Daven Mathies
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Daven is a contributing writer to the photography section. He has been with Digital Trends since 2016 and has been writing about photography and tech for over a decade. He originally began writing at a young age for no other reason than to teach himself how to type, later taking up photography to learn how cameras worked. His love for the tech eventually turned into a passion for the crafts facilitated by it, leading him to pursue a degree in film and video production. He now moonlights as a wedding and portrait photographer, and still yearns to be a better typist.
How to photograph fireworks and capture the colors of Independence Day
How to photograph fireworks and capture the colors of Independence Day
Headed to a fireworks show or shooting some off in your backyard? Learn how to properly photograph fireworks using a dedicated camera or even a smartphone.
Photography 101: Exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
Photography 101: Exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
Understanding how the three elements of exposure work — aperture, shutter speed, and ISO — and how to use them will help you master your digital camera.
Golden hour is photography’s oldest trick. Here’s how to use it
Golden hour is photography’s oldest trick. Here’s how to use it
Early morning and late evening present the best light for taking pictures outdoors. This 'magic hour' saturates the sky and reveals texture in the landscape.
The best camera straps for 2021
The best camera straps for 2021
Beyond look and feel, the best camera straps are easily adjustable while still keeping your gear secure when attached.
How to use photography’s rule of thirds — and when to break it
How to use photography’s rule of thirds — and when to break it
The "rule of thirds" in photography is noteworthy because it goes against our natural inclination to make the center of attention the center of the photograph.
The best wide-format photo printers
The best wide-format photo printers
The best way to view your photography is large and in print, and owning your own wide-format printer is the best way to get you there.
The best vlogging cameras
The best vlogging cameras
Any camera that shoots video can be used to vlog, but a few models stand out from the crowd thanks to their superior image quality, ergonomics, and usability.
The best camera bags
The best camera bags
Here are our favorite camera bags of 2021 that combine both form and function, from small shoulder bags to full-size backpacks.
The best action cameras
The best action cameras
Get ready for adventure season with a rugged action cam you can take anywhere. Here are the best models, from a waterproof point-and-shoot to a modular 360 cam.
How to take your own passport photo
How to take your own passport photo
Passport photos may look basic, but they have to adhere to a long list of rules. Luckily, mobile apps armed with A.I. can help you achieve the perfect shot.
Panasonic Lumix S1H review: Still the video champ
Panasonic Lumix S1H review: Still the video champ
Newer cameras offer more resolution and higher frame rates, but the Panasonic Lumix S1H remains a winner thanks to its unbeatable usability and reliability.
The best digital cameras
The best digital cameras
Step up beyond your phone and reach for one of these dedicated cameras, from large-sensor interchangeable-lens models to advanced compacts that fit in a pocket.
The best cameras for YouTube
The best cameras for YouTube
Upgrading from your phone to a dedicated camera is a surefire way to boost the production value of your YouTube channel with better quality and more control.
The best video cameras
The best video cameras
Whether you want to live out your directorial dream or start a travel vlog, these video cameras will elevate your production value well beyond a smartphone.
GoPro Hero9 Black Review: Two steps forward, one step back
GoPro Hero9 Black Review: Two steps forward, one step back
GoPro's latest flagship brings new features to both software and hardware, but 5K video and 24MP stills don't look as good in practice as they do on paper.
The four-lens Vecnos Iqui is a 360 camera unlike any other
The four-lens Vecnos Iqui is a 360 camera unlike any other
The pen-shaped camera works in conjunction with your phone to reframe 360 content into traditional fixed-frame videos that can be easily shared to social media.
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 review: Square necessities
Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 review: Square necessities
The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ1 is everything you need in an instant camera, but priced higher than the more-capable SQ6. We're confused about who it's for.
Canon EOS Rebel T8i review: Nothing to see here
Canon EOS Rebel T8i review: Nothing to see here
With the Rebel T8i, the magic of the T7i has been lost. Even as it makes some enthusiast-friendly changes, it doesn't do anything to keep DSLRs relevant.
Panasonic Lumix S5 review: A true enthusiast’s camera
Panasonic Lumix S5 review: A true enthusiast’s camera
The Lumix S5 is Panasonic's true answer to the Sony A7 III and Nikon Z 6. There's still room for improvement, but it scores big wins in design and video.
Smaller and cheaper, the full-frame Lumix S5 is exactly what Panasonic needed
Smaller and cheaper, the full-frame Lumix S5 is exactly what Panasonic needed
Panasonic's S5 is a miniaturized hybrid of the S1 and S1H, with a 24MP sensor and 4K/60p video. A planned firmware update will even add 5.9K RAW video.
Pentax D FA Star Series 85mm f/1.4 review: One big issue
Pentax D FA Star Series 85mm f/1.4 review: One big issue
While photography influencers continue to argue about Sony and Canon, Pentax has been quietly turning out great glass. The Star Series 85mm is exceptional.
Lens teardown reveals how Canon made an affordable super-telephoto
Lens teardown reveals how Canon made an affordable super-telephoto
The full-frame super-telephoto for EOS R mirrorless cameras uses ample amounts of plastic, but a teardown also revealed some surprising optical complexities.
Fujifilm X-T4 review: Perfectly balanced
Fujifilm X-T4 review: Perfectly balanced
Thanks to in-body stabilization, a fully-articulating screen, a bigger battery, and excellent 4K video, the Fujifilm X-T4 is the best APS-C camera you can buy.
The Panasonic Lumix S5: Everything we know
The Panasonic Lumix S5: Everything we know
Panasonic dropped a teaser image of the heavily leaked Lumix S5. The full-frame mirrorless camera appears to be a smaller, lighter, and cheaper model.
Canon EOS R5 vs. Sony A7S III vs. Panasonic S1H: Best full-frame for video?
Canon EOS R5 vs. Sony A7S III vs. Panasonic S1H: Best full-frame for video?
The Canon EOS R5 and Sony A7S III may be the talk of the town, but don't discount 2019's Panasonic S1H. Here's how these full-frame cameras compare.
Canon EOS R5 review: It holds nothing back
Canon EOS R5 review: It holds nothing back
It may have taken two years to get it right, but the 45MP, 8K-shooting Canon EOS R5 proves that Canon knows how to be a leader in mirrorless cameras.
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III review: Top-notch telephoto
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III review: Top-notch telephoto
Perfectly balancing image quality, size, and price, Tamron's high-end telephoto zoom is easy to recommend to just about any walk of Sony photographer.
Tamron’s 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 superzoom beats expectations
Tamron’s 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 superzoom beats expectations
Lightweight and bright, Tamron's superzoom lens for Sony E-mount cameras is a great choice for hiking, camping, and travel — even if it's not the sharpest.
Blackmagic Design’s new 12K cinema camera might actually make sense
Blackmagic Design’s new 12K cinema camera might actually make sense
Using a symmetrical color filter, Blackmagic Design's new 12K Super 35 sensor can effortlessly scale to 8K and 4K without cropping, even when shooting RAW.
Canon’s affordable new full-frame mirrorless lenses are exactly what it needed
Canon’s affordable new full-frame mirrorless lenses are exactly what it needed
From 85mm to 800mm, Canon has revealed four new full-frame lenses for its EOS R system. Far form the existing high-cost RF lenses, these focus on attainability.
Canon’s EOS R5 and R6 will dominate mirrorless — and kill the DSLR
Canon’s EOS R5 and R6 will dominate mirrorless — and kill the DSLR
Canon's new full-frame mirrorless cameras feel like a reboot of its EOS R line. They offer a revolutionary leap over their predecessors -- and Canon's DSLRs.
Sony’s new ultra-wide full-frame lens is the first of its kind
Sony’s new ultra-wide full-frame lens is the first of its kind
At $3,000, the new ultra-wide doesn't come cheap, but it will give Sony shooters new bragging rights. This is the widest f/2.8 zoom for full-frame cameras.
RAW power: Fujifilm brings RAW video to medium-format GFX 100 — and a new lens
RAW power: Fujifilm brings RAW video to medium-format GFX 100 — and a new lens
The GFX system keeps getting better. Alongside a new lens, Fujifilm announced firmware that adds features to all cameras, including RAW video to the GFX 100.
After years of waiting, Sony A7S III may arrive this summer
After years of waiting, Sony A7S III may arrive this summer
Sony's still-unnamed replacement to the A7S II may launch later this summer. The camera may feature 10-bit video and a higher-resolution sensor.