Change Exposure Mode with Front or Rear Dial

This mockup is the same size as a Panasonic G7 Micro Four Thirds camera. Like the G7 the mockup has twin dials but they are located in different places and could easily be used for Push-Click  operation as described in this post. The wrist is almost straight for a secure comfortable hold.

I woke this morning and a bright idea popped into my train of thought.

A twin dial camera could use either the front or rear dial to change Main Exposure/Capture Mode settings. These are the settings which you find on the Mode Dial which lives on the top of many cameras and include things like [iA], P, A, S, M, Custom, Scn, Pano, Movie and others depending on the brand and model.  

Why?   Some users prefer cameras with the ‘Modern’ system using Mode Dial + Control Dial(s), others prefer the ‘Traditional’ system with aperture ring, shutter speed dial and exposure compensation dial.

Once you have set a Mode the Modern system is faster and easier to use than the Traditional system.

But changing Modes involves turning the Mode Dial which slows down the capture flow a bit.

It occurs to me that there is a way for camera users  to have the best of both systems, by fully utilising the potential of a Mode Dial + twin dial camera.

In P, A and S Modes the usual configuration is for one dial to be allocated the task of changing Program Shift, Aperture or Shutter Speed depending on the Mode set.  The other dial does nothing or it might be tasked to Exposure Compensation (EC).

In M  Mode one dial changes Aperture the other changes Shutter Speed.

The rear dial on this Panasonic FZ1000  is optimally located and has positive, reliable Push-Click function.

Dials can be ‘push-click’ configured  for multi tasking.  The dial has a ‘primary’ function which changes to a ‘secondary’ function when it is pushed inwards until it clicks. This technology has been available on many cameras for years. If correctly implemented it is effective and reliable.

Dial functions can be allocated in software.  This capability is also commonplace in modern cameras.

So the hardware and software capability is already in place. No new technology needs to be invented.

My proposal is just to utilise existing technology more productively. In particular it utilises spare functional capacity in the twin dial system.

For this to work the handle, thumb support, dial position, dial design, haptics and configuration must be very carefully implemented.  I doubt any existing twin dial camera could be adapted simply by firmware update.

Mockup front view showing the inverted L handle and top quad control set.

However the Sony A77/99 and  Panasonic GH3/4 are getting close to the type of hardware arrangements which would be required.

The rear dial of the Panasonic FZ1000 has an ideal position, design, haptics and configuration although that camera lacks a front dial.

The optimal handle is an ‘inverted L’ type as seen on the mockup photo in this post.

The optimal front dial is located about 13mm in front of or behind the center of the shutter button.

This is closer to the shutter button than is usually found on cameras.

The dial must be at the same height, relative to the natural side to side movement of the right index finger, as the shutter button.

It must have well protruding sharpish serrations so it is easily turned by the index finger and readily pushed down to click to the secondary function but will not be pushed down inadvertently.

I am unaware of any existing camera with a fully optimal front dial. Each has some kind of problem with location or haptics.

Although the mockup is the same size as the G7 there is much more space on the control panel, the buttons are larger and a JOG lever is included. Monitor width  had to be reduced to compensate.

The rear dial must be embedded in and protruding just the right amount back from the upper section of the thumb support. The rear dial of the Panasonic FZ1000 is an exemplar.

How it would work 

In Setup Phase there would be default settings for dial functions and preferences which could be altered  by the user.

Let us assume the front dial is allocated to change Program Shift, Aperture or Shutter Speed, in P, A, S settings and Aperture or Shutter Speed in M mode setting.

After push-click the front dial can adjust exposure compensation.

(Or EC can be effected by the dial without push-click after pressing one of the buttons adjacent to the shutter button in the quad control set. See the mockup photo for explanation).

Then the rear dial can be tasked with the primary function of changing Mode setting directly provided the Mode Dial is turned to a [D] setting which allows the rear dial to emulate functions of the Mode dial.

In M Mode the rear dial will, after  push-click,  change shutter Speed or Aperture (as selected in Setup).

Front/rear dial functions could be reversed in Setup.

Mockup right side showing the handle canted back 10 degrees. This makes the camera very secure and comfortable for monitor view or eye level view.

It sounds a bit complicated to read about and I imagine some traditionalists will object.

However, if this system were to be properly implemented  using finger logic not head logic, it would allow the user to change Shooting Mode and all primary and secondary exposure and focus parameters without shifting grip with either hand and without taking the eye from the viewfinder.

Once the fingers learn where to go, camera operation can be smooth and efficient.

That comes pretty close to ergonomic nirvana.