Lumix LX100 |
Camera evaluation can be considered under four headings: Specifications, Image Quality, Performance
and Ergonomics.
I often read reviews of camera gear which compare camera specifications. The implication is that if one has more
pixels on the sensor or dots in the EVF or whatever, then it is presumed to be "better".
My experience tells me that I have to actually test a camera in real world
operation to find out if one delivers a different performance in some respect
from the other.
Workable methods of measuring image quality and performance have been
developed and are readily available for consumers. These measurements often include some system
of numerical scoring. This information
enables consumers to compare one camera with another and to engage in
discussion with other consumers.
However when it comes to ergonomics no such measurement or scoring
system is available. This makes it very
difficult for consumers to evaluate any camera with respect to it's
holding, viewing and operating
qualities. Professional and user reviews
of cameras lack adequate evaluation of ergonomics because there is insufficient
language, taxonomy and system of measurement for ergonomics.
"Ergonomics is very subjective" When I started reporting my
findings about ergonomics on this blog
and on user forums, I several times received feedback stating that
"ergonomics is very subjective"
or similar words, and therefore
apparently not a proper subject for analysis or comparison. Well, of course some aspects of ergonomics
are subjective but so are aspects of
image quality. Subjectively
appreciated characteristics of any
object or system can be measured and compared. Even something as arcane as
"Personality" can be measured with substantial reliability.
Ergonomics is also objective Many aspects of ergonomics are determined by
hard, observable, measurable factors. For instance: Does the camera have a
built in viewfinder ? Does it have an anatomically shaped handle ? Can the user
change key exposure and focus parameters while looking through the viewfinder
and without having to shift grip with either hand ? The list goes on.... All these things can be
readily identified. The tasks of
operating a camera require actions. The number and complexity of these actions
can be observed, listed and compared with the actions required to operate
another camera.
How many angels can dance on the head of a pin ? This has been a theological question of no
relevance to anything in the real world since the middle ages. Unfortunately many discussions about image
quality and performance are similarly irrelevant to 99% of real world
photographic requirements. I read on
user forums a statement that camera A with 4260 line pairs per image height is
"better" than camera B which can "only" manage 3600 lppih.
As both exceed the resolution of most large format film photographs, the
difference between them is of academic importance.
Or I see one camera being put forward as "better" because it can shoot 60 frames per second and
the other can "only" do 30
fps.
A recent camera release offers ISO 409,600.
Reviewers praise this
amazing achievement, which, by the way is indeed amazing but of little
relevance to the vast majority of photographs which the vast majority of
photographers might wish to make.
For most
photographs, most of the time, a large percentage of cameras (and quite a few smart phones) on the market right now will deliver good enough
image quality and performance. Many on
line forum discussions and manufacturer's specifications are no more relevant to the ordinary world than
arguments about angels on the head of a pin.
So, what does matter ? Which characteristic does meaningfully
differentiate between various camera models ? That is the user experience,
including all aspects of ergonomics and the user interface.
Is it possible to measure and compare such things as "user
experience" and "ergonomics" ?
Until now the answer to this question has been "no". As a result us consumers are not gettting a
good deal from camera manufacturers.
On my assessment, many cameras on the market today offer the user an
experience which ranges from "truly awful" at one end of the spectrum
to "could easily improve with better detail implementation" at the
other end.
This is how I see things in the camera world at the moment.
1. Manufacturers, facing declining sales in all sectors are casting about
for the next really good new idea
(even if it is actually a recycled old idea) which might bring buyers back to the
fold. Hence the multitude of new
models, many of which have styling cues which reprise old film cameras. It seems to me that the product development people either
a) don't
know which way to turn and have taken to churning out many different kinds of
models presumably in the hope that some of them will gain favour with buyers. Sony is probably the most energetic
exponent of this scattergun approach, or
b) have
decided that their ship of state is sailing along quite well so they just
reiterate the same old ideas with very small changes from one model to the
next. This might be called the "It ain't broke so we don't need to fix
it" approach, of which I would nominate Canon as the most prominent
exponent.
2. The only group of people who can guide
manufacturers towards the development of cameras which are enjoyable to
use and will therefore sell, is the consumers.
3. The pathway to cameras which are
more enjoyable to use is better ergonomics.
4. But designers, makers and consumers are all constrained by a deficiency
of language about ergonomics and a complete absence of method by which the
ergonomic capabilities of a camera can be scored and compared with another.
5. I take the view that until some reasonably acceptable method of scoring
ergonomics is found then no sensible discussion about ergonomics can take place
and consumers cannot provide reliable guidance to camera designers about the
way forward.
6. Hence this present enterprise of mine, namely an attempt to devise a
method of scoring camera ergonomics.
Some, perhaps, will argue
this is not possible or even desirable.
Some might say..."Everyone is different". Well, yes, but not to the extent they have
the hands of a possum or a chimpanzee.
The creatures who use cameras are humans who are more ergonomically
alike than different.
What about likes, wants and preferences ? Of course everybody has these. However I want to be very clear about this:
likes, wants and preferences can form the basis for a fertile line of
enquiry which is completely different from and unrelated to an
evaluation of ergonomics through time and motion studies.
An example: Bill might say "I really like camera A because it makes
me slow down and think about the settings for aperture and shutter
speed". On ergonomic analysis we
discover that camera B requires less than half as many actions to change
aperture or shutter speed and each of those actions is less complex than those
required by camera A.
As objectively evaluated, camera B clearly has better ergonomics. This in no way invalidates Bill's
preference. Bill can choose what to like
and dislike for his own reasons whatever they may be.
However the converse also
applies. Bill's preference does not invalidate ergonomic
analysis by time and motion study either.
They exist side by side. If
Bill's preferences were shared by 99% of the population of camera users then
designers could simply do whatever Bill recommended. But what actually happens is that the
individuals in any group will have a whole lot of different preferences. Probably not many of them will want a camera
which is slow to operate. They will have
other priorities.
The message is spreading It did seem to me for a few years that I was
a voice in the techno wilderness. But
now it appears the mainstream camera commentariat is catching on. I close this
post with a quote from Richard Butler, writing for Digital Photography Review
on 24 April 2014. The context is a shooters experience report of the Sony
Alpha6000.
"While
shooting with the Sony a6000, I've spent a lot of time thinking about what
aspects of photography I enjoy, and about what I demand from a camera as a
consequence. Every day I read comments about how 'Camera X' is best because of
the capability of its sensor or 'Camera Y' is, because of the lenses available
for it. These are mostly arguments that relate either to specifications or the
image quality that a camera produces. But what of ergonomics, handling,
user-interface and shooting experience?
I
found myself wondering whether the truism about 'the best camera is the one you
have with you' shouldn't really be something like: 'the best camera is the one
you enjoy shooting with enough to have with you.' The point being that, for me
at least, the process of taking the photo is almost as important as the final
result. Of course I want the results to be as good as possible, but I also want
to enjoy the time spent using a camera, as well as the images I come back
with."
My thoughts
exactly.
No comments:
Post a Comment