Your ideal camera (Ergonomically speaking)

Leica M6 w/35 Summicron v4. It just feel like an extension of my body. Hand/finger placements - perfect!

I have a warm spot for a Hassy 500 C/M & 80 Planar w/Hood. Love the way it cradles in my left hand as I look down in the WLF, finger falling naturally on shutter button, right hand for focusing/film advancement. Miss that rig.
 
Of the cameras I own and have owned, I'd say my Nikon FE, Pentax Spotmatic, and Pentax SL fit me best ergonomically. Sometimes it feels like the self-timer levers interfere slightly with my grip, but generally they're fine.

I could never get used to the OM1 because the self-timer was exactly where my fingertips needed to be to grip the camera properly (although I otherwise liked the placement of the controls on that camera; having a film speed setting with numbers large enough to actually read was a big advantage).

My Pentax K1000 doesn't have the self-timer lever issue as the others, but I find the lens release button again interferes slightly with my grip.

All of the Pentax cameras have an ergonomic advantage in that the DOF scales on their lenses are much easier to read than the DOF scales on Nikon lenses.

With respect to digital cameras, they all benefit from modern ergonomic design but (except for the M series) suffer from an over-abundance of small buttons and other controls which require too much fine motor skill to operate. Although I don't own one, I'd say the digital camera with the comfiest grip is the Nikon Z series.

I've never owned a Leica, but have handled several M cameras. I could get used to their ergonomics very quickly.
 
I like the Leica III black/nickel with a black paint SBOOI (Leitz 50mm bright line finder) and a Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5 in black. Close to the ideal.

Leica III black/nickel/Color Skopar 50mm f/2.5/TMY400-2/AdoxMCC110

Erik.

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Tough call, for film maybe the Bronica RF645. That camera just felt about perfect in its layout. Or the Nikon F5 for its supremely comfortable grip.

Digital either the Ricoh GR III or Epson R-D1 with a X100 series close behind.

Shawn
 
They've been named but the first that come to mind are the M5 and the Nikon F80...very different but they each rest so easily in the hand.

AAlfano named my biggest ergonic gripe: when the self timer sits where my right middle fingers wants to go. Pentax K1000 and SV are good for this (SV has an elegant self timer built into the film rewind) and the Olympus OM4 has a flat timer switch that I like.
 
I’ve been using two working UR Leicas and can attest to their great feel. Very comfortable size weight and finger positions. Better feel than later Leicas.
 
Very best fit to my hands of any camera I've owned is the Olympus E-1 DSLR. Every control is exactly where I want it to be, it's not over burdened with too many buttons and such, and it balances beautifully with the Zuiko Digital High Grade lenses designed for it. Despite being 17 years old, only 5 Mpixel, and having write speed that compete with glaciers for slow-moving, it remains the best in hand and takes great pictures too. (The Leica R8 is similar, has a better viewfinder, but weighs too much. The Leicaflex SL is similar too, almost as ergonomically shaped. The M is very good, particularly the M-D262 and M4-2, and the digital CL is very close albeit a bit small in my hands. Of eye level cameras, the Hasselblad X1D is the closest second.) For eye level cameras, the Olympus E-1 is my summit.

But. That's for eye level cameras. I happen to love waist level cameras just as much and designs that work for eye level cameras are almost never really good for waist level cameras. For waist level cameras, having been through Rolleiflex and Mamiya TLRs, Mamiya 645 SLR, Bronica 645 ETRS and SQ, I've come to rest on the Hasselblad V system as the best to handle. Not the fastest, but the best: A 500 series body with Planar 80 or Makro-Planar 120, a WL finder, and either an A12 or CFVII 50c back just works to near perfection for both hand-held and tripod use. The 907x follows the tradition well although the very short body doesn't give as much space to hold as easily or securely, it needs a grip on the left side angled for waist level hold to be used with the LCD flipped out to 45 or 90 degrees.

Honorable mention for eye level camera use is a Minox B. Walter Zapp did an outstanding job with the pre-metering Minox subminiatures' shape, size, weight and control design; the B's added light meter gave the body just that tiny bit more balance and heft needed to let it balance better and make it nearly perfect. And the whole camera in its case is barely larger than a pack of chewing gum and can fit in almost any pocket without making so much as a bulge.

G
 
The camera that got me into photography was the Panasonic DMC-LC1. Every control in the right place. I still wish an updated version of this would be made with an up to date sensor and viewfinder, and the non extending fast zoom. The closest thing to it I feel was the Leica X Vario, which I have been tempted to try, but the lack of built in EVF really put me off.
 
Leica M, by a long way. Olympus OM1/2 for SLR. I haven't used an r6 but I suspect it would be around there too.
 
The ergo issue with M Leicas is the troublesome bottom loading.

No doubt a lot of people here are skilled at loading an M, but I'll take a Hexar RF or a Zeiss Ikon flip back every time...or even a CL with the removable back.
 
splitimageview said:
The ergo issue with M Leicas is the troublesome bottom loading.

No doubt a lot of people here are skilled at loading an M, but I'll take a Hexar RF or a Zeiss Ikon flip back every time...or even a CL with the removable back.
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It might just be that I've gotten used to it or I'm a crazy fanboy but apart from later auto-takeup SLRs, I find the Leica the most positive and sure to load. I tend to find myself fiddling a bit more to get the film in the take-up sprocket with back loaders.
 
Canon EOS Whatevermodel. Every one I've owned from film to digitals have had every control placed perfectly for my fingers while holding and carrying the camera was total comfort. I'm a Nikon and Fuji user now but the EOS cameras are fondly recalled for the way they handled.
 
Dogman said:
Canon EOS Whatevermodel. Every one I've owned from film to digitals have had every control placed perfectly for my fingers while holding and carrying the camera was total comfort.
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I agree 100%. This being a rangefinder forum, the DSLRs tend to get characterized as "shapeless plastic blobs" but using them is a joy. The grip fits my hand perfectly and every control is right where I'd expect them. Lesser-used controls are found in the menus but usually there is an ability to customize many features so there is less need to go into the menu.


Most of my DSLR experience is with Nikons, but what experience I do have with Canons is similar. Pentax, Sony, etc. I have no experience.
 
splitimageview said:
The ergo issue with M Leicas is the troublesome bottom loading.
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I've always considered the M's loading technique to be a clumsy solution. What does one do with the bottom plate while loading film? One photographer I know holds it in his teeth! And the back door.... Sure, it lets you nudge the film up and over the film rails if need be, but it seems more likely a clumsy photographer might jab the shutter curtain with his thumb.
 
Ambro51 said:
I’ve been using two working UR Leicas and can attest to their great feel. Very comfortable size weight and finger positions. Better feel than later Leicas.
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Not too surprising. I know many of us gush about the serendipitous Leica design, but it's a thing.
 
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