Panasonic LX100 Ergonomics

Grevillea.  FZ1000 Hand held

 

In the previous post  I expressed considerable enthusiasm for the LX100 concept.

Now I turn to the realisation of that concept and ergonomic issues in particular. This is after all the Camera Ergonomics Blog.

I offer this analysis on the basis of published photos, descriptions and specifications of the LX100 as I have not yet had the chance to handle one. I have however made a mockup which has exactly the same dimensions as the LX100 and will present this in the next post.

I have also had over a 50 year period, considerable experience using cameras with the "traditional" design and control layout. This I would summarise as

* Top rear shutter button location.

* No handle or a mini handle.

* Aperture ring on lens and shutter speed dial on camera top.

Contrast this with the  "modern" style of control layout the main features of which are

* Forward shutter button location, on the handle.

* Sculpted ergonomic handle.

* Mode dial and one or two control dials.

The three main elements of camera ergonomics are holding, viewing and operating.

Holding   The LX100 has a mini handle and a small thumb support. These features will be adequate for  holding   the camera. But why stop at adequate ?   If the lens were to be moved to the left (as viewed by the operator) this would free up space on the right side of the body for a fully sculpted ergonomic handle.  The top of the handle would form the platform for an efficient quad control set.  This design can be achieved within the confines of the width, height and depth of the LX100.

Viewing  The LX100 has the basics in the form of a fixed monitor and a built in EVF which mercifully does not have to be popped up and pulled out for use. But why stop at the basics ?

My main camera these days is a Panasonic FZ1000. I find myself using the fully articulated monitor very frequently. It is extremely useful for overhead, waist level and low level work in landscape or portrait orientation. It is very useful for hand  held closeups.  It can be used to point the camera at 90 degrees to the direction of my gaze with full functionality and image preview.

Inclusion of a fully articulated monitor would lift viewing capability of the LX100 from good to excellent. This would make the body a bit thicker, but the overall depth would not alter, as the EVF protrudes rearward beyond any style of  monitor.

Operating  I have spent considerable time investigating the operational merits of the "traditional" versus "modern" style control system.  I will post detailed time and motion analysis comparing the actual LX100 with my mockup when I have an LX100 in hand.

I have recently compared a Panasonic GX7 (as an example of the modern control layout)  with Fuji EX-1  (representing the traditional control layout)  I conducted a time and motion analysis of actions required to carry out the tasks of operating each camera.

I found that for almost every operational task the GX7 required fewer, less complex actions than the X-E1.

Some camera users say they "like" the traditional control system for various reasons but "liking" something (or not), is an idiosyncratic personal matter subject to change without notice or reason.

LX100 aperture ring   An aperture ring with marked f stops works quite well on a single focal length lens or a zoom with constant maximum aperture. But the LX100 has a variable aperture zoom so the marked aperture setting will be incorrect any time it is set to an aperture larger than the lens can manage at the current focal length. So checking the aperture on the ring will not be very useful unless that aperture is f2.8 or smaller.

LX100 shutter speed dial  This cannot display a shutter speed longer than 1 second. It is also not clear from the photographs whether it is click stopped in 1/3 step intervals or just whole step intervals.
So for both aperture and shutter speed the user will have to check in the viewfinder or on the monitor for the correct reading.
In my view these  set and see  type modules are better used for setting modes in the Prepare Phase of use. (see the next post)

Summary of my reaction to the LX100, for now:  I think the LX100  represents an excellent concept which has been  realised in a way which does not optimise ergonomics.  A more  efficient camera could be developed within the dimensional envelope described by the  width, height and depth of  the recently announced LX100.

The Panasonic view  is well expressed in the promotional material at the link below:

http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/lx100_interview/vol01.html

This is worth reading for those interested in the thinking behind the LX100.

The Panasonic product development people indicate clearly that they are aiming at a market segment that ......"really appreciates the mechanics of a quality camera".... ...........

.........."We repeatedly asked user opinions and built these features into the LX100"......

They do acknowledge that a design based on a Mode Dial is......"more functional".......

"But we think that being able to operate the camera yourself  (the italics are mine. Who else would be operating the thing ?) is what makes the LX100 so much fun to use"..........

My interpretation of this is that they were not looking to make a  camera with maximum efficiency or functionality but one which some users might enjoy because ........"there's something enjoyable about physically turning rings and dials"........

I also note there is a little button on the LX100 labelled [iA] presumably for those buyers who actually don't like messing about with the rings and dials.

My response to this  is

* To the users whose opinions were sought...."Be careful what you wish for"

* To the designers......I think the current enthusiasm for retro type controls is a fad, a push back against the more efficient modern control system for reasons not clear to me. Nostalgia, perhaps ?  Professional photographers use cameras with  the modern system precisely because it is more efficient.

* I got over the "enjoyment" of physically turning those rings and dials about 40 years ago after spending several years with a Pentax Spotmatic. The shutter speed dial in particular was always a pest of a thing to turn requiring the right hand to completely release the camera so the index finger and thumb could both be applied to the dial.

I am sure the LX100 as offered will work well enough just as the Fuji X series cameras work well enough if one is prepared to live with the sub optimal ergonomics.

I will present my alternative vision for the LX100  (LX100 Modern ?) in the next post.