
Rod Lawton
Rod is an independent photography journalist and editor, and a long-standing Digital Camera World contributor, having previously worked as DCW's Group Reviews editor. Before that he has been technique editor on N-Photo, Head of Testing for the photography division and Camera Channel editor on TechRadar, as well as contributing to many other publications. He has been writing about photography technique, photo editing and digital cameras since they first appeared, and before that began his career writing about film photography. He has used and reviewed practically every interchangeable lens camera launched in the past 20 years, from entry-level DSLRs to medium format cameras, together with lenses, tripods, gimbals, light meters, camera bags and more. Rod has his own camera gear blog at fotovolo.com but also writes about photo-editing applications and techniques at lifeafterphotoshop.com
Latest articles by Rod Lawton

The best Photoshop alternatives in 2025
By Hillary K. Grigonis last updated
Buying Guide Photoshop too expensive? These photo editors are a viable alternative

3 Legged Thing STR3AMCASE Triple Mic System review
By Rod Lawton published
Review 3 Legged Thing’s new wireless mic system is ideal for vlogging beginners or smartphone filmmakers, especially at this price!

What we can expect from Panasonic in 2025?
By Rod Lawton published
Features In 2024 Panasonic launched the Lumix S9 and Lumix GH7, both landmark cameras. So what will it do in 2025?

What we can expect from Sony in 2025?
By Rod Lawton published
Features It’s been quite a year for Sony, with new cameras, new lenses and all sorts of rumors, so can 2025 beat 2024?

Fujifilm X-T5 review: beautiful images, classic controls
By Lauren Scott last updated
review In terms of the way that it looks, feels and handles, the X-T5 is in a class of its own

Adobe student discount: save up to 65% on a Creative Cloud subscription!
By Tom May last updated
Buying Guide With the Adobe student discount scheme, you can save up to $420/£428 in one year

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro, 2024) review: powerful and beautifully made, but with spiraling upgrade costs
By Rod Lawton published
Review The beautiful new MacBook Pro M4 is faster and better than ever, but brings confusing variations and spiralling costs

Mac mini M4 Pro review: miniature marvel
By Rod Lawton published
Review An incredibly small, powerful and beautifully made desktop computer you can just plug into your existing gear

The best lenses for Panasonic Lumix S5, S5 II and S5 IIx cameras: ideal fits for size and price
By Rod Lawton last updated
Buying Guide I pick out the best lenses for Lumix S5, S5 II and S5 IIx based on cost, size and performance, making them a perfect fit for these cameras

Is it evil to replace a sky in my photos? I want to say yes, but I still keep doing it!
By Rod Lawton published
Opinion Part of me thinks reality is important and then another part of me thinks that the image is everything. I know, I’m mixed up

ON1 Photo RAW 2025 review
By Rod Lawton published
Review ON1’s all-in-one photo organizer, editor and effects tool gets headline-grabbing AI tech, but how well does it work?

Sony A1 II vs Nikon Z8: a close battle on specs – but not on price
By Rod Lawton published
Buying Guide The new Sony A1 II is a monster of a camera, but is it convincingly better than the mighty Nikon Z8? Let’s find out

Sony A1 II vs Canon EOS R5 Mk II – with a $2000 price difference is it even a contest?
By Rod Lawton published
Buying Guide It’s Sony vs Canon in this clash of the titans, but how do these two brand new ultra-high-tech flagship cameras compare?

The best lenses for the Canon EOS R50: take your entry-level camera to the next level
By Rod Lawton last updated
Updated What are the best lenses to get for the Canon R50? Join me as I pick out the perfect lenses for this great beginner camera.

The best lenses for the Canon EOS R10: smart lens choices for top APS-C mirrorless camera
By Rod Lawton last updated
Updated I think the best lenses for the R10 should be compact, affordable and a pleasure to use, just like the camera itself!

The best lenses for the Canon EOS R8: affordable lenses to make the most of this budget-friendly camera
By Rod Lawton last updated
Updated I choose the best lenses for the Canon R8, Canon's powerful but affordable full-frame mirrorless camera

The best lenses for the Canon EOS R7: smart options for Canon's best APS-C mirrorless camera
By Rod Lawton last updated
Updated Right now, these are the best lenses for the Canon EOS R7, Canon's flagship APS-C mirrorless camera.

The best lenses for the Canon EOS R6 and EOS R6 Mark II: make the most of your new Canon classic
By James Artaius last updated
Updated I think the best lenses for the EOS R6 and R6 Mark II are those that reflect their strengths – speed, low light, sports and events

It’s ridiculous, I know, but I like to shoot with a camera that actually does LESS
By Rod Lawton published
Opinion I first used the Nikon D610 when it was launched back in 2013. A lot has happened since then, so surely it's obsolete now?

Best lenses for the Panasonic Lumix GH7
By Rod Lawton published
Buying Guide Here are some of the best lenses for the Panasonic Lumix GH7, still one of the most powerful hybrid cameras of all

This is why Adobe MAX 2024 and all its AI evangelism left me cold
By Rod Lawton published
Opinion Adobe is selling ideation, idealized reality, dreams and the tools to turn these into money. That’s the bottom line, right?

Why don't cameras have status panels on the top any more? They do, but at a price
By Rod Lawton published
Opinion A basic camera feature we used to take for granted on any decent DSLR is now an expensive luxury, it seems

Adobe Premiere Elements 2025 review
By Rod Lawton published
Review Adobe Premiere Elements 2025 looks amazing on the surface, but under the hood it’s distinctly dated and confusing
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