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Monday, 19 January 2015

Measuring Camera Ergonomics Major Summary January 2015



The half closed relaxed hand. This is the author's hand which is of average size for an adult male according to Wikipedia.

This long post  is an attempt to gather together and summarise my discoveries about camera ergonomics over the last five years and to present my proposal for measuring and scoring camera ergonomics.

Ergonomics: 
The science of designing things which people use for maximum efficiency and safety.

Who am I ?

An expert/enthusiast photographer with 60 years  experience of making photos with a wide variety of different types of camera.

I have no connection to any person or organisation involved in the manufacture or sale of photographic equipment. Nobody lends me cameras for testing. My observations and findings are independent.

I have had many photos published and some of my pictures are held in the permanent collection of a State Library.

I like to know how stuff works and will keep investigating until I figure it out, if that appears possible.

I believe I have made substantial progress towards understanding the elements of camera ergonomics and am now refining a method for measurement and scoring.

How it started

I bought a Panasonic G1 after having previously owned several mid  range Canon SLRs then DSLRs. I encountered numerous problems holding and operating the G1 and started to wonder why some cameras were a pleasure to operate but others were not.

My voyage of discovery into the nature of camera ergonomics had begun.  I soon realised that there was an abundance of cameras with poor ergonomics of all sizes, from all makers at all price points.  

There was, to put it mildly, a lot of material to study.

Same hand and relaxed posture as the photo above but now the interphalangeal joints of the middle 4th and little fingers have been flexed to grasp a camera handle. This is a relaxed but stable and strong position. A well designed camera should fit into the hand in this position. When I am making mockups, the hand position comes first, the camera body/handle/thumb support are shaped so they fit into the hand. 


The blog

I originally thought to write a book about my findings but soon realised that a blog would be able to reach far more readers and provide a more interactive open forum for feedback and discussion.

Philosophy and assumptions

No endeavour arises from a vacuum.

Compact cameras are steadily being replaced by smartphones.

This enterprise is directed towards people who elect to use a camera for taking photos, be they snapshooters or enthusiasts.

I take the position that if the camera is to survive and evolve as a discrete type of device it needs to be distinctly different from and more specifically crafted for photography than any smartphone or similar type of device.

It seems to me that the main difference between a camera and a smartphone is the issue of engagement. A camera requires the user to engage with the device by hand, eye and brain in the considered process of taking a photo.  Making photos with a camera is not an afterthought to the day’s events, it is one of the events.

The process of using a camera is deliberative. Making photos with a smartphone is more likely to be opportunistic.



This is Mockup #13 in the hands. It incorporates the discoveries detailed in this post.


The Proper Camera    This concept gives practical expression to the ideal camera for deliberative use. Features which define the proper camera include:

* Good enough image quality and performance for the user’s requirements.

* Anatomical handle and thumb support of optimal design.

* Built in, always ready,  viewfinder of good quality.

* Fully articulated monitor.

* A user interface which:

Allows an expert to obtain full control of  imaging parameters if desired.

Allows the novice/snapshooter to set the camera to automatic operation if desired.

* Zoom lens or ability to mount one.

* Built in flash unit.

My position is that (the declining numbers of) cameras without the features listed above occupy a ‘betwixt and between’ position in the imaging world, lacking both the convenience of a smartphone and the versatility of a proper camera.



Mockup #13 in the hands, top view.  This mockup is only 120mm wide yet it has three set and see  dials and two control dials. It is comfortable, easy to hold and operate. It is not overburdened with buttons yet provides full control for the enthusiast user. The inverted L shaped handle is canted back 10 degrees for optimum comfort when held to the eye.


Likes and preferences

In order for this work to move forward it has been necessary for me to unravel the nexus between “likes and preferences’ on the one hand and ‘ergonomic analysis using basic principles aided by  time and motion studies’ on the other hand.

Likes and preferences have three characteristics pertinent to this discussion:

* They are idiosyncratic. In other words they are held by an individual for that person’s own private reasons whatever they may be. Another individual has different likes for different reasons.  People often say they like that to which they have become accustomed, whatever it was. It might be a DSLR with a big fat handle or a compact without an EVF or a handle or the camera that made some really good pictures on our last holiday………………you get the idea.

* They are transient. Likes are shaped by a person’s experience. With different experiences a person’s likes will change.  The person who loudly proclaims in 2010 that he will never, ever, give up his DSLR with optical viewfinder is discovered in 2012  promoting  with equal fervour the  EVF in his new  mirrorless camera.
About 20 years ago I liked using a 4x5 inch view camera because it was interesting and challenging and it made some amazingly good photos, not because it had good ergonomics. But I got a bad back from dragging the big heavy kit around then I didn’t like it any more.

* They are often poorly formulated. People will often assert they ‘like’ something or somebody but are unable to explain why.    A person may say they really like a certain camera then  on subsequent reflection realise that they like it because of the color or an association with a loved person. Or some other extraneous factor.

My conclusion is that ‘likes’ and ‘ergonomic analysis’ are both valid but completely separate and largely unrelated descriptors of the human/machine interface.


Small full featured camera in hand.  This mockup is smaller than #13 above. 
The right hand is in the half closed relaxed position. The JOG lever is adjacent to the thumb for immediate operation. The quad control set  is easily and quickly operated by the right index finger without the need to move a muscle of any other part of the body. The left hand position shown here is for the photo. It is more comfortable to place the left hand over or under the lens.


What about my own likes and preferences ? 

I used many different types of cameras over the years, from subminiature to large format.  I just took each camera as it came and learned to work with it.

The first one to which I recall forming a definite aversion was the Panasonic G1, soon followed by the even less user friendly G3. But instead of simply saying “I don’t like those cameras” I used the experience of dislike as the impetus for several years of study in which I tried to understand exactly why I preferred some cameras to others. 

By the way Panasonic has lifted itself from one of the worst to one of the best ergonomic performers, although recently there has been some  regression in the form of  the LX100.

So, I ‘like’ using equipment which fulfils its purpose in a fashion which is both efficient and engaging.

I do not ‘like’ any particular brand or type of camera and do not ‘like’ any particular style of design although I have discovered that some work better than others as determined by measurable criteria.

Developing a framework for describing ergonomics

When I started this work there was no systematic way to describe the ergonomics of a camera. 
So I developed a framework within which and a language by which ergonomic concepts could be expressed. This paved the way for me to develop criteria for evaluating and scoring ergonomics.
The sequence was Framework>Language>Criteria>Scoring.

Forced hand/finger position for top/rear shutter button position. Many cameras have the shutter button on top of the body when it could easily be forward on a handle. This is not a disaster but is not as relaxed or strong as the half closed relaxed position shown above which is enable by the shutter button forward position.  As all the available lateral movement of the index finger has been expended  there is minimal freedom for the finger to  comfortably reach buttons or a dial nearby.


Technological vs conceptual complexity

The three pillars of camera evaluation are image quality, performance and ergonomics.

Regarding image quality it is relatively easy for users to write a shopping list of requirements. The list would likely include good color fidelity, low noise at all sensitivities and good resolution. It is conceptually straightforward. But for the engineers to deliver all these things at the same time is technologically very complex.

Likewise the user can readily write a shopping list of performance requirements. This might include fast sensor readout times, fast frame rates with focus on each frame, global shutter, etc.
Conceptually easy enough but technologically difficult to implement.

Ergonomics presents the opposite problem. A camera with good ergonomics is just as easy to make as one with poor ergonomics and costs no more. Technology is not an issue.
The problem here is conceptual. Until now there has been no systematic framework within which to understand, describe, compare, measure and score ergonomics.

In general camera makers have been much better at dealing with the technological challenges (image quality, performance) than the conceptual ones (ergonomics).

Camera size, hand size

The size issue is another one I had to investigate very early in my journey of discovery.

I ran into handling problems when I downsized from a Canon EOS 40D to a Panasonic G1, a much smaller camera.

So of course I initially thought I was dealing with a size problem.  But I was wrong. I soon discovered that the Samsung NX10, almost exactly the same size as the G1 was more comfortable to hold and easier to operate.

I also discovered that the canon EOS 450D, larger than either of the mirrorless cameras felt cramped and uncomfortable with a handle design which was not a good match for any of the hands which I used to test it. This included adult males and females and a selection of grandchildren.

So yes, obviously, hands and cameras both come in a range of sizes. But one of the key discoveries which I have made is that with good ergonomic design large hands can readily operate small cameras and within limits, small hands can effectively operate large cameras. Obviously a pro level DSLR is going to be too fat and heavy for one of the grandchildren, aged 5-13.

But the 12 year old had no trouble holding, carrying and using a Panasonic FZ1000 for several hours at the zoo recently. He even got a couple of decent BIF shots at the free flight bird show.

Several of my mockups are proof of concept that even very small cameras can have decent handling and operating characteristics in small or large hands.

Some cameras have a thumb support at the extreme right of the body with a thin handle or mini handle forcing the shutter button also across to the right. This is the resulting hand/finger position. It is cramped, weak and does not allow free movement or the thumb or index finger.


Scaling 
I discovered quite early in my voyage of enquiry that cameras do not lend themselves to scaling up or down.  It is readily possible to design small, midsize or large cameras with good handling characteristics but each size range has to be shaped differently from the others.

Here is an example: Sitting on my desk right now is a Panasonic FZ1000 and a Sony RX100 (original). On the control panel (the area of the back of the body to the right of the monitor) each has a round 4 Way controller module and 5 buttons. The FZ1000 control panel measures 40x75mm for an area of 3000 squ.mm. The RX100 control panel measures 20x55mm for an area of 1100 squ.mm. The FZ1000 provides an efficient user interface. The buttons are large, well spaced and located where they are easy to reach and operate by feel. The RX100 buttons are very small, crowded, close to the edge and very difficult to locate by feel.

This type of control panel can be scaled down in the physical sense but that makes for a poor ergonomic result.

My proof of concept mockup compact uses a completely different type of  control panel design with fewer, larger buttons, none near the edge and  a JOG lever but no 4 way controller.  This combination  provides a much more ergonomic interface.

Mockup compact with Sony RX100(original). I made this mockup as proof of concept that a very small camera can still have decent ergonomics. The mockup is slightly larger than the RX100  but it has a built in handle, control dial, built in EVF,  JOG lever and large, well placed buttons.


Camera shape

Modern fabrication technology and electronic operation has freed designers from the mechanical constraints of a previous era. So now a camera can be literally any shape at all and the controls can be disposed in any arrangement at all on (or off) the camera.

I experimented with mockups having a variety of shapes, and concluded that the most ergonomically effective shape and arrangement for a hand held camera intended for expert use is one which has been around for years, namely the SLR/DSLR style with hump top and handle.

Hands and fingers (functional anatomy)

Our subject is the interaction between hand held cameras and the hands which use them so some understanding of their functional anatomy is essential. I studied anatomy 50 years ago so this line of enquiry came naturally to me. But anyone with hands can do the same thing. It does not involve rocket science, just careful observation.

Here follows a summary of the main points which I found pertinent to camera holding and operation:

* Hands vary in size but they all work the same way. No humans have the hands of a possum.

* Humans have an opposable thumb. This is essential for holding and operating a camera.

* The human hand aligns itself naturally into a ‘half closed, relaxed’ position. From this position the fingers can close or open, using muscle effort.

* The ideal camera/handle/thumb support shape/shutter button location  is that which conforms to the ‘half closed, relaxed’ hand posture with the right index finger on the shutter button ready to go.  The camera is shaped to fit the hand, not the other way around.

* With a small amount of flexion or extension of the fingers and thumb, a range of camera sizes/hand sizes can be accommodated, provided the camera shape is optimal.
* The right index finger is a ‘controller’. The right middle, 4th and little fingers are ‘grippers’. The thumb has to perform both gripping and controlling actions requiring careful design of the thumb rest and rear of camera controls.

* The right index finger can move side to side through a small range and can undergo flexion and extension through a larger range.  This is highly relevant to the optimal design of controls in the vicinity of the shutter button.

* The right thumb can move a small distance side to side without disrupting opposition at the base of the thumb. This enables the thumb to undertake some movements  without the left hand having to support all the weight of the camera.

* The left hand and fingers have supporter/controller duties.

* Lens based controls for Capture Phase operation should be circumferential (rings) with tactile surface all the way around. This enables the user  to locate and turn the rings with the left hand by feel without looking, in landscape or portrait orientation.

* Lens based controls for Prepare Phase use can be of other types usually requiring visual identification.

Rear view of the compact mockup with a Sony RX100. The mockup has an always ready EVF, fully articulated monitor, proper thumb support and enough large buttons with user allocated function to drive the camera effectively.


Haptics  (The science of touch)

Early in my voyage of discovery I encountered several cameras (Panasonic G1, GH2, G3) which used 5 little rounded buttons in the 4 way controller on the back of the camera. No matter how much I practiced I could never reliably find the button I wanted by feel. Then I got a camera (Samsung NX10) which used the ‘rocking saucer’ design with raised, sharpish edge for the 4 way controller. Problem solved. This one was easy to locate and operate by feel.

One of those cameras with the little round buttons (G3) also had a rear control dial which was so deeply recessed in its housing on the upper rear of the camera I could only work it by jamming the very tip of my thumb onto the dial. This required my right hand to adopt a totally un- natural position  which gave no support to the camera  and which precluded other camera tasks.

Several Canon EOS DSLRs have a line of  identical round buttons behind the control dial on top of the camera. On the 60D which I had for a time, these control AF, Drive, ISO and Meter Pattern. There are 2 problems with this arrangement.

The first is that the buttons are so far behind the dial I was unable to reach them with my index finger without releasing grip on the handle.

The second is that apart from a tiny little nipple on the ISO button they are identical. I never managed to reliably find or operate any of these buttons by feel. I had to stop looking through the viewfinder and shift grip with my right hand.

Canon could easily fix this problem with a modest redesign of the camera top section but they kept the same arrangement on the 70D. Presumably they are working on the principle that ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. Sure, the arrangement is not broken but it could easily be implemented better.

Haptic issues are of critical importance to the design of everything on a camera, especially UIMs (user interface modules, meaning buttons, levers, dials etcetera). The size, shape, position, projection, texture and movement  of  UIMs determines whether they are able to be operated efficiently or not.


The compact mockup in hand. It lacks the inverted L shaped handle, forward shutter button and quad control set of the larger mockup but still provides a decent user experience.


Handles, thumb supports and nearby controls

I have spent a large amount of time and effort exploring many different types of handle, thumb support and nearby controls.

This has involved making many mockups. Each of my camera mockups has required many alterations to the handle until I have been satisfied.  To briefly summarise a lot of work:

* The optimum handle shape for small (larger than RX100 size compact) medium and large cameras is the ‘inverted L, canted back 10 degrees’.  The optimum location for the shutter button is front left (as viewed by the user) on top of the inverted L handle.

* The optimum location for a top front command (control) dial is 12mm behind and at the same height as the center of the shutter button and angled to match the orientation of the right index finger.

* The right index finger can efficiently  operate two buttons in addition to the shutter button and control dial. These buttons are  located to the right of the shutter button and control dial to form a ‘quad control’ set.   No cameras in past or current production have the quad control set as envisaged by me. Some DSLRs and the Samsung NX-1 are heading in that direction but have some way to go.

A well designed quad control set allows the user to quickly and easily control with just one finger and without having to move a muscle in any other part of the body, all the following: Autofocus, Auto exposure, Aperture (or Shutter speed depending on capture mode), Sensitivity (ISO), Exposure Compensation and Capture.
This means that for most photos, most of the time the camera can be driven with just one finger.

* The inverted L handle can be scaled up and down provided great care is taken to get the dimensions right.  If done carefully, small hands move up the handle and large hands move down the handle. Both  can operate the controls effectively.

* The optimum thumb support allows the thumb to lie diagonally across the back of the camera. This places the thumb in its strongest and most relaxed position.  Thumb supports which force the thumb into a vertical position near the right edge of the camera provide less strength, stability and balance and less opportunity to effectively operate a rear control dial while maintaining a firm grip on the camera.

* The optimum location for a rear control dial is embedded in the upper section of the thumb support. Check out the Panasonic GH3/4 and FZ1000 for good examples of this.

Locations

From an ergonomic perspective the highest value real estate on a camera is that easily accessible to the right index finger and thumb without having to shift grip or stop looking through the viewfinder, and to the left hand/fingers without having to shift grip.
UIMs for Capture Phase are best located in these high value locations. UIMs for Prepare and Review Phases are best placed in lower priority locations.

I often see cameras with Playback (Review Phase) or Menu (Setup Phase) buttons in high value locations while controls for Capture Phase (such as ISO or Exposure Compensation) are relegated to low value locations.

Phases of camera use, tasks and actions

There are 4 phases of camera use, Setup (prior to using the camera), Prepare (in the minutes before making pictures), Capture (the process of making pictures) and Review (of images captured).
In the Capture Phase of use there are three ways by which the user interacts with the camera. These are Holding, Viewing  and Operating.

In order to make the camera do his or her bidding the user must perform a series of Tasks  in each of the phases and interaction modalities.
Completion of each task requires Actions.  These can be examined by time and motion study.  

Anybody with access to a camera can do such a study.  It is just a matter of paying attention to every action required to make a camera work.  This can reveal the number of actions required to perform each task.  It can also examine the complexity of those actions and note the presence of any enabling actions required.   

*  From an ergonomic perspective there are two types of camera:

* Interchangeable lens camera (ILC)

* Fixed lens Camera (FLC)
The process of changing lenses is so ergonomically disruptive that in order to compare cameras I have decided to assume that an ILC will be used with just one lens.

Some assumptions  which inform the evaluation process:

*  It is ergonomically preferable for camera operation to require the minimum number and complexity of actions.

*  A well designed camera should be comfortable and secure to hold.

*  Viewing arrangements should provide a clear subject preview in all operating conditions.
This is completely different from and unrelated to any consideration of an individual's likes, wants and preferences.  It is also unrelated to any questions about style. 

As a result of performing time and motion studies on many cameras and mockups  I have come to the view that some types of arrangement  for holding, viewing and operating provide clear ergonomic benefit over other types.  This is reflected in the evaluation schedule.
My scoring schedule is deliberately biased towards operating in Capture Phase with the eye to the viewfinder. The reason for this is that I regard viewfinder operation as one of the cardinal features which differentiate the proper camera from other photo capable devices.

Motion picture
I have not included motion picture in this exercise as use of a camera for that purpose involves some quite different ergonomic priorities.

Maximum score allocations:    This represents a judgement call about which aspects of camera use are the most ergonomically important.  Obviously this is contestable but I think it is reasonable to allocate the highest priority to the process of operating the camera in Capture Phase. The actual numbers are somewhat arbitrary as they must be but they can be adjusted in the light of ongoing experience, should that be necessary.

Phase of use

Maximum score
Setup

15
Prepare

15
Capture
Holding
20

Viewing
20

Operating
25
Review

5
Total

100

Scoring  In each subsection the maximum score will be gained if a camera allows the user to efficiently perform all the tasks with a small number of actions each of low complexity, has all the hardware and positive factors with none of the negative factors. Total maximum score is 100.
I rate all cameras against all other cameras using the same criteria. There is no division into entry, midrange,  professional or any other grouping.  I expect all cameras for all users to have excellent ergonomics.

The overall score has three elements:

1. Subscores.

2. A narrative explaining the scorer’s reasoning for the subscore with reference to the criteria.

3. A total score. 

Some aspects of scoring rely on subjective impressions, for instance whether a handle is rated as ‘comfortable’. In this case long term experience with many cameras helps to inform the decision process.

But many items on the scoring schedule involve rating the camera against  objective criteria. For instance can all the tasks of Capture Phase be carried out while looking through the viewfinder and without having to change grip with either hand ?

Unscored features
Modern cameras come with a plethora of features and functions such as ‘art filters’, special effects, scene modes …..etcetera. I do not include these in the ergonomic evaluation or score.
I also do not rate touch screen capability. Some users say they have high regard for this feature but from an ergonomic perspective it is unusable with hand held operation and OVF/EVF viewing. It may be useful with the camera on a tripod for stills or video but cameras designed for stills or hybrid still/video (like the Panasonic GH4)  will still work just fine without the touch screen.  Some dedicated video cameras rely heavily on a touch screen interface.

Setup Phase  [Max score 15]

Tasks  Make Main Menu selections, Allocate My Menu items, Allocate Quick Menu items, Select Function Button and dial  assignments, set up Custom Modes, set up other functions such as Wi-Fi.

Elements   Has a Main Menu, My Menu with user selected items and a separately accessed Quick Menu with user selected items for Prepare Phase.
Most UIM's enable user selected function.

Content  Menu headings and subheadings are logical, coherent, systematic and easy to navigate.  Like items are grouped together.

User interface  All items are clear, legible and easy to read.  The process navigate>identify>select  is easily learned and becomes second nature.

Negatives  Main Menu confusing, contains mystery icons or items, not logically designed, like items scattered about in different submenus.  No My Menu.  Q Menu items not user selectable.  No Custom Modes. Navigation complex or confusing.  Setup Phase UIM's located where Capture Phase UIM's need to be.

Prepare Phase  [Max score 15]

Tasks  Set Main Mode, set frequently used modes (usually Focus , Autofocus, Drive), set less frequently used modes and other adjustments required in the minutes prior to Capture Phase.  Clearly not all  these tasks are required for every shooting session but the camera should enable them for the times when they are required.

Hardware  Has dedicated set and see (module with inscriptions indicating current setting)  UIM's (user interface modules: covers buttons, dials, switches, levers etc) for the most commonly used Modes.  Allows quick access to other modes and functions required in Prepare Phase, by Quick Menu button, Function buttons  or other quick access portal(s) on body and lens.

User interface  Clear graphics, icons and displays on monitor and EVF when navigating and selecting items via Q Menu, Function buttons or other portal. UIM's for Prepare Phase do not displace UIM's for Capture Phase from top value locations on the body.

Content  Quick access portals allow adjustment of other modes and functions, for instance flash, metering, recording quality, image size, ISO (if set in Prepare Phase) shutter type, image stabiliser, display, burst/continuous rate, electronic level, electronic shutter, grid lines, histogram  ...............and many more, as user selected.

Negatives  Any Prepare Phase items only accessible via main menu.   Settings locked  while camera is writing files to the memory card. Q Menu items, functions of buttons and other UIM's not user assignable. Prepare Phase UIM's located where Capture Phase UIM's need to be.

Capture Phase  [Max score 65]

Holding  [Subscore 20]

Tasks   Hold the camera in a relaxed but secure grip with both hands with right index finger on the shutter button in relaxed position.  Maintain this grip while carrying out the "operating" tasks below.

Hardware  Built in ergonomic anatomical handle, inverted L type canted back 10 degrees  is optimal.  Ergonomic thumb support. Diagonal type is optimal.  Optimal shutter button position is forward, top left on the handle (as viewed by the user).

User Experience  Handle and thumb support work together to allow the user's right hand to adopt the half closed relaxed posture in basic hold position.  Shutter button location enables this optimal holding posture.

Negatives  Absent or poorly shaped handle. Handle only available as accessory.  Thumb support inadequate in position, elevation or orientation.  Sub optimal placement of shutter button.

Viewing  [Subscore 20]

Tasks  the operator can comfortably and clearly, in all conditions,  view in the EVF or monitor the information listed below.

* Subject preview (live view) unobscured by overlays.

* Major camera data, displayed outside the preview image, in either landscape or portrait orientation,  optimally below but possibly also above:
Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO, Exposure Compensation, White Balance, Battery Status, Capture Mode in use, Remaining exposures on card.

* Secondary camera data/displays, superimposed over the preview image:
Active AF Area position and size/shape, Grid lines, Histogram, Manual Focus Guide indications, others as user selected.

Hardware  There is a built in high quality EVF with high quality viewfinder optics and comfortable eyecup.  There is a high quality monitor. Fully articulated type is optimal.

Content  EVF and monitor gain up or down to represent exposure compensation. 100% accurate preview is provided.

User Experience   EVF and monitor both provide the same information presented in the same way. There is a seamless segue from one to the other.  Look in the viewfinder, see the viewfinder;  look at the monitor, see the monitor.  Optimally there is no perceptible EVF blackout time after each exposure.

Negatives  EVF not built in or not available, Camera data is only available superimposed over the preview image, EVF refresh rate slow, EVF delivers poor viewing quality in some conditions. Monitor fixed or only swing up/down.

Operating [Subscore 25]

Task list  While continuously looking through the EVF (or monitor, but the EVF is a more stringent test) and without shifting grip on the camera with either hand, Capture Phase requires that the following tasks be carried out smoothly and efficiently, without impeding the capture process.  Obviously not every exposure requires every one of these tasks to be performed but the camera should be configured so it is possible to do so:

* Adjust primary exposure parameters: Aperture (f stop), Exposure Time (Shutter speed), Sensitivity (ISO).

* Adjust secondary exposure parameters: Exposure Compensation, Program Shift, AE Lock, White Balance.

* Adjust primary framing and focus parameters: Zoom, Initiate/Lock autofocus, Manual Focus.

* Adjust secondary focus parameters: Change position and size of active AF area, manual over ride focus, AF Lock.

Which way is Value Up ?   When operating a camera the user needs to change the value of several parameters such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO sensitivity , exposure compensation and zoom position.
It is very helpful if the dial, wheel, ring, lever or other control moves the same way for value up with each parameter and the opposite way for value down.

Hardware  There are sufficient UIM's of appropriate design on body and lens with which to drive the camera as described  in the task list.  UIM's on the lens controlling zoom, focus and aperture (if fitted) are of circumferential type.  UIM's on the body can be operated by the right index finger and thumb without having to shift grip.

User experience  With practice the user can learn to drive the camera like a motor car. The user looks through the viewfinder (windscreen) at the subject (traffic ahead) and operates the device by feel without looking at it. With further practice the user does not have to think about the process of operating the camera any more than a driver thinks about operating a motor car.

Negatives  The camera is configured so the user has to interrupt the capture process, change grip with either hand or lower the camera from the eye in order to change one or more of the parameters listed above.  Poor/suboptimal UIM location or haptics.

Review Phase  [Subscore 5]

Task list  Tasks which photographers might want to perform in Review Phase may vary greatly according to individual preference. Some photographers do little in camera review, others a lot.  Ergonomically this is the least critical phase of use as the photo has already been captured.  As a minimum I would list:

* Recall the last 1-9 photos captured and select one.

* Zoom into and move around in a review image.

* Jump from one image to the next or previous at the same level of magnification and the same location in the frame.

* Delete one/many.

Hardware  The camera needs UIM's to enable the tasks above to be performed. These need to be located low in the positional hierarchy on the camera.

Content  Comprehensive data about each image is available and efficiently recalled onto the monitor screen or in the EVF in the same form.

User experience  The task list can be carried out efficiently.

Negatives  Essential file data is not able to be recalled.  It is not possible to scroll from one frame to the next at the same location and magnification.  Auto review cannot be disabled.  UIM's for Review Phase occupy high value locations on the camera which are better reserved for Capture Phase.

Initial reactions to the scoring schedule

The scoring schedule described above, together with the supporting narrative, presents the reader who has not been following this blog for several years  with  new ideas, new ways of thinking about camera operation and unfamiliar language.

There has been a range of early responses to  exposure of this material in online forums.

Feedback from some respondents has been cautiously positive.

Some  say they disagree with my findings entirely.

Some say that I am just promulgating my own likes and preferences. 

Some say that “ergonomics is subjective”, as if there could be no merit in further discussion. 

Some say that my quest is noble but doomed to failure like that of a modern day  Don Quixote.

Some say that so great is the range and diversity of individual likes and preferences that any attempt to measure and score ergonomics is futile.

I have given thought to these negative comments and realised that if they are correct, it follows that no satisfactory camera could ever be made. 

But  satisfactory cameras are made and some of them get consistently good reviews for user experience. 

So there must be ideas, concepts and functional capabilities which can be identified and which can be incorporated into camera design and which can benefit all camera users.

I have been challenged on the feasibility of a total score with some respondents opining it to be futile, irrelevant or misleading.

I take all this on board and acknowledge that the framework, language, criteria and scoring schedule are all unfamiliar to most camera users, contestable and subject to debate.

The reason this material is being presented in a public forum is to enable that debate to proceed.
 For the present, I  remain of the view that the overall score is useful. With regard to the cameras I have scored to date the total  score strikes me as a fair summation of the  overall ergonomic capability of each camera and a reasonable guide to each camera’s rank against the others.

Further readings
On the ‘Pages’ bar of this blog, found at the top of the home page in most browsers, there is extensive discussion about many topics grouped under the ‘Basic Concepts’, ‘Design’ and ‘Measuring Ergonomics’ tabs.

Each of the specific camera reviews also has commentary about ergonomic issues.

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