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| Mockup #14 in hand top view. The right index finger can easily reach four control points (Shutter Button, Control Dial, control Lever and the button under the finger in this photo) with no movement required from any other finger. The thumb can easily swing across to the left to operate the JOG lever without disrupting grip. the camera can be driven easily with these two fingers of the right hand and one finger of the left hand on the lens ring. |
At a Christmas family gatheringa few days ago I was the only person with a camera. Everyone else used a smartphone to record the event. I think it likely that this scenario would be repeated in many families around the world.
I think the significance of this for camera design is that the only people still using cameras are enthusiasts.
Snapshooters use smartphones.
It follows therefore that every camera of any size should be designed for engaging, enjoyable use by the enthusiast/expert photographer.
The technology of compact cameras has improved greatly over the last ten years. Better, larger sensors and better lenses have given us pocketable compacts with imaging capability to rival that of full frame models of just a few years ago.
The big problem with these mini marvels is their compromised ergonomics and user experience. Most of them are utilitarian little things which can make very good pictures but are not much fun to use.
In a previous post I presented some ideas for an improved version of the enthusiast pocketable camera in the form of Mockup #10.
But the camera I really want is a bit larger, to be carried in a belt pouch.
Increasing the size just a little can have a dramatic effect on the possibilities for ergonomic design with better holding, viewing and operating and a much more engaging experience for the enthusiast user.
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| Mockup #14 in hand rear view. Using the JOG lever to move active AF Area involves fewer movements, each less complex than are required for the same task using touchscreen. |
Some years ago Canon produced the G series line of Powershot compacts. These were typically small but not tiny. They had a box volume (width x height x depth) of around 400cc.
Then in 2012 Sony produced the RX100 with a larger sensor and better picture quality than the G series in a much smaller package having a box volume of only 212cc.
The G series and similar cameras from Nikon could not survive the technological onslaught from Sony.
But while the RX100 was a technological tour de force in 2012 it was and still is an unrewarding little thing to use. There is no handle, no EVF and the controls are all very cramped.
Canon, Panasonic and (soon) Nikon all played me-too-catch-up-with-Sony with a series of models all using the ‘One Inch’ sensor and most of them tiny just like the Sony RX100 series.
Now read what Digital Photography Review said about the Canon G10 in 2008:
“Coming from almost any other compact to this camera will come as a very pleasant surprise. This camera feels very comfortable and secure in the hand. The extra grip texture on the handgrip helps the secure feel. Metering and focus point selection, and AE Lock buttons are all within easy reach of theright thumb, but the location of the exposure compensation dial means it will usually be operated with the left hand. The camera never feels cramped, as long as it is used at arm's length.
Coming from a DSLR the G10 will be a revelation. This is one of the few compacts that feels as well built as a 40D/50D, and certainly feels better made than a 450D/1000D. While the G10 has retained the boxy rangefinder styling, and even the optical viewfinder. The further control enhancements over the G9 makes what was an intuitive camera to use even better for those who buy cameras to take lots of photos.”
You can see the DPR team liked to hold and use the G10. It was large enough to have a decent handle and thumb support and a proper set of controls for the enthusiast user.
I owned one of these for a time and always felt that while it was a very desirable size the actual design could be greatly improved.
My vision of such a redesign is embodied by my Mockup #14 which I present in this post.
This has a box volume of 407 cc, putting it right in the size range of the mid series Powershot G models.
But the design is completely different, drawing on my investigations of camera ergonomics over the last six years using actual and mockup cameras.
With reference to the photos, how would Mockup #14 work as a built camera ?
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| Mockup #14 front with captions. The lens housing has a diameter of 62mm which is 7mm more than that on the Sony RX100(4). This would enable a larger lens aperture. |
Overall concept
The design is a flat top with a collapsing multi-barrel lens as this is the shape and style which fits most easily into a belt pouch.
Maximum use is made of the available width, height and depth.
This design also provides a perfect location for the JOG lever which I regard as an essential control module on a modern camera.
A hump top such as the Canon G5X is 8mm taller and provides no suitable location for the JOG lever.
I would envisage a ‘one inch’ sensor with a diagonal measurement of 15.9mm and a 24-100mm (equivalent) lens with an aperture of f1.4-f2.5.
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| Mockup #14 rear. Layout designed for maximum efficiency of holding, viewing and operating, while fitting easily into a belt pouch such as the Lowe Pro Portland 30 with divider removed. |
Holding
You can see that there is a fully anatomical handle of the optimum inverted L shape. This allows the right hand to get a nice secure grip on the camera with the middle finger tucked under the overhang for security and the index finger right on the shutter button for immediate action.
At the rear there is a substantial thumb support with no embedded buttons to be bumped accidentally.
The combination of the handle and thumb support allow the right hand and fingers to adopt the optimal ‘relaxed, half closed’ posture while holding and operating the device.
Viewing
I have allowed 18mm height for the EVF permitting a substantial sized panel to be used with sufficient magnification for relaxed viewing in all conditions.
The monitor panel is 45mm high which I think is quite sufficient for easy image preview and review although it is a little smaller than the one on the Sony RX100(4) which is 54mm high. The monitor is of the optimal fully articulating type.
Controls
Mockup #14 has a ‘full house’ of controls.
There are three dials, each with user assignable function: one around the lens, one behind the shutter button and one around the 4 Way Controller on the rear.
There is a control lever in front of the shutter button and a JOG lever on the back just to the left of the thumb.
On top there are two dedicated function dials with inscribed settings. One is the Exposure Mode Dial.
I would make the other a combined Drive/Focus Mode controller.
There is a built in flash unit but no hotshoe. There is room for one or the other but not both.
There are 10 buttons in addition to the 4Way controller.
You can see I have labelled one of these as [Alt Key]. The idea is that pressing [Alt Key] + any button or dial with assignable function brings up an alternative function thereby effectively doubling the number of control points and the degree to which the controls can be customised to individual preference.
The [Alt] Key is located so it is easy to operate with the 4th finger of the right hand without disrupting the 3rd finger or thumb, in landscape or portrait orientation but will not easily be bumped accidentally.
Operation
In the Capture Phase of use I want to quickly and smoothly change all primary and secondary focus, framing and exposure parameters while looking continuously through the viewfinder and without shifting grip with either hand.
There is a variety of ways this can be achieved depending on preference.
I would use the control dial behind the shutter for Program Shift in P Mode, Aperture in A Mode and Shutter Speed in S Mode. In M Mode I would change Aperture with the Control Dial and Shutter Speed with [Alt] + Control Dial (or the reverse if preferred).
I would use the lens ring for continuous or step zoom (as preferred) and the Control Lever in front of the shutter button for Exposure Compensation.
[Alt] + Lens Ring activates Manual Focus with automatic PIP enlargement of the active area.
The button to the right of the Shutter Button could control ISO sensitivity with Button > Dial and any other assigned function with [Alt] + Button > Dial.
The JOG lever has the primary task of directly moving the active AF area without having to change grip with the right hand. AF Area size can be changed with the top Control Dial when the AF Area box is active.
Video can be started with any assigned button or [Alt] + Shutter Button.
Thus the camera can be driven in Capture Phase of use with the index finger and thumb of the right hand and one finger of the left hand without shifting grip and while looking continuously through the viewfinder.
Either ‘left hand over’ (lens) or ‘left hand under’ (lens) position can be used effectively in landscape or portrait orientation.
Operation in Setup, Prepare and Review Phases of use is assigned to the remaining control modules with the exact task of each to be determined by user preference.
Summary
So there you have it. My favourite compact camera which nobody has built yet.
The model which has come closest to my ideal over the last few years is the Panasonic LX100. I owned and extensively used one of these for two years.
Features of the LX100 which did not please me were
* The lens protrudes making the overall depth too great for most belt pouches. I had to use the larger Think Tank Mirrorless Mover 5 which I found just a bit too big for comfortable carrying on a waist belt.
* I strongly dislike the “traditional” control system with aperture ring, shutter speed dial and exposure compensation dial. Fortunately the camera worked well in “A-A-A” mode (the equivalent of P Mode on a camera with a Mode Dial) because using it in Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority was awkward and slow.
* I ran comparison tests with the Sony RX100(4) and found the Sony to deliver better results in most conditions even indoors.
Comment
I think that a full featured compact along the lines of Mockup #14 described in this post is a much better device for general photography than any interchangeable lens camera (ILC) with a kit lens.
Kit lenses usually run from f3.5 –f5.6. The lens on the compact can be f1.4 – f2.5 which is 2.5 stops faster throughout the zoom range. Even the current Sony RX100 models are 2 stops faster.
But the latest Micro Four Thirds sensor (in the G80) has a DXO Mark score of 71 which is only one point better than the current Sony ‘One Inch’ sensor.
If we go up to APS-C size we see that the Sony A6500 sensor scores 85 which in the DXO Mark scheme of things represents a one stop advantage over the ‘One Inch’ sensor.
The compact still ends up with a one stop noise advantage.
Sure the larger sensors are better at high ISO sensitivity settings but I have found that I rarely need to use high ISO with my RX100(4) even indoors.
The compact is smaller, lighter, easier to carry and less expensive than many ILC + kit lens combinations.
For long lens work I use a superzoom, also with a ‘One Inch’ sensor.
And I never need to change lenses.