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Monday, 16 October 2023

Camera ergonomics in a nutshell. Revised and republished 16 Octobr 2023

 

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.

Now look at a camera which was designed not to fit the hands holding it but to fit around the stuff inside it consisting of  mirror box, pentaprism, shutter mechanism, film gate, cassette and film uptake reel.

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. 

Same hand now holding the Pentax Spotmatic. Most SLR cameras of the mid to late 20th Century utilised a design very similar to this in size, shape, controls and operation. Unfortunately even a few recent models offer a pastiche of this design for whatever reason. 

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.



Here is Youtuber Jared Polin using the Nikon Zf. His comment is that the camera is very awkward and uncomfortable to hold especially in portrait orientation as here. You can see how scrunched-up are the fingers of his right hand.


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.


Here is Gordon Laing of CameraLabs using the Nikon Z6. Two problems can be seen. The fingers of the right hand nave to shift down to allow the index finger to work that front dial, and the handle is too short to accommodate the 5th finger. There are cameras the same overall height as this one which use a more efficient design producing a taller handle which can accommodate all the fingers without the need for an accessory grip.


When We want to operate the front control dial there is not enough space for the right index finger to bear effectively on the dial without moving the other fingers of the right hand out of the way.

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.

Having used too many cameras with stacked dials over the years I have discovered that using one dial in the stack will sooner or later cause inadvertent movement of the other dial. This usually happens when we are trying to work quickly in response to some change in the photographic circumstance.

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

Lumix G85.  5 buttons type  4-way controller difficult to locate and operate by feel.
This is one of those situations where the picture does not tell the story. We can only appreciate the difference between the two types of control module by feel.

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.

 

 

 

Basic principles

* 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.

 


Camera designers do their customers a favour when they allocate controls for use in Capture Phase to high priority zones, Prepare Phase to medium priority zones and  Setup and Review Phases to low priority zones. This the Canon R5 which mostly does that.

* 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.

 Capture Phase  In this phase the ergonomic demand reaches a peak. No longer can the user hold the camera away from the body and make adjustments essentially at leisure. The concept which has guided my design for Capture Phase is as follows:

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 


1 comment:

  1. Hi Andrew

    Interesting 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.

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