less classic, more ergonomic

[jaapv]

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I agree with your assesment, Terry. But I think the main problem is the Digilux-2 like covering of the camera. As soon as somebody figures out a way to replace it by a more vulcanite or leather-like material I will certainly do so. I too am interested in another grip than the official one, which is -speaking of ergonomics- not up to the job in my nahds.

[nzav]

Sony? the company that developed exploding laptop batteries? I don't think I would want one of those in my camera or my hands!

[hankg]

Here is an illustration of the ergonomics of a grip. If you are walking around and raising the camera to your eye occasionally for a few shots it really doesn't make much difference. But if you have to shoot for several hours or the better part of a day with clients breathing down your neck while you coordinate crew, lights and models while shooting or in a fast moving tense environment under stress ( as in a war zone or a wedding ) - it can make a big difference. Especially if you are repeating that activity day after day.

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[jaapv]

I see what you mean. It must be my anatomy. When I hold a camera with a grip to my eye, my hand turns in such a way that I have a downward crick in my wrist. But I tend to hold the camera with my arm coming nearly vertically from below, as my elbow is pressed to my body which is different from your your diagram. I guess it must taught myself that over the years.I never realized I did that; I have just been trying it out because of your post.

[plasticman]

i guess it boils down to this - if you want a grip, you can buy one and attach it.

 

Some prefer cameras without a grip - if the M8.2 or M9 have a built-in grip, the option to have the camera without it disappears.

 

Good luck with the accessory grip to all of you wanting it! ;-)

[RSL]

I love the tentative draft, make it modular, put a larger battery into the grip, add an external power supply plus a flash sync and you will be on the right track ....

 

 

Bernd

 

 

We already have one like that. It's called a Nikon D2X.

[hankg]

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I see what you mean. It must be my anatomy. When I hold a camera with a grip to my eye, my hand turns in such a way that I have a downward crick in my wrist. But I tend to hold the camera with my arm coming nearly vertically from below, as my elbow is pressed to my body which is different from your your diagram. I guess it must taught myself that over the years.I never realized I did that; I have just been trying it out because of your post.

 

Actually looking at my quick sketch the arm is at to steep an angle. For a grip to keep the hand from rotating forward the grip would have to be angled and the fingers need to be positioned quite high on the grip so that the forefinger falls naturally over the shutter release. If you took a piece of modeling clay and placed it where the grip would be, then place your thumb and forefinger in position -then close your other fingers in a natural grip into the clay -thats the shape the grip should be. Maybe have small and large sizes. So my summary would be that Leica should change the pole of the current grip to an angled anatomical grip that fits snug to the camera body. Leaving the classic shape for those that prefer it and providing a grip that actually functions as more then something to hold on to.

 

It has nothing to do with making the M like an SLR, the size, focusing system and more analogue controls - less of a video game control interface are what set it apart.

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[elansprint72]

I think he meant that one had a choice of camera shapes for the same innards. Anyway, I did handle the Vlux1 and hated id, it did not feel right in my hands. So for me it would not work. Ergomics is fine, but not the alfa and omega of design. Just ask yourself why a Morgan is a far more desirable car than a Citroen, and why the Audi TT (with about the worst ergonomic interior in industry) has a higher pricetag than a very functional Volvo wagon.

 

I understood the point being made, it was about classical shape vs ergonomics, as the thread title says.

You did not like the V-Lux, OK, that's your opinion.

As for a Morgan being a car more desirable than a Citroen; that is a perceived image, try living with one for more than a few hours, as a novelty ride they are OK but you would not wish to use it as your only car, I did for a while but would not wish to go back there. Thre interior of the Audi TT was designed to be "stylish", the ergonomics are crap, as you say (although the new version much less so), another example of perceived image, no one that I know in the industry had a good word to say about the TT but because it was not aimed at folks who were interested in driving, it sold well. The early versions were positively dangerous in high speed corners due to an elementary flaw in the rear aerodynamics. I had a 3.2ltr version on loan for a while and, to me, the controls gave very little feedback about what was going on.

The Volvo wagon is an excellent tool for a particular job.

 

Now what has any of that got to do with less classic, more ergonomic, wrt camera design?

 

Cheers,

Pete.

[audidudi]

If a person must have a built-in handgrip, why not follow the Digilux 2 / DMC-LC1 example by simply making it part of the molded body covering and making it an OPTION?

 

FYI, if a D2 owner would prefer an LC1 grip, the part is available online from Panasonic relatively inexpensively -- according to their online parts site, it's VYK1H93 FRONT GRIP PIECE ® and the price is $12.02 -- and I believe it should be an easy swap between the two.

 

Panasonic Parts & Accessories is their online parts store.