EX hand on - Weird Ergonomics

[BrenMyster]

I went down the local video store to have a play with the EX yesterday, since i defiantly wanted to give it a go before i invested in one.

The hand grip is very weird, its so far from the camera body with 1 minute my wrist was killing!!! this kinda upset me a little, I have been reading load of thing about the bad hand grip, and also after listening to Fresh DV's awesome hands on pod casts (nice on guys) I kinda know this is going to be an issues.

But then i realized that i hardly ever use any camera with one hand, and if i do i usually hold it by the top handle for getting low shots. At first it seemed like such a bad design but after a while i thought that it would work well. I don't know a single person who hold their camera in one hand. I would rather have this spinning hand hold design and put up with wrist pains if i ever held it with one hand than not. Getting shots from the waist and lower feels so nice once you set it up right.

I only got hold it of for a few mins but one other thing that i realized is that i kept accidentally pushing buttons when i picked it up be the top handle. this could just be me though.

Just though i would mention this.

[ericwestpheling]

the hand grip may seem awkward at first but it really is the best design i've ever used once you get used to it. your left hand ends up supporting from underneath the lens barrel, so that your left fingers can toggle to zoom and focus. It also helps to have a mattebox like the chrozsiel 4x5 clip on, which makes a great hand hold as well. it also helps to have the full size battery, which helps butt the camera up into your chest when holding it.

[myCharlie]

Personally, I think the hand grip was the worst thing about the camera. I think whoever designed this camera's hand grip does not know anything about ergonomics. Talking about balance, that hand grip does not balance the weight of the camera what so ever. I could never get used to it. How could anyone get used to it when it's killing your hand everytime you hold it for more than 10 or 15 minutes? It's like driving a car with the exhaust comes inside the car instead of outside of the car. Or, instead of a full circle steering wheel, it's a half circle steering wheel.

However, I do agree with BrenMyster that for the most part I will not use the hand grip. I will either use the top hand grip, tripod, or use a rail system with a shoulder pad. And if I have to use the side hand grip, I will have to use my left hand to support it for focus/zoom and stabilization since it's not a light camera anyway.

[ericwestpheling]

get some and use em for an hour a day...
http://www.amazon.com/Cap-Barbell-He...2393643&sr=8-3

camera wont feel heavy for long.

[RE1000]

get some and use em for an hour a day...
http://www.amazon.com/Cap-Barbell-He...2393643&sr=8-3

camera wont feel heavy for long.

I don't think it's the weight of the camera that makes it feel akward, it's the balance of the weight.

[myCharlie]

get some and use em for an hour a day...
http://www.amazon.com/Cap-Barbell-He...2393643&sr=8-3

camera wont feel heavy for long.

It's true. However, have you get used to holding this dumbbell slightly left or right of center so that it's not balance? Or let's say the left side of this dumbbell is 18 pounds and the right is 2 pounds. How's that feel for a whole day? Are you going to get use to? I wonder why they're not making such a dumbbell like that for exercise.

[BrenMyster]

Putting that grip so far out makes a 5lb camera weigh 10 lbs, I think the shoulder mounts will be selling like hot cakes.

But i think its just we have never seen this design before, Just like a new pair of shoes, you gotta get used to it ;)

[BobDiaz]

It would be interesting if there was a third party "T" shaped product that fitted to the bottom of the camera, that acted as a counter balance and helped stabilize camera shake. I assume that the bottom of the "T" which would connect to the tripod mount would need an offset so that the "T" does not get into the way of your hand. Also, there would need to be adjustable weights on the ends of the "T" to help balance the unit.

Bob Diaz

[BrenMyster]

Good idea, although this will just add unwanted weight to the camera,

I was thinking more along the lines of a cyborg hand transplant.

[ClarkPeters]

I really don't have a problem with the ergonomics of the EX1.

When I do handhold it, it reminds me of the medium format still cameras I used to use. (My background is still photography, and I have no experience with shoulder-mount cameras.) Right hand goes in the handle, palm of my left hand under the base of the camera body. This puts my index finger on the focus ring, my middle finger on the zoom ring, and my thumb on the iris. My elbows tuck into my abdomen for stability and suppport, but I do have to be careful about breathing hard.

I probably wouldn't want to do this all day, but I use a tripod most of the time anyway.
Clark