New Camera Advice

Nax

Hey folks,

I have found myself in a situation where I'd like to help a friend transition to shooting with a DSLR, but due to her special needs I need some experienced advice.

Her special situation is the absence of a left hand, with only has a vestal thumb (roughly a half inch long). Her right hand is completely functional. Attempting to utilize any sort of manual zooming was a bit difficult for her, but I'm not completely sure if she couldn't eventually work out a system.

She is an experienced P&S photographer and is really interested in making the leap to SLR but is concerned about weight and manual zoom.

She handled my Nikon D80 and found it too heavy and the manual zoom a bit cumbersome.

I'm curious about what your recommendations may be for something that's light weight, can take 3-4 pictures per second, good sensor size (12-15 Megapixel) and easy for a P&S shooter to transition into, for around the 1,000 to 1,500 range.

Her and her husband will be traveling looking at old towns and architecture and she'd like a good camera.

Any advice?
-Nax

ziggy53

I seem to recall a semi-professional that had no left hand and they attached a dual-handle lever to the zoom ring to expedite zoom operation. I'll see if I can find the article and pictures. If I can't find the original, I'll mock something up so you can see what I'm talking about.

divamum

Once again, Ziggy demonstrates that there is NOTHING he doesn't know (or can't find out).

On a different note, is she absolutely set on a dSLR? There are some pretty fantastic hybrid and micro 4/3 cameras out there - some with swappable lenses - which might make one-handed operation easier. Just a thought.

silversx80

Since weight may be an issue, perhaps looking into a mirrorless system is worth a shot (Olympus PEN, Sony NEX, or any of the new Panasonics). With the Micro Four-Thirds (m4/3, Olympus and Panasonic, not to be confused with regular 4/3) there are a good collection of prime lenses and small zooms. The system, itself, is very light and easy to operate the camera controls with one hand. The other benefit with m4/3 is Olympus and Panasonic lenses are interchangeable; so you can get either brand of body, and use either brand of lens.

I believe Panasonic offers 20mm f/1.7, a 14mm f/2.5 and a 45mm f/2.8 prime lenses.
Olympus offers a 17mm f/2.8, but rumors have it that more primes are on their way.

You can also use regular 4/3 lenses with either the Panasonic, or Olympus adapters. Word to the wise, however, that new Panasonic bodies will not auto-focus all standard 4/3 lenses. That will open up a world of lenses to use, but they are heavier and do not focus as fast because they're optimized for a different auto-focus technology.

Edit:

On a further note, the Olympus E-PL1 and E-PL2 operate their controls by button, with the only wheel being the mode-select. I've found it no issue on my wife's E-PL1. The new Panasonics have a touch-screen.

ziggy53

ziggy53 wrote: »

I seem to recall a semi-professional that had no left hand and they attached a dual-handle lever to the zoom ring to expedite zoom operation. I'll see if I can find the article and pictures. If I can't find the original, I'll mock something up so you can see what I'm talking about.

I can't find the original but what I remember is something like:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/761052.jpg

... except with 2 levers and they were positioned top and bottom. (It was probably DIY.)

The shooter also used either a monopod or a shoulder-bracket to allow the camera to be stable during zoom operations.

Qarik

an SLR handstrap maybe of some use. something like this:

http://www.simplyelectronics.net/mainproduct.php?pid=9943

try pairing a lightweight body with a light weight prime lens (no zooming)

puzzledpaul

Plastic clips as used for plumbing / rainwater pipes might offer one cheap way of experimenting to see if such a 'lever' approach would be suitable for your friend.

I found them useful a few yrs ago to support the end of a 100-300 f5.6L + extn tubes that was mounted on a macro rail.

pp

ThatCanonGuy

PP: Nice to know you're one of those 100-300L folks! I've always been interested in that lens, and I almost bought it but got the USM non-L instead (KEH raised the price on the L just before I was going to buy it). I'm curious: how's the AF?

puzzledpaul

The 100-300 f5.6L is even older than the 28 300, but it's also a push-pull ... and about a kilo lighter as well as no WA end.

@TCG - AF ok for what I used it for - undemanding situations
IQ was good, tho - but has now been passed on as too short / redundant for current snapping reqts.

pp

Edit
Hunted thro' my box of (other) pipe clips in the workshop and found this.

Even though barely big enough, it weighs next to nothing and even in this state (without any further customising) is more than adequate to operate the zoom on this partic. lens.

There's a vast range of similar clips around, of course - in a variety of materials / designs.



Edit2
Same clip also fitted a 70-200F4L non IS.