is the luxuriously styled Leica Monovid 8x25 monocular – with an additional close-up lens – worth considering as an alternative?
Nikon Action Zoom 10-22x50 review: binoculars with a built-in zoom to get closer to your subject
Review Can't make your mind up between binoculars with a wide field of view, or greater magnification to get you closer? Nikon’s Action range-topping binos have a zoom mechanism that allows you to do both!
Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25 review: posh and portable binoculars for those who like the finer things in life
Review Do these premium-priced, well-built, yet very portable Leica 10x25 binoculars justify the investment for everyday observation?
Nikon Action 10x42 review: bargain binoculars for birders on a budget
Review Can low-cost binoculars ever truly deliver a big performance? Let's see if these Nikons deliver the Holy Grail for wildlife watchers who also watch the pennies…
I believe the reason compact cameras zoomed ahead in popularity in the past, will see them zoom ahead again in the present
opinion Not everyone wants to carry around a bulky camera with a huge lens – and they never did. But there are inevitably times when a longer lens proves essential…
