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 camera desk mounts in 2024: arms to fix your camera to a table or desktop
By Matthew Richards published
Buying Guide The best desk mount camera arms are ideal for content creators, presenting to camera across a tabletop. And they’re useful for many other applications as well.
Jebutu Camera Arm Desk Mount review: a lightweight table-mounting stand for content creators
By Matthew Richards published
Review The Jebutu Camera Arm Desk Mount comes complete with an auxiliary arm to add height or add an accessory.
Neewer Table Top Stand review: a really solid desk mounting stand with dual auxiliary arms
By Matthew Richards published
Review The Neewer Table Top Stand is sturdy and versatile, enabling content creators to attach a camera plus an accessory to a desk or table.
SmallRig Camera Desk Mount review: a compact and convenient mount for content creators
By Matthew Richards published
Review The SmallRig Camera Desk Mount is a very straightforward affair without any fancy frills, for those who like to keep things simple.
The best all-in-one printers for home office and hybrid working in 2024
By Matthew Richards last updated
Updated Print, scan, copy and fax when you’re working at home, with the best all-in-one printers available right now.
The best compact printers in 2024: some for the road and some for home, here are the best space-saving printers
By Matthew Richards, Tom May last updated
Updated Some of the best compact printers are ideal for mobile printing with a laptop, others will save space in the home office.
The best carbon fiber tripods in 2024: get solid support for your camera while easing the load for the journey
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.
The best gimbal heads for tripods in 2024: effortlessly track the action with big telephoto lenses
By Ben Andrews last updated
Updated For wildlife, sports and action photography, there’s no beating one of the best gimbal heads for tracking moving subjects, especially if you’re using a big telephoto lens.
Tarion Desk Mount Camera Stand review: a decidedly angular affair that offers a full range of movement
By Matthew Richards published
Review The Tarion Desk Mount Camera Stand is a different kind of table-clamping support that lets you really play all the angles.
The best lenses for astrophotography in 2024: fast ultra-wide lenses for the night sky
By Matthew Richards last updated
Updated We pick the best lenses for astrophotography fans shooting a starry night sky, to suit a range of cameras and budgets
The best standard zoom lenses: an essential lens everyone should own
By Matthew Richards last updated
Buying Guide A must for any photographer, our pick of best standard zoom lenses for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm and MFT cameras
Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 review: a cost-cutting swift nifty fifty
By Matthew Richards published
Review The Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 aims to bring a fast aperture to the masses, with a very reasonable price tag for an f/1.4 standard prime
The best 50mm lens in 2024: which 'standard prime' is the right one for you?
By Matthew Richards last updated
Updated The best 50mm lens, or nifty fifty, is a great low-cost wide-aperture lens for bokehlicious portraits and for low light
Take control of white balance on your Nikon camera
By Matthew Richards published
How to Coping with different light sources can be something of a balancing act…
The best AAA rechargeable batteries in 2024
By Matthew Richards last updated
Buying Guide Keep your devices running longer, with the best AAA rechargeable batteries available today
Vanguard Alta Pro 3VLT 235CV 10 review: a remarkably compact and lightweight video tripod
By Matthew Richards published
Review The Vanguard Alta Pro 3VLT 235CV 10 cuts the size and weight of a video tripod to the bone, but it’s not all plain sailing.
3 Legged Thing Camera Desk Mount System review: say goodbye to your tripod
By Matthew Richards published
Review The 3 Legged Thing Camera Desk Mount System (CDMS) comes in three different kits, plus optional extras, ideal for content creators.
Best Nikon Z lenses in 2024 for the Nikon Z5, Z6, Z6 II, Z6 III, Z7, Z7 II, Z8, Z9, Zf, Z50, Z30 and Z fc
By Matthew Richards last updated
Updated Our list of the best Nikon Z lenses includes Nikon's zoom lenses, prime lenses and its two macro lenses
The best Sony lenses in 2024: top E-Mount lenses for Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras
By Matthew Richards last updated
Buying Guide These are the best Sony lenses, including Sony and third-party lenses for both full-frame and APS-C cameras
The best rechargeable AA batteries in 2024
By Matthew Richards last updated
Updated Find the best AA rechargeable batteries to power your flashes and other gadgets.
7Artisans 60mm F2.8 Macro 2x review: Double up on your macro superpowers
By Matthew Richards published
Review Unlike most autofocus macro lenses, the fully manual 7Artisans 60mm F2.8 Macro 2x gives twice the magnifying power for extreme close-ups
Canon RF 35mm F1.4L VCM review: a classic Canon lens, reinvented for mirrorless
By Matthew Richards published
Review The Canon RF 35mm F1.4L VCM has a tough act to follow, in the shape of many photographers’ favorite EF prime lens. I reckon the new one is even better
Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 FE review: a zero-fat pancake lens for Sony cameras
By Matthew Richards published
Review The Viltrox AF 28mm F4.5 FE is barely more than half an inch thick and only weighs a couple of ounces. Even for a pancake lens, that’s really thin and lightweight
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