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| I actually made this picture with a Panasonic FZ1000 not one of the compacts discussed in this post . I think he is a bit camera shy because he moved to a different location the next day. |
The big appeal of these modern compact cameras is that they can reliably deliver very good picture quality in a compact package.
The picture quality is so good even indoors and in low light that I no longer have any interest in cameras which use a larger sensor.
But there is considerable room for improvement in the ergonomics, user interface and user experience provided by these cameras.
In this post I detail ergonomic issues with the design and implementation of the user interface of the
Panasonic LX10 and Sony RX100(4), then offer suggestions about measures I would like to see the makers implement to fix the various problems.
Size, shape and layout
The diminutive size of these compact precludes them from having optimal ergonomics. They are simply too small to allow the fitment of an anatomical handle and there is very limited real estate for control modules.
Both models have been given smooth flat surfaces and sharp corners. Presumably someone in product development thinks this is ‘stylish’ but cameras with the best ergonomics like prosumer DSLRs have textured, grippy curved surfaces and rounded corners.
The Canon G7X (2) has a textured front surface, a decent mini handle, a decent thumb support which also helps stop the thumb from straying onto the screen and bevelled edges.
I never read anyone on user forums complaining about the appearance or ‘style’ of this camera but I have read several reports that it works better ergonomically than the Panasonic or Sony models. By the way I elected not to buy the G7X(2) because of reported issues with the lens, AF Continuous performance and the stacked dials (Mode Dial over Exposure Compensation Dial).
I would like to see all these cameras have the lens moved over to the left (as viewed by the user) as far as possible to free up space for a more robust handle as seen on my mockup in the next post.
So they are small which limits what is possible. However I think the main problem with the layout of these cameras is that they appear to be scaled down versions of larger models. There is simply not enough space on the control panel (the area to the right of the monitor) to usefully accommodate the 10 buttons which can be found there.
I will show some ideas for an alternative layout in the next post.
Sony RX100 (4)
The main ergonomic issues with this camera are:
* The menus are a confusing muddle. They need a complete restructure and rewrite.
* There is no touch screen. I am usually no great fan of touch screens but on these little compacts the screen is readily accessible to the thumb(s) which greatly speeds up AF area selection and other selection operations. Sony could to advantage copy the Panasonic approach to touch screen operation.
* The lens ring turns smoothly. This gives the process of changing aperture and shutter speed a disconnected feel with no tactile indication of when one had reached the desired point. An option to make this ring clicky would help.
* A more prominent thumb support would help the holding experience.
* I wish Sony would include the stick on handle in the box. I paid AUD1188 for this camera. The AG-R2 accessory grip cost AUD18. I bet it cost Sony a dollar. They would make buyers happy by including it with every camera.
Panasonic LX10
This camera has more ergonomic issues than the Sony.
* There is no EVF. This makes the camera difficult to use in bright sunlight or cloudy-bright conditions. The problem is exacerbated by the ‘monitor style’ of the screen with camera data superimposed over the lower part of the preview image. The option to set the screen to ‘viewfinder style’ with camera data beneath the preview image, available on most Panasonic cameras, is not to be had on the LX10. In bright conditions outdoors I find the aperture and shutter speed readouts impossible to read.
I have a Clear Viewer device on order and will report on this in due course.
I would like to see Panasonic incorporate a built in EVF into every camera they make.
* There is no proper handle on the smooth front of the body. Worse, Panasonic does not make an accessory handle available. You have to experiment with e grips, croc grips and home made stick on handles or put up with the insecure feeling of the slippery surface.
* The aperture ring is a gratuitous ergonomic abomination. Why ?
It is gratuitous because it does not need to be there at all. The thumb dial which is much easier to operate adjusts shutter speed in S and M Modes and Program Shift in P Mode. The logical action would be for it to adjust Aperture in A Mode but in fact it does nothing at all in A Mode.
The aperture ring itself is very badly designed. It can only be turned with fingers of the left hand on the two small raised serrated lands. These are awkward to reach and the ring is awkward to turn with left hand over or under in landscape or portrait orientation.
The finger of the left hand on the right side lug (as viewed by the user) bangs into the third finger of the right hand at f2.8 as the ring is turned.
I think the persons responsible for this ergonomic kludge should be consigned to street sweeping duties.
Panasonic could possibly rescue the situation with a firmware update to allow the aperture ring to be disabled and aperture selected with the thumb dial.
* The exposure algorithm in P Mode seems rather strange to me. In bright light the camera will hold onto the widest aperture until the shutter speed rises to 1/1600 second.
The Sony defaults to f4 in bright light, an aperture more likely to be appropriate for outdoor subjects.
* Panasonic is still using its old primitive Auto ISO algorithm which does not allow shutter speed to change with zoom and does not allow the user to set a minimum shutter speed.
I would like to see Panasonic simply copy Sony’s implementation of Program Mode and Auto ISO algorithms. Maybe they could incorporate this into a firmware update.
Next post- some of my ideas and suggestions to fix these ergonomic problems in a small compact camera.