Having a whale of a time. Big baby humpback.I am lucky to live in a place where migrating whales can be seen in large numbers just off the beaches and headlands Canon EOS R5 with RF 100-400mm |
I originally published this post in April 2012. A reader recently offered positive feedback about the content so I have revised, updated and re-published the material.
The basic concepts described here have stood the test of
time. They have proven to be a useful basis for describing and evaluating many
aspects of the relationship between camera and user.
From an ergonomic perspective there are two main types
of device which can be used to produce
photographs.
The first, which I will not be discussing here, is the point-and-shoot,
you-press-the-button-we-do-the-rest type, which requires minimal user input. The
most famous examples of this type of device are the Kodak Brownie of 1900 and
the Apple iPhone of 2007, with many compacts in the hundred years between these
two.
The second, and the subject of my ergonomic enquiries, is what I call a proper camera the most
effective operation of which requires diligent user input for full control of
the image capture process.
A useful way to evaluate a camera’s ergonomic appeal is to
count the number and complexity of actions required to fully control the
device. Less is better.
Between two cameras the one which requires fewer actions each of lower complexity will
be the one we most enjoy using over the long term, after the excitement of
learning about a new device wears off.
In addition functional anatomy and haptics play a major role
in camera usability.
The first issue is functional anatomy of the hands and
fingers. Adult human hands vary in size
and thickness and length/width ratio. But absent of deformity they all work the
same way, with an opposable thumb and 4 fingers. Each digit can move in some
directions but not others. When relaxed, the hand and fingers adopt the “half
closed, relaxed” position shown in the photo.
An optimally shaped camera will fit into the half closed
relaxed hand. The camera fits the hand not the other way around. This gives a
secure grip with minimal muscle strain and allows the index finger to rest
naturally on the shutter button and allows the index finger to swing back to
the front control dial with minimal effort and no displacement of any other
fingers. The thumb is comfortably held against the thumb rest and can easily
flex to operate the rear control dial without the need for any other finger to
move.
Some cameras such as the Canon EOS R5 are shaped just like
this. The camera feels right for adults with medium, large or small hands.
This is the hand position used when holding the EOS R5 It is comfortable and stress-free |
Same hand, with the R5 in place. The camera has been designed to fit the hand. |
The basic shape and layout of Canon interchangeable lens cameras was established in 1986 with the T90. We can see the handle, little Fn button, front control dial, handlebar strap lugs and overall shape already well implemented on this 37 year old model.
Canon T90 of 1986. Canon designers really paid attention to ergonomic factors when developing this model. |
This is my Asahai Pentax Spotmatic of 1965. Many manual
focus film cameras of the middle and late 20th Century including the
Nikon FM2 looked very much like this and worked the same way.
Hand position when holding the Pentax Spotmatic. Much less comfortable and secure. |
These cameras have no handle and the shutter button is located on top of the body. This was convenient for the engineers but not so much for the user.
There is nothing to get ahold of, leading to a scrunched-up hand and finger
position, squeezing tight to prevent the thing falling down. The index finger
is cranked back uncomfortably to bear on the shutter button and there is no
thumb support.
Unfortunately some new cameras have the same ergonomic
deficiencies.
As I revise this post in October 2023 I see
Nikon has just released their new Zf full frame mirrorless interchangeable lens
model which the promotional material says is styled like the Nikon FM2, a 35mm
film SLR made between 1982 and 2001.
The Zf is an unfortunate example of how even in 2023,
camera makers sometimes forget or decide to ignore everything they have learned
about ergonomics over the last 40 years.
The Zf has no useful handle and no thumb support and the
shutter button is awkwardly located on top of the body and the front control
dial is cleverly positioned to be difficult to reach in either landscape or
portrait orientation.
For buyers who might actually want to use the camera as
opposed to gazing in wonder at all the dials and the six “expressive” colors, Nikon teamed with SmallRig to develop an
accessory handgrip.
Let us move on to the question of actions. I spent many years with many cameras analysing the number and complexity of actions required to control each. I discovered that until I undertook a systematic time-and-motion inventory of what my fingers actually do when using a camera I had been seriously underestimating the actual number and complexity of actions used. I also discovered that many camera reviewers and forum contributors make the same underestimate.
I will illustrate this issue with just one small example.
See the photo of camera reviewer Gordon Laing of Camera Labs using the Nikon
Z6. This camera locates the front control dial in front of the shutter button
and on the front face of the upper handle, facing forward. See where Gordon’s middle finger lies as he
uses the camera. This is exactly where my middle finger found itself when I
used the Z6.
So, we have to:
* Release grip on the handle with the third and fourth
fingers of the right hand.
* Move the third and fourth fingers down the handle about 2
centimeters.
* Move the right index finger forward and down to bear on
the front dial.
* Rotate the dial.
* Move the index finger back up to the shutter button.
* Release grip with the third and fourth fingers of the
right hand.
* Move the third and fourth fingers back up to their normal
holding position.
That is 7 actions, two of which are complex in that they
involve the whole hand moving up and down.
Now let us examine what happens when we adjust the front
control dial on the Canon R5.
* Move right index finger 2 cm back from shutter button to
control dial.
* Rotate control dial.
* Return index finger to shutter button.
That is three actions each of which is of very low
complexity as it only involves moving one finger a short distance.
Most camera reviewers don’t report on this and similar
issues. But when we own a camera and use it often over several years, little
ergonomic issues like this accumulate and become annoying.
This is just one example but some cameras require the user
to make many complex actions while others require fewer, less complex actions.
Guess which ones will endear us to them in the long run.
Here is another example of control module placement which
forces the user to make more movements than would be required if a better
design was used.
This is the Panasonic Lumix G9.
The oportunity cost of having that big LCD panel is relegation of the Mode Dial to the left side where ist is more awkward to operate. |
In order to make way for the very large top LCD screen which is not required on a mirrorless camera as we can see as much camera data as we want in the EVF or on the screen, the Mode Dial has been moved to the left of the EVF hump.
If the Mode Dial is in the usual place on the right side of
the hump as is the case with most cameras, we can move the dial by reaching up
with the right thumb and index finger to bear on and turn the dial. In the best
design case we do not need to shift position of the other three fingers of the
right hand and there is no need to shift the left hand.
But if we want to turn the Mode Dial on the G9 we must take
all the weight of the camera and lens in the right hand, remove the left hand
from the lens , bring it back to the dial, turn the dial, replace the left hand
on the lens then return the fingers of the right hand to normal operating
position.
This involves more actions each more complex. That is poor
ergonomic design all for the sake of a redundant LCD screen. The G9 Mk2 does not repeat this error. It
uses the same body and controls as the full frame Lumix S5.2 which is quite
good ergonomically. So we can see that Panasonic’s designers are learning,
albeit slowly.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Nikon’s designers
who managed to make many ergonomic mistakes with the Zf.
Which leads me to the subject of haptics, which is about the
tactile interaction between the user of a device and its physical controls.
In the case of the Zf
I will point to just one of that camera’s haptic problems, namely
stacked dials.
Stacked dials and no thumb support. Ooops. |
Stacked dials are an ergonomic kludge, entirely un-necessary
for efficient operation of a camera.
Many cameras have some kind of 4-way controller located on
the control panel on the right side of the rear of the camera body. This is operated by the right thumb. Some
camera models use a “5 buttons” style here, others use the “rocking saucer”
style. Some Panasonic models such as the G85 use the 5 buttons style. This is an ergonomic kludge. It is very
difficult to identify and operate the buttons by feel.
FZ2500 Rocking saucer type 4-way controller. Easy to locate and operate by touch |
Other models such as the FZ1000.2 and others use the rocking saucer type which is a huge improvement as the thumb can easily locate and operate this type of module. We will not become aware of this by reading specification sheets and most camera reviewers do not report about such things. But I found that in long term use the haptic deficiency of the 5 buttons type became so annoying that I refused to buy any camera with that module type.
Over the years I have evaluated many cameras of different
types from most makers. It is clear to me that the ergonomics, user interface
and user experience of most cameras has been improving over the eleven years
since this post was first published.
The specific camera which aroused my interest in camera
ergonomics was the original Panasonic Lumix G1.
As the first product of a completely new camera system, the G1 was an
interesting technological exercise with many potentially attractive features.
But I found it impossible to enjoy holding and operating the thing. So I set
about trying to analyse why some cameras provide an enjoyable user experience
while others seem to be engaged in a never-ending effort to frustrate the user.
History For most of the 20th century the
shape of cameras was largely determined by mechanical constraints of the type,
for instance rangefinder, single lens reflex, twin lens
reflex etc...
The 21st century has seen the
invention of the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, fully electronic
operation and modern fabrication technology. These developments
allow designers to make cameras just about any shape at all and to place
control modules anywhere on or even off the device.
One might have expected this freedom to make
the camera designers' job easier but paradoxically it appears to have had the
opposite effect. An electronic camera intended to be controlled by a practiced
user is extremely complex. This combination of freedom and complexity forces
camera designers to make a host of decisions which were simply not required in
former times.
Current offerings Perusal of cameras
currently on the market reveals the different ways in which makers
are trying to respond to this challenge while simultaneously satisfying the
demands of their engineering, finance and marketing departments. My
hands on assessment of several current mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras
(MILC) is that their ergonomic development is lagging behind image
quality, features and performance.
Some are kludges, in need of ergonomic
redesign.
Some prioritise style or some reference to heritage
over function.
Describing ergonomics I note, when reading
amateur and professional cameras reviews that there appears to be a poverty of
description about ergonomic issues. Contrast this, for instance to the mind
boggling plethora of descriptions in minute, pixel peeping detail of image
quality. I believe this is due to a paucity of language,
taxonomy and understanding of the essential elements of camera ergonomics.
My mission in producing this blog is to
report the results of my research into camera ergonomics, develop a systematic
description of ergonomics separate from anyone's likes
wants or preferences, increase consumer awareness and understanding of
ergonomics, encourage informed consumer feedback to manufacturers and eventually,
I hope, enjoy the results in the form of cameras which are a pleasure to use.
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* Form follows function. An
electronic camera designed this way will have it's own style not derivative of
anything else and will appeal because it is enjoyable to use not because it
looks like a shrunken pro DSLR or somebody's favourite film camera from the
1980's.
* Layout follows fingers. Technology
changes but our hands and fingers stay the same. The starting point for the shape
and layout of any camera should be the functional anatomy of the human hand and
fingers. The shape of the right side of the camera should be crafted to fit
into the hand in the "half closed, relaxed" position.
Well designed cameras like the Canon
EOS R5 do this.
* There are four phases of camera use,
Setup, Prepare, Capture and Review. Each phase presents a
set of tasks to be completed. Each phase is subject to time constraints, some
acute, some relaxed.
* In the Capture Phase there are three main
tasks: Holding, Viewing and Operating.
* There is a hierarchy of camera real estate
locations, High, Medium and Low priority. Actions required to carry
out the tasks of the Capture Phase are most effectively allocated to High
priority locations.
* Holding requires optimal design for the handle and thumb rest. Many current model cameras do this sufficiently well to provide a comfortable grip for the great majority of adult users. Some do not.
* Viewing is optimised by the location and
design of user interface modules, monitor and viewfinder.
* Operating is optimised by type,
location and haptics of user interface modules such as buttons, dials, rings
and switches. Good ergonomic design clearly identifies which modules
are used for each of the phases of use and which real estate location works
best for each.
* There are primary, secondary and tertiary
exposure and focussing variables. It is essential to explicitly rank by urgency
level the tasks required to adjust each. This will help determine what type of
user interface module works best and where it should be located.
* All user interface modules on an
electronic camera should be capable of extensive user configuration. There are
hundreds of variable parameters and therefore thousands of potential
combinations available. Each practiced user will have his or her own preferred
way of interacting with camera controls and this will change with time,
experience or different circumstances. When designers allocate a
single function to each interface module of an electronic camera they are
deliberately restricting the extent to which users can configure the controls
to suit personal preference.
Determinants of camera body
size/shape
These days the only immutable elements in
the size/shape equation for any camera are the diameter of the lens mount and
the flange back distance. DSLR's have a flange back
distance in the 40-45 mm range. MILC's are about half that, in the
17.5 - 25.5 mm range.
Body depth
depends on flange-back distance, in-body image stabiliser if fitted,
circuit boards, heat sinks and circuitry.
Width depends, at the front, on lens mount
diameter, inset of the lens axis from the left side (as viewed by the operator),
handle width and design.
On the back, monitor width, rear control
panel width and thumb-rest design.
Height: On the front, body shape design (SLR
style vs RF style) handle design, shutter button height.
On the back, monitor height, viewfinder height.
The photographic sequence,
Setup to Capture and Review.
This sequence assumes a camera designed to
be controlled by a practiced, enthusiast/expert user. Snapshooters can make
good use of the holding and viewing benefits of an ergonomically designed camera
while working with the reduced interface module set available when the main
shooting mode dial is set to one of the fully auto modes. In this case, some of
the interface modules are disabled and a simplified user experience is
provided. All menus and modules have maker assigned default settings for the
novice or snapshooter intimidated by the overchoice which is inevitable with a
multiconfigurable electronic camera.
Setup Phase Setup usually involves
delving into menus, with little time pressure. Menu access is allocated to user
interface modules, in this case buttons, in a low priority area of the camera
body. Navigation can be allocated to a JOG lever and/or cross keys on a 4-way
controller, by up/down. left/right movements and selection by pressing the same
module inwards.
Prepare Phase This refers to the period of a
few minutes during which camera settings are adjusted to give best performance
with the current photographic assignment. This might be landscape,
macro, action, group with flash etc... each requiring a different combination
of operating settings.
The camera is designed to be driven like a
sports car by a practiced user. In a sports car the practiced driver does not
have to think about
or pay conscious attention to
steering, pressing the clutch and shifting the stick to change gears or pushing
the brake pedal to slow down. He or she just does the action while concentrating on the road
ahead.
So the actions required by a photographer to
complete the task list in the Capture Phase should be carried out in a time
frame of a few seconds:
* While looking continuously at the subject
through the viewfinder (or monitor, but the viewfinder provides the more
critical test as all adjustments must be carried out by feel)
* While holding the camera firmly and
comfortably with both hands and without having to change or shift grip with
either hand
* Using the left hand for zoom and manual
focus
* Using the right index finger for primary
and secondary exposure variables and capture
* Using the right thumb for primary and
secondary focussing variables with minimal disruption of the basic grip.
The video user can nominate an interface
module to start/stop and other modules to configure video
parameters. Users complain when a camera maker allocates video start
to just one button. Video users might prefer to use a different module (button
or other device). Those who shoot stills will want the option to use
that module for another purpose.
Review Phase The task list in this phase
varies markedly from one user to the next. Some people like to
review every exposure, others don't bother. Review can be set to
start automatically or on activating a user selected module (usually a button)
in a low priority zone on the camera. Navigation and image magnification is
with the JOG lever. Left/right, up/down to navigate, push- push to enlarge.
Module behaviour can be configured to personal preference in the main menu.
Hi Andrew
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you should comment on the G9. I love that camera, it is my favourite all time camera, fits my hand like a glove, an absolute pleasure to use.
However, you didn't mention what I consider to be its ergonomic flaw: the position of the front dial.
I find the grip perfect for my hand, with top marks for the large overhang of the shutter release "shelf" and the deep groove for the second finger. The overhang is so far over the second finger that the entire weight of the camera just hangs from my second finger. No real need to use the thumb at all to brace the camera. Many cameras with undersized grips are not like this and you have to hold the camera in a death grip to keep it stable.
However, this otherwise excellent arrangement has one flaw: the front dial is positioned a little too far back towards the rear of the camera. I find that my first finger leaves the shutter button and has to strain to reach back to the command wheel. It needs to be about 5 mm further forward toward the shutter button. Forcing my finger back to reach the wheel stresses all the tendons in my hand right down to my elbow. Such a tiny positioning error causes so much strain on my tendons!
The 3 buttons behind the wheel are completely inaccessible to me with my hand in the standard position. I have to let go of the grip completely and hold the camera entirely in my left hand. I simply don't use them in reality.
I'm, perfectly fine with the PASM dial being on the left, it seems a better position to me and I want to operate it with my left hand. I like the stacked drive mode control under it as well, makes it easy to remember where it is. And my favourite is the lens release button on the left of the lens in the Canon EOS position. So many cameras have the button between the lens and the grip. My A7Rii is so cramped that with the Fotodiox tilt/shift and Vertex adaptors I have I literally cannot access the lens release button, there is no room for my finger. I have to use a pen to press the button! The Canon/m43 position rules.