Hi Erwin,
I see how it works for you. Unfortunately for me, I almost exclusively
use aperture priority mode, so I am always forced to support a good chunk of
the camera's weight with my right hand.
Thanks,
Ed
----- Original Message -----
From: "Erwin Vereecken" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 9:44 AM
Subject: Re: MZ-S focus point selection
> Hi Ed,
>
> It was just an idea from my side based on my experience with the MZ5n. So
> the following story is most based on that ofcourse, and explains why I
> 'think' it would work for me.
>
> First I would like to say it took me a long time (a year) before I knew
how
> to use my MZ5n properly, ergonomically speaking.
>
> I was very unhappy with it's ergonomics, I have big hands, found no room
to
> place my fingers, my index finger was halfway over the shutter button, the
> neck strap was always in the way, and I got cramps if I held it for a long
> time.
> And also relating to the MZ-S subject, the AF selector switch was a
> nightmare to use.
>
> I didn't like the idea of adding a battery grip either, the MZ5n is
already
> roughly the size of a K1000, I don't need AA because I don't shoot that
many
> rolls as an amateur, and I often use a tripod, so I don't like the idea of
> putting a battery pack inbetween.
>
> So I much preferred to use my SFX, with it's big and comfortable grip.
>
> However, not to long ago I noticed that when I was handholding the MZ5n
with
> my F*300 f4.5, the ergonomics all of a sudden started to fit.
>
> So I studied why, and to put it in short, the MZ5n is a left hand camera,
> not a right hand camera like the SFX.
>
> With this I mean you have to take it to your eye with your left hand, and
> add your right hand when the camera is between chest and eye height. When
> the F*300 was on it, I did this naturally, because of the size and weight
of
> the lens. But with smaller lenses, I tried to hold and handle it as my
SFX,
> and that caused all the problems.
>
> Just try this:
> Bring the camera to upper chest height, quite close to the chest, with the
> left hand only (holding it more or less like you were adjusting the
aperture
> ring)
> Now add the right hand. Because the position the camera is in, your right
> hand should now come from a front/ below direction, with the palm of the
> hand turned in a 90° corner with your chest.
> Now take the camera to your eye, but keep roughly 90% of the weight
> supported by the left hand, and keep a relatively loose grip with the
right
> hand.
>
> Now I don't know what this will do for you, but for me it's just perfect.
> The index finger drops right over the shutter, the thumb fits nicely, and
to
> come back to the subject, the back of the fingernail of my middle finger
> rests against the AF switch.
>
> Now in this position you can't really hold the full weight of camera and
> lens properly with the right hand, but it makes more sense anyway to do
this
> with the left arm, which, cradled to the chest, gives more stability. And
> that's why I say the MZ5n is a left hand camera.
>
> Asfar as reach is concerned to operate the AF switch, my middle finger is
> almost complety turned inwards when the nail rests again the switch, when
I
> stretch it out, withouth changing the position of my hand, it reaches the
> middle of the lens, just in front of the top of the aperure ring.
> So this should work also for smaller hands. And the MZ-S grip is only
> deeper, and does not make the camera wider, so this reach should be the
> same.
>
> Asfar a dexterity is concerned, flipping the switch up and down with the
> fingernail is quite easy for me, and especially flipping it up with the
back
> of the nail is really easy. And in case of selecting focussing points with
> the MZ-S, all that's needed could be a slight pressure with the back of
the
> fingernail.
>
>
> And you said:
> "Well, so far, nobody who has handled the camera has found it easy to do
> with
> the right hand, while keeping a finger on the shutter, and simultaneously
> using the thumb or another finger to turn the right side command dial to
> select the focus point"
>
> Because I use the right hand only "loosely" with my present MZ5n
technique,
> I don't see much problems in using thumb and middle finger at the same
time.
> I do tighten the right hand grip slightly when
> focussing manually (but we are talking about AF), and adjusting the
aperture
> ring (but my brain couldn't handle that much actions simultaniously), but
> only then.
>
> So based on this experience, I suspect it could work for me, but that
> doesn't mean it would work for everybody, and I would have to try it first
> ofcourse.
>
> So sofar it's just an idea, but I thought it was worth mentioning, because
> it would make the AF system more suitable for fast action, espescially
with
> big lens/monopod/tripod combo's, where you don't want your left hand
> reaching underneath the camera.
>
> Erwin
>
>
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