The ideal camera (ergonomically)

Mockup #6 showing my realisation of the ergonomically ideal camera. This shows the anatomically optimal inverted L shaped handle topped by the quad control set. The mockup is made of plywood. I make the mockups silver so you can see the controls easily. 

I have developed a systematic approach to understanding, describing and measuring camera ergonomics.

All of this work is publicly available on this blog, free to anyone with an internet connection.

I have come to the view that it is possible to craft a camera with ergonomically ideal size, shape and controls.

Of course some people will disagree but that is more about human nature and individual experience than camera design.

Basic concepts

1. Ergonomics can be defined as

a) The study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body, its movements and cognitive abilities (Wikipedia) and

b) Characteristics of a device which maximise productivity.

2. With reference to cameras I propose that

The essence of camera ergonomics is the number and complexity of actions required to control the device.

Mockup #6 in hand, showing the right index finger operating the quad control set and thumb in normal position. The camera can be driven by those two fingers without having to change grip.

Characteristics of the ergonomically ideal camera

Fixed zoom lens

The main advantage of a dedicated camera over a smart phone camera module is the ability to change focal length over a wide range. Zooming a single lens requires far fewer, less complex actions than changing lenses. 

Obviously the more zoom range the better, ergonomically.  There are plenty of actual cameras which have a built in zoom ranging from wide or superwide at one end to super telephoto at the other end of the range.

Mockup #6 rear view showing thumb stick and rear dial and other controls

Size

The vast majority of cameras are designed to be hand held by humans. This may seem to be stating the obvious but I make the point that no cameras are intended for use by possums or kangaroos.

Human hands vary in size and to some extent in width/length ratio but absent disease or deformity they all have the same functional anatomy.

I have discovered that it is readily possible to design a camera size and configuration which can easily accommodate small, medium and large human hands.

The mockup shown here achieves that. I can hand this to any human from age about 12 and up and they will very quickly get a comfortable stable grip on it.

The dimensions are width 130mm x height 88mm x depth 125mm. 

This is about the same as a Panasonic FZ300 which I use frequently and find to be in the “goldilocks zone” for size and handling. The mockup has a slightly fatter, more evolved anatomical handle shape and control layout.

The thumb can easily swing left to bear on the thumb stick, right to operate the rear dial or flex at the interphalangeal joint to operate the AF-ON button (hidden), without disrupting grip.

Shape

You can see the mockup has a fairly standard DSLR-like shape. This is not an accident or a copy of anything or evidence of any lack of research on my part. It is just that after years of experimenting with all manner of different shapes I have found this one is the most effective ergonomically.

It provides the best fit for the functional anatomy of the hands which have to hold and operate it.

Note that the mockup has high shoulders to provide the maximum possible handle height within the overall height of the camera. This allows a full five finger grip.

Configuration

There are two main configurations in modern cameras, with variations. The most common is [Mode Dial + single or preferably twin control dial]  as seen on many DSLRs and MILCs.

The second is some variant of a hybrid traditional/modern layout with aperture ring on the lens, shutter speed dial on top of the body and often with a dedicated exposure compensation dial. This configuration has its advocates but the [Mode Dial + control dial] system allows the user to control the camera with fewer actions, each less complex.

GH5 with 12-60mm lens. My ideal camera has a fixed lens but the GH5 body has several desirable ergonomic attributes.

Holding arrangements

Key features here are the handle and thumb support.

I have spent several years experimenting with handle shapes in my mockups and using actual cameras with a variety of handle shapes.

The optimum shape is the “inverted L” seen on the mockup. This provides a very comfortable, secure grip with minimal muscle effort and places the fingers of the right hand where they need to be for optimum operation of the controls.

A nice inverted L handle can be seen on the Canon Powershot SX60 bridge camera. The EOS M5 has something similar.

The optimum thumb support allows the right thumb to lie diagonally across the top right part of the control panel (the section of the rear of the camera to the right of the monitor). It needs to be deep enough to provide a secure grip without undue muscle effort. Many DSLRs and some ILCs and bridge cameras have a decent thumb support.

The thumb needs to be positioned so it can easily swing left and right from the basic position to operate controls on either side.

GH5 rear. This is good but could be improved with a more prominent thumb support.

Viewing arrangements

The ideal ergonomic camera has

1. A good quality EVF with no blackout.  At the time of writing only one camera meets this criterion, the Sony A9. Others will follow in due course.

2. A fully articulated monitor.

Both EVF and monitor can be configured to look the same and both can be configured to “viewfinder style” with key camera data beneath, not overlaying the preview image.

Controls

Shutter button   Optimally this goes where the right index finger wants to find it.  The best position is shown on the mockup. Several DSLRs have the shutter button in approximately this location.

Twin dials  The most effective control system is twin dials, one operated by the right index finger, the other by the right thumb.  I have written several posts about this but in summary the most ergonomically effective arrangement is that seen on the mockup and the Panasonic GH5.

One dial controls Program Shift in P Mode, Aperture in A Mode and Shutter Speed in S mode. The other dial can control any user selected function but exposure compensation is one of the most useful guided by zebras in the EVF.

In M Mode one dial controls aperture, the other shutter speed.

The front face of the front dial is 5mm behind the rear of the shutter button. This is just enough to ensure the right index finger will not foul one when operating the other. Many cameras including most Canons have the front dial un-necessarily far back, then another row of buttons behind that. This requires excessive lateral movement of the right index finger.

The rear dial is embedded in the upper part of the thumb support. It can be operated simply by swinging the thumb to the right without having to flex the interphalangeal or metacarpo-phalangeal joints at all.

The haptic qualities of the dials are also important. The serrations on the dials need to be deep and sharpish in profile with just the right amount of clicky resistance to turning.

If you don’t believe all this go handle a GH5 in a camera store.

Quad control set  Many cameras have three rows of controls arranged front to back with the shutter button at the front (Nikons have the front dial at the front and down the handle away) then the front dial then a row of buttons. In order for the right index finger to reach those buttons it has to stretch quite a distance away from the middle finger.

I realised that two buttons with user allocated function could easily be fitted to the right side of the shutter button and front dial. These are much easier to reach with the index finger. I call this arrangement a “quad control set”.  I would allocate to these buttons parameters which might need to be changed in the Capture Phase of use, such as ISO or exposure compensation.

The ill fated Samsung NX1 had such an arrangement although Samsung messed up by not allowing the function of the buttons to be user set.

Thumb stick  Every camera should have a thumb stick (a.k.a. Joystick, JOG lever) Most people will not yet have had the opportunity to use a camera with a thumb stick.

It is a wonderful invention for quickly and accurately moving position of the active AF area and controlling AF function.

It needs to be located in exactly the right place where the thumb wants to find it and its function needs to be configured with 8 way sideways action and options for press in function which include AF-ON.

Auto ISO algorithms  

Some cameras like my little Sony RX100(4) have really clever auto ISO algorithm. This is focal length responsive so it will increase shutter speed as the lens is zoomed out. It also has five shutter speed bands, slower, slow, standard, fast and faster.

Thus if I am photographing still subjects in low light I might set the “slow” band.

If I am photographing grandchildren running about  I might set the “fast” band. 

This is an ergonomic issue because I don’t have to switch back and forth from A or P mode to S mode when the camera selects an unsuitable shutter speed for the conditions.

Putting it all together

The mockup shown here illustrates the external physical components of my ideal camera.

I have also shown the GH5 which has the highest ergonomic score of the cameras which I have thus far tested.

I think the GH5 handle could be improved a bit and the thumb support needs to be more prominent for better support. The GH5 also lacks the quad control set.

Otherwise it is the right size for a full five finger hold and has most of the desirable controls in the right places with good haptics. The inappropriately placed Disp button can be disabled so it is not forever being pressed accidentally.