Camera Shapes

[Dobick]

Rather than hijacking an already pointless thread about the "rebel" name on entry level Canon's (Sorry Christopher -- just picking on you!)
I thought I would start a new thread.

I have seen a few threads talking about how cameras no longer really need to be the shape or size that they are. If you could design a camera from the ground up, what would you have it look like?

I kinda sat here brainstorming and came up with a few ideas.

First - I like the format ratio that is used by 35mm (2x3) so I would keep that
Second, I think I would do away with the left and right sides to a camera and make it more of a box
Third I would like to see some sort of eyepiece that attached to the camera through a cable so that the camera could be worn on a neckstrap or maybe held comfortably down at the side of the body. It might take some work, but I think you could move the controls to sit under the hand while gripping the barrel area of the lens.

Imagine what the H system from hasselblad would look like without the viewfinder (to include changing the side grip to something that did not need to accomodate holding up to the eye)

With coupled electronic viewfinders, this doesn't seem to me to be a bad way to interact with the camera, but instead of having to raise the camera up to eye level, remove that constraint by putting the EVF at eye level and the camera goes anywhere you want. For that matter with bluetooth tech, you could probably do it wirelessly

[toverman]

It's an interesting question, Kent. The only things I might really want to change is how the grips integrate with the hands, make the bodies feel more organic, etc. It doesn't bother me that the SLR shape has stayed fairly consistent, as have P&S cameras (besides getting much smaller). Something already cropping up in some P&S cameras are touch screens to replace buttons. That move could mean larger LCDs without a significant increase in body size, as well as freeing up the layout to become more organic.

[ChristopherCoy]

Scott Bourne had the same question the other day on his photofocus podcast. The question was why manufactures haven't put 'auto levels' on the sensor if the ability is there. From there Scott went into the whole bit about how it isn't necessary for dSLR's to remain in the traditional shape of the 35mm camera, but people aren't comfortable with cameras not looking like cameras so they remain the same.

[janikphoto]

Part of it was due to the transition from film to digital. It was cheaper to put a chip in a current body and bayonet style than to start from scratch. Plus, people would be more likely to transition from film to digital if it used the same lenses and felt familiar to hold/use...

[Dobick]

I understand that a radical redesign would have served no real purpose up to this point, and I think that a shift from film into some radically different form factor would have not helped adoption of digital, as has been pointed out.

I would however like to hear what improvements to all camera systems you would like to see.

For me -- stability of a DSLR requires 3 points of contact - right hand on the body, left hand on the lens, and forehead against the viewfinder. But if you could frame a shot whil having the system hang stable from a neck strap, or using a pistol grip down at the side, or maybe cradled in the crook of your neck like a video camera, then it would greatly add to shooting positions. I like the idea of a heads-up display, even if it is on the inside of sunglasses or something.

And personally I like analog dials and switches. While the i-phone is elegant with the touch interface, there is a lag associated, as well as a lack of tactile feedback. I really like the tactile feedback of a dial. I can count the clicks of a dial. Can't really do that through feel (only auditory responses) with a touchscreen.

On a point and shoot, I don't like that you have to hold it out in front of you for a shot, and you always have to be looking at the back of the camera to compose the shot. There are some with EVFs, but that is a work around to a problem and not a particularly elegant one.

Just like in vehicles, I wish the camera design teams would go hog wild crazy and come up with some absolutely crazy prototypes, just to throw out there to see where the next buzz might come from. Probably wasted money, but automakers don't seem to have a problem wasting that kind of money.

[dminton]

It's on the way y'all. From RED. Just wait. It'll be just like the RED ONE in that it'll be modular and completely user configurable. Want your viewfinder on the bottom of the camera? Or vertical? Go for it.

[janikphoto]

very interesting and valid ideas, but nothing will be perfect. There are plusses and minuses to every design idea. If you really want to try something radical, it was suggested several years ago that we ditch our current lenses and sensors. Instead, it shouldn't be impossible to design a sensor that is concave, like the back of the eye. Then, lenses wouldn't have to be as complex, making cameras smaller, lighter, better.

Oh, and I would avoid your pistol grip idea. Cameras are already black, like many firearms. I don't want to be confused with a sniper when I'm shooting with a long lens!

[KD5NRH]

Originally Posted by Dobick

With coupled electronic viewfinders, this doesn't seem to me to be a bad way to interact with the camera, but instead of having to raise the camera up to eye level, remove that constraint by putting the EVF at eye level and the camera goes anywhere you want.

EVFs have their uses, but it's hard to get used to pointing something that isn't pointing at least roughly where you're looking. Tracking irregular motion would be a real pain. The lag over a wireless link would make matters even worse.

[Dobick]

Originally Posted by janikphoto

...Oh, and I would avoid your pistol grip idea. Cameras are already black, like many firearms. I don't want to be confused with a sniper when I'm shooting with a long lens!

Sorry -- wrong terminology for the pistol grip -- I am meaning a grip similar to the right hand side of an H2 from hasselblad that could rotate and lock based on the orientation you were holding the camera.

As far as the concave sensor plane -- surprised that hasn't already been implemented? instead of angled microlenses at the edges to maintain luminosity, arc the back surface...

The 7d has an interesting (but seems to be currently useless for my workflow) custom setting for aspect ratio.

On a different sort of track -- do you think that it would ever be feasible to have a shoulder mounted/helmet mounted camera with interchangable lenses and a drop down reticle to place over the eye with a controller that drops down your sleeve to your hand (something like a really beefy remote release)
Make it into something like a jacket that you put on and sinch down tight to hold in place. Something very akin to a steady cam system, but not as bulky

[ptrd]

Wasn't there a new prototype design awhile back that some manufactuerer made?

It look like you were holding some purning shears and then the lense was in the middle.

[Dobick]

While looking around for prototypes -- found this

PMA 2010: Sony Unveils Prototypes of Compact Interchangeable Lens Camera and Two New Pro Lenses

Sony is making a small APS-c camera with interchangeable lens