Ergonomics - what's important to you?

[Horatio]

Does it matter to you how the camera fits in your hands, or how easy/difficult the lens rings are to manipulate when composing? What's your favorite combination of body and lens, and why?

 

[ChristopherCoy]

The reason that I like the D700/F5/F100 that I shoot is because they all have the same build, and the same controls. The grip is just right to wrap my fingers around, and the shutter and aperture dials in both the front and back of the camera can be controlled by either my index finger or my thumb without having to search for them. Operating them has become second nature and I can do it with my eyes closed. This doesn't mean that Nikon's ergonomics in their later cameras like mine, is any better than the ergonomics of other brands/builds of cameras, it just means that it's what I'm used to. I'm interested to see what the F2 that @SchwinnParamount sent me is going to feel like as it seems to be a thinner body.

 

[benjiboy]

There's a lot to ergonomics with any extension of the hand and eye, whether it's a longbow a camera, or a rifle, which is one reason why I found over the years that owning many and diverse cameras is a mistake, and I shoot nowadays with 2 Canon F1n's and 2 Canon New F1's and I find that the two models of virtually the same camera are so similar in operation (although internally they are very different) that they are no problem to me to manipulate, and I believe that was the Canon Corporation's intention when they designed them.

 

[Cholentpot]

Argus C3 would be perfect if it only had strap lugs.

 

[ts1000]

I mostly use tripod these days, and do not venture far from where my car is parked.

I guess changing lens, shutter and aperture are the most often things I do.

If a camera takes a shutter release cable -- I prefer that.

I do prefer clicks on lens's aperture ring, and focus ring to be 'equally smooth' (meaning that the resistance of the focusing ring does not change through out the rotation),
because it throws me off when I do micro adjustments.

Of course, I prefer not to take camera of a tripod when changing film (eg like I have to with Nikon F).
But to be honest, I usually have at least 2 camera bodies for same lens mount, so I load them with 2 films, and therefore, rarely need to change.

If a lens is a big telephoto, of course, I mount it on the tripod and then just attach the camera to the lens.

I prefer blinking self timer (unless I do macro), but this is minor.

I tend to write down the parameters I use for every shot (but this is not that often,,,, I need to do it more) in a paper (that I always seem to loose).
May be I have to switch to some audio recorder.

I do like feature where a spot/average/flash meter is attached to a flash bracket.

I guess the shooting method + personal experiences dictate the ergonomics.
And that includes the system view (camera, lens, flash, tripod, film backs, etc).

I am not very experienced with medium format or 'fast pace' / 'multiple lighting conditions' photography.

 

[narsuitus]

Ergonomics - what's important to you?

Good Question !

1. Simplicity and user friendliness are important to me. For example, after a period of unuse, I should not feel forced to review manual before using the camera. I can pick up my Nikon F2 with non-metered prism and use it with no review. I must review the Nikon N70 manual before using it because the N70 has simple operational features that are hidden in complicated menus.

2. Must feels good in my hands. The rounded corners on my Nikon F4 feel good in my hands. The square corners on my Argus C3 do not feel as good. Two other cameras that I did not buy or use were the Hasselblad and the Nikkorex because not only did they not feel good in my hands but I could never use them instinctively.

3. Ergonomics was a minor factor in my decision to replace my Nikon F with the Nikon F2. The position of the shutter release was in a better position in the F2.

4. Ergonomic operational features are important to me. I shoot with Nikon SLRs with bayonet mount lenses and Pentax SLRs with screw-mount lenses. For me, the bayonet lenses are ergonomically superior to the screw-mount lenses when quick lens changing is necessary.

 

[BradS]

Does it matter to you how the camera fits in your hands, or how easy/difficult the lens rings are to manipulate when composing? What's your favorite combination of body and lens, and why?

For a handheld camera, how the camera fits in my hand and how the controls are laid out is of paramount importance. I do not fuss about which way dials and knobs turn.

 

[MattKing]

Some cameras make left handed users suffer. My Koni Omega was like that, unfortunately.

 

[narsuitus]

5. How well the camera handles in harsh conditions is important to me. For example, changing film in Nikon F SLRs and Leica rangefinders with removable bottoms is an ergonomic disaster for me in cold weather.

6. How well the camera handles filters is important to me. For example, my Fuji medium format rangefinders have a built-in lens hood that interferes with access to the shutter speed and aperture controls when the hood is retracted to enable the attachment of a Cokin filter holder.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Some cameras make left handed users suffer. My Koni Omega was like that, unfortunately.

Dont ALL cameras make left handed users suffer? Except for maybe the Mamiya MF gear that has left handed grips?

 

[MattKing]

Dont ALL cameras make left handed users suffer? Except for maybe the Mamiya MF gear that has left handed grips?

Some are much easier to adapt to. As an example, I struggle with something like a Nikon F6, but can work with an FM. The built in grips on the right side - which my right hand can't reliably grip - drive me nuts.

 

[AnselMortensen]

I love the ergonomics of my F3HP with MD-4.
It's like it's a part of me.
I like the feel of the Nikon F, but the removable back is a hassle to reload in the field.
I replaced my Leica IIIf with a Canon P, keeping my Summicron...the tiny, squinty viewfinder of the IIIf, combined with the ridiculous film-cutting, bottom-removing, and prayerful reloading process were superceded by the SLR loading, and the bigger, brighter viewfinder of the P.
I really liked my Bronica ETRSi, with the winding handle and the eye-level prism. Very comfortable...film loading was kinda fiddly, though...I kinda regret selling mine, but the repairability is questionable these days.
I like my 500C/M a lot now that I have a 45° Prism finder...waist-level is a drag without a tripod.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Some are much easier to adapt to. As an example, I struggle with something like a Nikon F6, but can work with an FM. The built in grips on the right side - which my right hand can't reliably grip - drive me nuts.

I wonder why camera mfg's haven't ever just reversed their building plans. I would think it would be easy enough to flip everything to the other side.

 

[MattKing]

The world needs more Canadian camera designers. Canada has a higher percentage of people who identify as being left handed. It has a lot to do with hockey.
Statistically, there used to be a correlation between being left handed and having a higher IQ. That is probably an artefact of both when children were often forced to try to change from being left handed, and because IQ tests tend to be influenced by persistence (aka as stubbornness).

 

[Horatio]

The world needs more Canadian camera designers. Canada has a higher percentage of people who identify as being left handed. It has a lot to do with hockey.
Statistically, there used to be a correlation between being left handed and having a higher IQ. That is probably an artefact of both when children were often forced to try to change from being left handed, and because IQ tests tend to be influenced by persistence (aka as stubbornness).

My wife is a lefty. She's definitely smarter.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

My wife is a lefty. She's definitely smarter.

You had to say that... right?

 

[MattKing]

My wife is a lefty. She's definitely smarter.

And clearly she has good taste in spouses too.

 

[flatulent1]

How the camera feels in the hand makes a surprising difference to me. A year or so ago I was trying out a new camera that a) worked well and b) just didn't feel right. The salesman handed me a similar camera from another manufacturer, and after a few moments with it in my hands, handed him my debit card. I would never have guessed that a handgrip could have influenced my buying choice. Apart from that I have a definite preference for knobs and dials over buttons and menus, in spite of the Canon T90 being one of my all-time favorite cameras.

To answer your last question, I prefer small primes to large zooms, on any body. In fact, for the last several years, my lens purchases have been limited to primes between 28 and 58. I'm just not interested in anything outside that anymore. As I continue to cull the herd, it's the zooms and ultrawides that are being sacrificed.

 

[Paul Howell]

I like a camera that is well balanced, for a right handed guy like me all the dials and buttons placed that that I don't need to look down to change a setting, my preference is a body with a shutter speed dial rather than a control wheel and light enough that I can carry 2 bodies and few lens in a small bag without much effort. As it is matter of compermises I've learned to live with my Minolta A bodies.

 

[Sirius Glass]

It is about how the camera fits in the hand, the grip, shutter location, and ease of making adjustments and focusing.

Dont ALL cameras make left handed users suffer? Except for maybe the Mamiya MF gear that has left handed grips?

The Hasselblad fits nicely in my left hand and it is my most used camera. I use the CF lenses, however the C lenses are not ergonomic and I do not enjoy adjusting them as much.

The world needs more Canadian camera designers. Canada has a higher percentage of people who identify as being left handed. It has a lot to do with hockey.
Statistically, there used to be a correlation between being left handed and having a higher IQ. That is probably an artefact of both when children were often forced to try to change from being left handed, and because IQ tests tend to be influenced by persistence (aka as stubbornness).

Definitely left handed people are much smarter than the right handed people. That is the reason I am one.

 

[George Mann]

Definitely left handed people are much smarter than the right handed people. That is the reason I am one.

I the Great Genius am ambidextrous!

 

[Cholentpot]

To be honest and quite surprised I found the ergonomics of the Graflex line to be surprisingly good. I use the Century and Crown Graphic and they really do feel comfortable in my hands. I would never have thought that by looking at the camera.

 

[Horatio]

I’ll be happy with the F4 if it fits my hands like the N8008.

 

[k.hendrik]

My wife is a lefty. She's definitely smarter.

Become a ambidexter; just a few months of training..........

 

[MattKing]

Become a ambidexter; just a few months of training..........

A long time ago I was told that if I didn't suffer the damage at birth that left me with a less functional right hand, I would have been right handed.
So I guess I've always been training.