Matthew Richards
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Articles by Matthew Richards
Kieran Brown hoping Leeds Knights can set tone for the weekend by taming Wildcats
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Freewell The Real Multi Tripod 5-in-1 review: this multi-talented, multi-mode support is the ‘real’ deal
20 hours ago Joanna Gaines is enjoying some quality time out in nature with her husband Chip! The Magnolia co-founders enjoyed a quick getaway to the mountains recently, which Joanna, 48, documented in an Instagram post on Sunday, Sept. 20. “Had a fun couple of days in the mountains w/ this cutie ,” the designer …
Tamron 25-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 review: a high-flying all-in-one superzoom lens that aims to be your travel solution
iPhone Duo Now The iPhone Duo just might live up to the hype Engadget - Mat Smith • 18m It's got that Apple touch. Add Engadget on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover Apple's foldable iPhone has arrived, finally, after almost 10 years of rumors. Given how late the company was to the foldable party, many were expecting a miss or at least something that failed to excite.
Two friends who died on mountain ridge tried calling 999, inquest hears
Jayden Long, 19, and Eddie Hill, 20, were walking on a mountain range in Eryri Two friends who died on a mountain ridge during extreme winter conditions tried calling 999 but the alert was not escalated "as it should have been", according to a police expert at an inquest. The bodies of Eddie Hill, 20, and Jayden Long, 19, both from Dereham, Norfolk, were found by a mountain rescue team in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, on 19 February.
Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4 review: a portrait lens that’s pretty as a picture in its own right
Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4 product image. I still remember reviewing my first ever Sirui tripod for the print edition of our sister publication, Digital Camera magazine, and that was about 20 years ago. I was impressed at the time, and it was around then that Sirui started to make it big in tripod manufacture, after originally launching back in 2001. Fast forward to 2015 and Sirui became better know as a designer and manufacturer of quality anamorphic and cine lenses.
Laowa Aksen 5-10x Ultra Macro Apo review: Forget 'full' macro – this lens ramps up magnification all the way to 10x more
A relative newcomer on the oddball scene is this Laowa Aksen 5-10x Ultra Macro Apo, which hits the ground running with 5.0x macro magnification, then zooms all the way to a monster 10x magnification at full stretch. Thankfully, there’s no physical ‘stretch’ involved as the lens retains the same overall dimensions at all settings. A major claim to fame is the lens’ novel ‘parfocal zoom’ mechanism, which maintains the same focus distance throughout the entire zoom range.
Grooming gang found guilty of exploiting teenage girls for sex
Matthew Richards - BBC Wales; Miriam Barker - BBC Wales Mon 3 August 2026 at 3:16 pm UTC 4 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. (Clockwise from top left) Mohamed Arshad, Ziaullah Badshah, Mustafa Iqbal, Sarah Gray, and Jaswinder Singh were found guilty of their roles in exploiting three girls [North Wales Police] Four men and a woman have been found guilty of being part of a grooming gang that exploited teenage girls for sex.
Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD review: ideal for weddings and event photography, portraiture and a whole lot more
Tamron 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD product image. Often referred to as ‘trinity’ lenses, wide-angle, standard and telephoto zooms with a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the range typically include 14-24mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm focal lengths respectively. They’re relatively ‘fast’ in terms of aperture rating, compared with f/4 zooms and those with a narrower and variable aperture rating that shrinks as you extend through the zoom range.
Meike 85mm f/1.4 Mix II review: wait ages for an updated, upgraded Meike 85mm prime and then two come along almost at once. This one’s the best
Meike 85mm f/1.4 Mix II product image. Meike operates out of Hong Kong, manufacturing budget-friendly photo and cine lenses, plus a variety of accessories. A low-budget case in point that I reviewed a couple of months ago is the Meike AF 85mm f/1.8 SE II, which is a basic yet capable portrait prime for Nikon Z, Sony E and L-mount mirrorless cameras. A few months before that, I reviewed the Meike 35mm f/1.8 Pro AF, which has more exotic handling, akin to the ‘Mix’ lens that I’m covering here.
Peak Design Form Rope review: get your camera roped in and wear it in three different ways, maybe even more
Peak Design Form Rope. One of the best manufacturers of camera bags and accessories, along with the likes of Manfrotto and Tenba, Peak Design started life in a similar way, with a man on a mission. In this case, it was Peter Dering, who toured the world back in 2010 with a large camera kit and a disappointing way of carting it around. He promptly quit his job, designed his own way of carrying a camera, launched it on Kickstarter and hasn’t looked back.
Heipi 3-in-1 Travel Tripod W28S review: a trick stick that works in three different ways, for both cameras and smartphones
Heipi 3-in-1 Travel Tripod W28S. I’ve been using tripods for about 50 years but just when I thought I knew them inside out, something new has taken me by surprise. Based in Shenzhen, China, Heipi isn’t a company that’s really been on my radar but they’re now celebrating their 7th anniversary. The brand is the brainchild of an engineer who’s also a passionate wildlife photographer.
Tamron-Link review: this tiny Bluetooth adapter brings smart features to most current Tamron lenses, for shooting both stills and video
Tamron-Link product image. A lot of recent lenses for mirrorless cameras are pretty clever but they’re not exactly ‘smart’ by the current popular definition of the word. That all changes if you plug in the Tamron-Link to the USB-C port featured in most recent Tamron lenses. I say ‘most’ because Fujifilm X-mount versions of Tamron lenses don’t feature a USB port, making them incompatible with the adapter, and it doesn’t really work with Canon RF versions of Tamron lenses, at least not as yet.
Manfrotto Uncover Messenger / Sling review: expandable and adaptable for camera gear and daily life, with smaller and larger options to choose from
Manfrotto Uncover Messenger / Sling product image. Say ‘Manfrotto’ and the word ‘tripod’ almost inevitably follows. The company has made some of my all-time favorite tripods and tripod heads, and goes all the way back to the 1960s when the Italian photojournalist Lino Manfrotto started selling light stands. In more recent times, the company has gone large on camera backpacks, bags, and roller cases, with several product lines becoming available.
Manfrotto Uncover Backpack review: these adaptable camera / daypacks come in two expandable size options
Manfrotto Uncover Backpack product image. Think Manfrotto and you’re probably thinking tripods, ranging from budget-friendly sticks right up to top-flight professional options. However, the Italian outfit has been operating since the 1960s, so it’s no surprise that it’s diversified along the way. There are light stands and accessories, which is also no surprise as the photojournalist Lino Manfrotto originally started the business by selling light stands.
Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 Evo review: A sugar-sweet little pancake lens that goes large on performance
Full-frame compatibility is shoehorned into this featherweight lens, but little else. There’s no manual focus nor an adjustable aperture diaphragm, and therefore no control rings. Handling is basic, to say the least. Originally for Sony E-mount cameras, it later became available for Nikon Z, L-mount and Fujifilm X system APS-C cameras. The new lens that I’m reviewing here, the Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 Evo, is twice as long but still less than an inch thick, qualifying as a pancake prime.
Peak Design Pro Tripod review: An updated and upgraded version of Peak Design’s superb ‘Travel Tripod’, in three different size options
Peak Design Pro Tall Tripod product image. Think Peak Design and you’re probably thinking photo bags and backpacks, and those clever Peak Design Slide camera straps with their quick-release mechanisms. However, the company also makes general travel luggage, outdoor gear, phone cases, wallets, and even gadget mounts for cars and motorcycles.
Tyre tracks on 4,000 year old Bronze Age burial mound after vehicle drives over it
Police are investigating damage caused to a 4,000 year old Bronze Age burial mound after it was driven over by a vehicle. Tyre marks are clearly visible on the ancient monument which is on Denbigh Moors near Llansannan, Conwy. Police said the landmark was "part of our heritage and should be respected". Cadw, which looks after ancient monuments in Wales, urged people to "keep to designated paths and roads" in the countryside.
Ricoh SP-2240N review: a small, standalone, business-oriented scanner that aims to deliver high-end performance at a budget-friendly price
Ricoh SP-2240N scanner product image. As I put virtual pen to paper, it’s been four months since I last reviewed a Ricoh desktop scanner. That’s a very short time in the scale of things, Ricoh being a major player in office equipment since 1955. The company actually dates back all the way to 1936, kicking off with sensitized lab paper and going on to make its first camera in 1950. Indeed, Pentax digital cameras still come under the Ricoh umbrella.
Yashica Tank review: a fun compact camera that’s super affordable, pocketable and geared up for selfies
Yashica Tank product image. I’m old enough to remember ‘proper’ Yashica cameras and they actually predate me, the first twin-lens reflex camera landing in 1953 and the legendary Yashica FX-3 35mm SLR pitching up in 1979, when I was turning 20. Only the name remains, bought up by a Chinese company that has set about making a slew of compact cameras.
Benro MSD46CB Black Diamond SupaDupa Monopod review: just how smart can a stick be? Very!
Benro MSD46CB Black Diamond SupaDupa Monopod. When it comes to tripod manufacturers, Benro might not be as famous as a couple of its Italian cousins, but this Chinese company has been up and running for more than 30 years and has manufactured some of my personal favorite professional-grade tripods, monopods, and support accessories during that time.
Benro A48FD Monopod review: it’s part monopod, part tripod, and fully great value for money
Benro A48FD Series 4 Aluminum Monopod with 3-Leg Locking Base. Benro is a Chinese creator of pro-grade tripods and other photography and videography supports. The company has been going strong for 30 years and counting, and I’ve personally paid cash money for some of its products over the last 10 years or so. I’ve been very happy with all of my purchases, being continually impressed with the craftsmanship, quality and dependability, throughout heavy use over long periods of time.
3 Legged Thing AirHed Cine CC review: revamped and revitalized, this is the new and improved version of a smart fluid head for videographers
3 Legged Thing AirHed Cine CC video tripod head. It’s been two and a half years since I reviewed the original 3 Legged Thing AirHed Cine, and I was very impressed at the time. It was everything I’d come to expect from the company behind it – an innovative design that packs an array of useful features, with excellent build quality and an impeccable finish. Enough said?
Thypoch Voyager 24-50mm f/2.8 review: compact, lightweight and affordable, complete with autofocus and weather-seals
Thypoch Voyager 24-50mm f/2.8 product image. What’s in a name? Thypoch is a Chinese manufacturer best known for its Simera f/1.4 manual-focus prime lenses and more movie-focused Simera-C T1.5 cine lenses. Thypoch takes its name from ‘epoch’ and Simera is Greek for ‘today’. Taking a step forward, the new Voyager 24-50mm is the company’s first autofocus zoom lens, advertised as ‘the cine-soul in motion, bringing world-class cinematic rendering to your everyday kit’.
Benro A572LLKH Lightning Lock Aluminum Video Tripod Kit review: built for speed and stability
Benro A572LLKH Lightning Lock Aluminum Video Tripod Kit. The Benro A572LLKH Lightning Lock Aluminum Video Tripod Kit that I’m reviewing this time around is from a new series of video tripods, their main claim to fame being the ‘lightning lock’ leg system. As its name suggests, the design aims to be super-fast for setting up the tripod and packing it away again after a take.
Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.8 Evo review: a further evolution of the species, this time for the APS-C subdivision
Here’s how the 75mm lens measures up on a Nikon fc camera body, but it’s also available in Sony E and Fujifilm X mount options for other breeds of APS-C format mirrorless camera. (Image credit: Matthew Richards) The new kids on the block are the Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.8 Evo that I’m reviewing here, and the slightly longer Viltrox AF 90mm f/2.2 Evo. Both are eminently suitable for APS-C format portraiture and are again available in Nikon Z and Sony E mount options.
Viltrox AF 90mm f/2.2 Evo review: this portrait-friendly prime gets the next-gen treatment
There are now two APC-C format Evo lenses, comprising the 90mm that I’m reviewing here and a 75mm f/1.8 lens. They follow suit with pretty much the exact same size and weight as the full-frame trio, the same handling characteristics and the same filter thread. The APS-C format 90mm Evo looks right at home on my Nikon fc camera body, and it’s also available in Sony E and Fujifilm X mount options. (Image credit: Matthew Richards) Okay, I’ll revise my last statement.
Tenba Roadie v2 Spinner 21 International review: A camera roller bag that’s designed for the whole journey, not just the airport terminal
Tenba Roadie v2 Spinner 21 International product image. Take a bow, Robert Weinreb. He’s a native New Yorker and professional photographer who’s faced challenges in his career, confessing to wrapping his cameras and lenses into knitted hats for packing into regular backpacks when going in search of ‘the shot’, most notably while trekking in harsh Himalayan environments.
Tenba Roadie v2 Spinner 21 Air Case review: a photo/video roller case that’s as hard as nails but soft to the touch and optionally doubles as a backpack
Tenba Roadie v2 Spinner 21 Air Case product image. Tenba is a company with a history of designing bags, cases and accessories for photographers, by photographers, going back about 50 years. The history itself is that pro photographer Robert Weinreb used to go about his business, wrapping his camera lenses in woolly hats and stuffing them into regular backpacks, until finally getting a local Manhattan sewing shop to stitch up his own specialized camera bag. That was all the way back in 1977.
Welsh MS patients face six-hour England care trips
People with multiple sclerosis in Wales can face six-hour round trips for specialist care, an MS charity has warned. Research for the MS Society Cymru found a shortage of specialist NHS staff is leading to long waits for treatment. Nearly 7,000 people in Wales live with MS, which affects the central nervous system and can cause symptoms including blurred vision and mobility problems. The Welsh government said it “plans to ensure people with long-term conditions like MS are treated closer to home”.
Welsh MS patients can face six-hour trips for specialist care
Last week, NASCAR lost one of its giants. Kyle Busch, the winningest driver in the history of his sport, died after complications from bacterial …
Welsh MS patients face six-hour England care trips
3 hours ago These cholesterol-reducing drugs are some of the most popular medications globally. About 38 percent of people in the United States have high cholesterol, doubling their risk of heart disease. Considering that heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, that number can cause real …
Polaroid Wave review: a basic and relatively cheap underwater streaming camera
Polaroid Wave product image. Think Polaroid and you’re probably thinking iconic ‘instant cameras’ of the 1960s and 1970s, although the company goes all the way back to 1937, originally focusing on light polarization tech for sunglasses and photographic filters. Even in this decidedly digital age, Polaroid is still making some of the best analog instant cameras, including the Polaroid I-2 and the Polaroid Flip, both earning 5-star Gold awards in our respective reviews.
Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro review: a retro styled on-camera flash that’s full of clever tricks, in dedicated options for Canon, Nikon, Sony and Fujifilm
Viltrox Vintage Z1 Pro mini on-camera flash. Roll the clock back almost a year and I was fairly impressed with the Viltrox Vintage Z1 Retro. Plus points included pocketable compactness, simplicity of use and a pretty much universal fit to suit the vast majority of current cameras. However, the universal nature of the flash came with various limitations, including the lack of Auto flash metering (TTL or otherwise), and no HSS (High-Speed Sync).
Yashica guns for the Kodak Charmera with its new Funtastic Keychain Camera: a little box of delights that takes photos as well as keeping your keys safe
Yashica Funtastic Keychain Camera. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get a fun little camera that’s sufficiently small and lightweight you can slip into your pocket without even noticing it’s there? It might also be nice to hang something off your keychain to make your keys easier to keep tabs on. The Yashica Funtastic Keychain Camera aims to serve both purposes in one convenient, cost-effective package, as well as adding a bit of fun for good measure.
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 Headliner review: truly ‘smart’ glasses in every sense of the word
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 Headliner product image. There’s retro, and then there’s classic retro. Ray-Ban Wayfarer shades were launched back in 1952, their trapezoidal shape becoming the iconic look of the rock-and-roll decade. The rounder Ray-Ban Headliner specs were a worthy follow-up, a defining facet of 1960s hippy chic.
Oakley Meta HSTN review: smarter than the average glasses – a whole lot smarter!
Oakley Meta HSTN product image. I feel pretty well qualified to write this review. I’m a technology writer and photographer by trade, a motorcycle nut by choice, and a spectacles wearer by necessity, all of which stand me in good stead for the job in hand. I’ve long been an Oakley fan and here’s why, by way of a brief potted history.
Boy, 16, beach drowning was 'misadventure' - coroner
A vulnerable teenager who went missing while on holiday drowned after going into the sea, an inquest has heard. A verdict of "misadventure" was recorded on Athrun Lombardo, 16, who disappeared from Llandudno's West Shore in May 2025 while staying in the area with his family. He had been visiting a quiet part of the beach with his father and younger brother, on the afternoon he was last seen.
Boy, 16, beach drowning was 'misadventure' - coroner
Matthew Richards - BBC Wales Tue 5 May 2026 at 4:33 pm UTC 2 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A vulnerable teenager who went missing while on holiday drowned after going into the sea, an inquest has heard. A verdict of "misadventure" was recorded on Athrun Lombardo, 16, who disappeared from Llandudno's West Shore in May 2025 while staying in the area with his family.
Photo Creator Mini Cam review: it takes decent photos, at least compared with the average keychain
Photo Creator Mini Cam product image. Canal Toys isn’t the first name that springs to mind when my brain starts running through a list of camera manufacturers. But then again, I’m not used to a compact (make that extremely compact) digital camera that only costs about the price as a Big Mac meal for one. As it turns out, the Photo Creator Mini Cam is available in four different styles, mimicking a silver retro camera, black pro camera, pink compact camera and gray instant camera.
Panasonic Lumix S 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 review: a mini marvel that aims to prove the best things really do come in small packages
Panasonic Lumix S 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 product image. The Panasonic Lumix S 18-40mm f/4.5-6.3 was launched back in October 2024, coming to market as the ‘world’s smallest and lightest zoom lens for full-frame cameras’. Perhaps not surprisingly, it’s a kit lens option for the Panasonic Lumix S9, which also happens to be the smallest and lightest full-frame camera in the Lumix S-series line-up.
Panasonic Lumix S 40mm f/2 review: it’s a full-frame standard prime but aims to set new standards for featherweight compactness
Panasonic Lumix S 40mm f/2 product image. Panasonic S-series full-frame mirrorless cameras and lenses date back to 2019. The first models were well received on the technical front but if I had to sum them up in two words, they’d be ‘big’ and ‘hefty’. To my mind (and hands) the early cameras felt much more like chunky DSLRs than slimline mirrorless models, and the same applied to the lenses.
'Very funny' naked statue of Monty Python's Terry Jones unveiled
Terry Jones has been immortalised as the 'nude organist' from the Monty Python TV show A statue commemorating actor and writer Terry Jones has been unveiled in his birthplace. Jones, best known for his part in the British comedy troupe Monty Python, died in 2020 aged 77 from a rare form of dementia. His family backed a fundraising campaign to have him immortalised in bronze in Colwyn Bay, Conwy, as the nude organist, a recurring character played by Jones in Monty Python's Flying Circus.
'Very funny' naked statue of Monty Python's Terry Jones to be unveiled
Terry Jones has been immortalised as the 'nude organist' from the Monty Python TV show A statue commemorating the actor and writer Terry Jones will be unveiled in his birthplace this weekend. Jones, best known for his part in the British comedy troupe Monty Python, died in 2020 aged 77 from a rare form of dementia.
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
Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 Lab N FE. Viltrox has been steadily building up its lens portfolio over the last few years, more recently majoring on ultra-compact, lightweight and inexpensive Air series lenses, Evo lenses that combine up-market features and high-end handling with lightweight constructions and affordable price tags, Pro lenses with premium quality and performance, and Lab series lenses that sit at the top of the tree as the company’s ultimate offerings.
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
Yashica DigiPix 100 product image. Yashica is a camera brand that predates me by a few years, so it has a lot of history behind it. The company’s first twin-lens reflex camera came to market in 1953, and the iconic Yashica FX-3 SLR film camera pitched up when I was a teenager in 1979.
I spent ages trying to decide between two Nikon Z super-telephoto zooms, and ended up buying something completely different…
Motorsport image. The biggest part of my day job is testing and reviewing lenses for Digital Camera World, and it’s been that way since the website began. Over the years, I’ve tested more lenses than I’ve had hot dinners, although I should admit that I major on salads. I usually get review samples of lenses on loan for about a month. It’s a bit of a heartbreak when some of them have to go back, I’m not too fussed about a few others, and there are some that I can’t wait to see the back of.
Viltrox launches two new lenses, taking its Evo range from one to three prime numbers
Viltrox Evo lenses. The Viltrox AF 85mm f/2.0 Evo made quite a splash as the first lens in a new ‘evolutionary’ series, launched by the Chinese manufacturer in October 2025. Available for Nikon Z and Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras, it succeeds in shoehorning a quality optic into a compact and lightweight yet robust package, with high-end handling characteristics.
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
Viltrox AF 55mm f/1.8 Evo product shot. My Viltrox journey started a few years ago when I bought a matching set of three APS-C format Viltrox AF 23mm f/1.4, Viltrox AF 33mm f/1.4 and Viltrox AF 56mm f/1.4 for my Nikon Z fc camera. I was attracted by the fast aperture, compact and lightweight metal build and the inclusion of an aperture control ring, perfectly suited to the retro styling and control layout of the Z fc.
Fears for more than 1,000 toads after reservoir drained by water company
Volunteers helped 1,500 toads to the breeding ground this year - four times as many as in 2025 A group that helped more than 1,000 toads reach their breeding ground safely say they fear the creatures have died after a reservoir was drained. Members of Wrexham Toad Patrols ensure the amphibians cross a busy road to reach the Nant-y-Ffrith reservoir each year. However, it was emptied by the Hafren Dyfrdwy water company, which said it was carrying out essential safety improvements.
Sigma 12mm f/1.4 DC | C review: Go fast and wide but keep the weight off
Sigma 12mm f/1.4 DC | C product shot. Sigma has a history of fast, f/1.4 prime lenses for crop-sensor cameras. There’s a trilogy that springs to mind in the diminutive shapes of the 16mm, 30mm and 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lenses. I first saw these in Canon EF-M mount but they’ve since become available in a wide range of Canon EF-M, Canon RF-S, Fujifilm X, L-Mount, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon Z DX and Sony E options.
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