Your ideal camera (Ergonomically speaking)

John Bragg

John Bragg

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So, I'm older and hopefully wiser than when I began my photographic journey some 38 years ago. I have handled and owned some damned fine cameras and I am very sure that the best fitting camera for me is an OM1n with winder 2 fitted. Shape, heft, balance and feel just suit me down to the ground. It becomes part of me as soon as I pick it up. What is your ideal fit as far as cameras go ? What is your choice ?
 
There was a German firm, Leitz Wetzlar. They made a rangefinder camera for some years. I have a few of those. At the moment it's the Monochrom (M9M) made by that firm's successor, Leica AG. I do like the IIIf with a 50. I do like the OM2n and think it's a very clever camera but I find the body a bit too shallow for comfort.
 
For me, hands down the (new) Mamiya 6 with its grip, balance and retractable lens....... but for active travelling, skiing & climbing, ergonomics is also how much space it takes..... in that respect my #1 is now my Plaubel Makina 670. Is it as nice in the hand as the Mamiya 6? No.....but it sure is skinny in my pack...& the 42 sq cm negative.

Flickr
 
Anthony Harvey said:
OM1n for me too, but Leica CL comes close. And the Pentax group were great too (SP1000, MX, ME Super).
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I also like the Pentax P3n: tough, reliable, easy to hold, not too light but not to plastic either, excellent manual focus screen, plenty of lenses from which to choose. Down side is no DX coding but easy enough to get around. I bought one new in 1989 and bought another body about 6 years ago for $20 dollars now I don't know which is which. It has auto exposure, shutter priority exposure, aperture priority exposure and manual: all dials no stupid window that seem to be the end of many camera.

Here is one of mine for size comparison:


Two SLRs by John Carter, on Flickr
 
In film it was the Leica M6 and Contax G. In digital, it’s the X-Pro and X100 series by Fuji.
 
jsrockit said:
In film it was the Leica M6 and Contax G. In digital, it’s the X-Pro and X100 series by Fuji.
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Don't know about the M6, but I like the Minolta CLE. Good size, lots of features. Never had a problem. Great finder. Can't meter manual, so kind of clumsy to transpose Auto meter to manual aperture and ss quickly.

Contax G...have a G2. A solid camera but I hvae to learn amost from square one how to operate correctly because not used a lot. One reason do not use, is the finder. ugh.
 
hap said:
Don't know about the M6, but I like the Minolta CLE. Good size, lots of features. Never had a problem. Great finder. Can't meter manual, so kind of clumsy to transpose Auto meter to manual aperture and ss quickly.
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Well, we are talking about ergonomics and ergonomics are subjective. I prefer my cameras to be shaped like a bar of soap.
 
The Konica Hexar and Hexar RF were just about ergonomically perfect in my opinion, but the Nikon F4S takes the cake.
Phil Forrest
 
For film, the newer Bessas R2a, R2m, with the additional hand grip feel about right.

On digital the Panasonic GH4/5 are an excellent fit for my hand with the controls in easy fingertip reach.
 
In film for me the original Nikon F, followed by the F2. Also a close 2nd the M film series.
Digital - Sony A7R3 and A9
 
For me it would be the Fujica ST901, followed by the Contax 167mt. After that it would be the Welta Welti or Weltini. They are both good fits in my hands; just auto nothing for anyone who might insist on that. Those would probably be used for different things and do well for me.
 
From thirty years ago perspective, nothing beats film M, IMO.
Digital and AF is more complicated and advanced than film OM. I like EOS DSLRs. All is set via dials, bottoms and VF.
 
While I love the romance of older mechanical, manual-exposure SLRs (such as my black-body Minolta SR-T 102), I prefer to use my two Minolta X-570s with Autowinders G. This combination is better balanced with heavier lenses (such as my favorite 85mm f1.7), gives added gripping surface, and doesn't require me to remove the camera from my eye in order to advance the film.

One improvement I would like: Make the AEL button so that I can hold the exposure after pressing it and releasing it, rather than having to keep pressing it as long as I want to hold the exposure. I use AEL (auto-exposure lock) a LOT with Aperture-Priority Automation, and this would make it easier.

I also really like working with most any TLR on a tripod. The tripod leaves both hands free to man the 3-D tripod head and the camera controls, with both eyes viewing the image in the focusing screen.

- Murray
 
A M6, M7 or MP with a Tom A Rapidwinder/Rapidgrip is just about perfect ergonomically. I wish the M7 had a more accessible exposure compensation wheel. Having it in the back is just useless. Faster to switch to manual mode.
 
I think my R8 is as close to ergonomic perfection of the cameras I own, I just wish it didn't weigh quite so much. The same with my M5 among the rangefinders. The ability to adjust shutter speeds easily from the front of the camera (rather like the CL) without moving your eye from the viewfinder is a joy. There is not one single superfluous dial to interfere.
 
Leica M7 or earlier, with leather half case. The thinness of the body makes it sit nicely, and the leather half case gives just enough grip and extra comfort. The M9 is just a bit too thick somehow. The M10 with accessory grip feels pretty darn super, as does the Q with accessory grip.

For digital, I'm very much enamoured with how the Panasonic G9 fits in my hands. Everything is in the right place, the grip feels almost perfect, all the buttons are where they should be. Even those front function buttons, I never understood why they would be there until I held the camera with both hands, and the buttons just fell under my fingers.

I also like how the original Olympus E-M5 feels with the grip. Again, things are where they are meant to be, and it just glues itself into your hand. I have small hands, if that makes any difference. With the battery grip on the bottom, it feels even better.
 
Anthony Harvey said:
OM1n for me too, but Leica CL comes close. And the Pentax group were great too (SP1000, MX, ME Super).
Click to expand...


Got to agree with that and add the M4 and dozens of P&S's that switched on as the cover was slid to the left but never those sliding to the right that could and did switch off as you went to squeeze the shutter.

And how about those awful ones with the power switch and the shutter button side by side? They get my prize for the worst ever.


Regards, David
 
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With me muscle memory, form factor, mass and familiarity all play a part.

It’s a tough call between my M6TTL and M5 with a 35 or 50mm Summicron. Despite owning my M6TTL longer than the M5, the M5 gets the nod… by the tiniest of margins. It’s the overhanging shutter dial that does it.

I loved my Minolta CLE but it felt too light.

Going back farther, my Pentax SL and OM2 were just about perfect SLRs, though in completely different ways.

Modern stuff? X-Pro2/3 with a 23mm f1.4.
 
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