What a Concept Camera SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE!

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Nikon D4x Concept Camera Design

Man this thing SUCKS! Shooters would be dropping it right and left, especially with a 70-200 f2.8 on it.

[johnastovall]

He either forgot or never learned the Bauhaus rule, "Form follows function."

[d2creative]

I'd have to hold one in my hands before passing judgement.

[texkam]

It appears form does not follow function in this case. Seriously, how many of these students have extensively used a high-end DSLR?

I broke away from an overly common form that was derived from film cameras and was dictated by the way that the film fit inside.

Yes, without film having to pass through the body you are now able to modify the grip to include some kind of an opening (donut hole) through the body so one can grip through the camera.

Now, when the camera makers steal my idea I expect you all to testify that I had this idea first.

[zebulus]

i think it kinda looks like a pentax 645...

[Dobick]

it's not too far off from a good concept though -- just needs a thumb loop through the center of the grip hand.

Looks similar to the h2 design, except infinitely harder to hold -- would be nice to be able to work a camera completely one handed regardless of which lens is mounted.

On the other hand -- having the tripod mount hole off center from the camera lens center is a rookie mistake in usability, and the fact that as is there is no real way to grip this camera is troubling.

Further -- when I interact with a camera, I do not want to go to menu systems to change settings. Give me three dials -- one for shutter, one for aperture and one for ISO, that are all workable with one hand all while supporting the camera with the same hand. That I can use. Moving everything to a menu system with multiple button pushes is horrible design in my opinion.

[ChristopherCoy]

That is just ka-fugly....

[thebeginning]

As much as I respect Nikon and their ergonomics, I must say that looks very inconvenient.

And incredibly unattractive.

[velvetmermaid]

It's ... I wouldn't say ugly, but if I'm going to change anything (aperture to shutter mode, EV, etc) I kinda need all the buttons & dials where I can reach them, and with small hands, that's a challenge! You'd have to completely re-teach people on how to hold the camera (and after I scan through the comments, I see that's pretty much what the 2nd poster said).

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by d2creative

i'd have to hold one in my hands before passing judgment.

+1

[dminton]

Strikingly similar to the Nikon E series DSLRs from the late 1990s

Nikon E3/E3s Digital Still SLR Camera, 1998

[tc95]

I wish they would have used a better lens than a 55-200 on it....it looks cool...and for the top of the line camera..it should have a top of the line lens...like a 10-1000mm f2.8

[andyz]

Looks stealthy in addition to ka-fugly... (I've no idea what that is, but it fits.)

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by thebeginning

As much as I respect Nikon and their ergonomics, I must say that looks very inconvenient.

Nikon had nothing to do with this, it's just some design-school kid trying to get some attention.

The design looks pretty unusable to me. The angled viewfinder makes no sense for hand-held shooting, and luck looking through it with a flash mounted in the hotshoe. For the life of me I can't tell from those pictures how you would comfortably hold and shoot the thing.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Dobick

it's not too far off from a good concept though -- just needs a thumb loop through the center of the grip hand.

Looks similar to the h2 design, except infinitely harder to hold -- would be nice to be able to work a camera completely one handed regardless of which lens is mounted.

On the other hand -- having the tripod mount hole off center from the camera lens center is a rookie mistake in usability, and the fact that as is there is no real way to grip this camera is troubling.

Further -- when I interact with a camera, I do not want to go to menu systems to change settings. Give me three dials -- one for shutter, one for aperture and one for ISO, that are all workable with one hand all while supporting the camera with the same hand. That I can use. Moving everything to a menu system with multiple button pushes is horrible design in my opinion.

Guess Leica has been making a rookie mistake since they started making them. The Tripod mount hole is in right corner of the base plate.