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Chief camera designer on the lookout for new ergonomic mistakes Many camera historians   identify the UR-Leica of 1914 as the fore-runner of the modern hand held camera. With over a hundred years evolution you might expect that modern cameras would have gotten their user interface to a point that most people can pick one up and work it right away. Motor cars have a similar historical timeline. The Ford model T automobile started mass production on an assembly line in 1913. Automobiles have evolved to the point that I can hire one anywhere in the world and expect to be able to drive it using a set of controls which with a few minor exceptions (like the windscreen wipers) are universal everywhere. If this were not so all pedestrians and most vehicle users would be dead by now. Cameras are a totally different story. The people who design and make cameras continue to bequeath their products with a bewildering muddle of different types and designs of controls. Even within any one make of ca

In my post of   12 June I wrote about the a6500……. “The a6500 ……feels like a half finished project, flashy/brilliant in some abilities but borderline unusable in others with an interface which needs a complete root-and-branch redesign. ” This post presents a more formal examination of some of the issues particularly those affecting the user experience which can be frustrating . Setup Phase The a6500 uses an older version of the Sony menu system with no My Menu. This is disappointing to put it mildly. There are too many items altogether with numerous redundant and or confusing items. Focus and autofocus options are confusing. I found options for display settings in 6 different places scattered about the submenus. Like items are separated, unlike items together. Sony has attempted to gather similar items together but the project is only partly successful and needs much more work. Navigation and the graphical user interface are good. Setup score 9/15 Prepare Phase This is better managed.

FZ1000.2 The main difference   between the original FZ1000 and the Mk2 version is the user interface including the external layout and controls. The original was decently well designed but the user interface of the Mk2 is better in every respect. In fact the FZ1000.2 is one of the most user friendly cameras I have owned providing an enjoyable, streamlined operating experience. Setup Phase The FZ1000.2 has Panasonic’s latest mid range Menu system with a My Menu and subheadings in the Custom menu, very nice graphical user interface and easy navigation. It is one of the better menu offerings among currently available cameras but could still be substantially improved. In my view all the camera makers need to undertake a root-and-branch re-design of   their menu systems using photographer relevant categories. Old style submenus like [camera symbol] and [Custom] really mean nothing. In addition Panasonic could improve navigation to enable whole page jumps. Setup score 11/15 Prepare Phase Thi

FZ1000.2    Either camera can do BIF quite well. A good bridge camera is a wonderful thing providing a range of focal lengths from wide to very long, good performance and image quality and all this without ever having to change lenses. In my view the two best bridge cameras available right now are the Sony RX10.4 and the Lumix FZ1000.2. Either of these models provides a genuinely usable alternative to an interchangeable lens model with a bag full of   prime and zoom lenses. Purists will no doubt argue that the 15.9mm diagonal (Sony) sensor in these cameras cannot deliver the outright image quality of an ILC with a larger sensor. That is technically true however I have made thousands of photos with these cameras and find their picture quality excellent if the cameras are used thoughtfully. Basically this involves strategies to keep the ISO sensitivity at a low level in low light by utilising slow shutter speeds and wide lens apertures. This is not difficult. If depth of field requireme

Camera Setup Phase Max 15 Prepare Phase Max 15               Capture Phase Review Phase Max 5 Total Max 100 Holding Max 20 Viewing Max 20 Operating Max 25 Sony A3500 5 5 12 7 8 2 39 Nikon 1 V2 7 6 12 10 8 3 46 Panasonic LX10 10 10 5 6 8 5 46 Panasonic GM5 10 10 4 10 12 2 48 Nikon P900 10 6 13 11 8 2 50 Panasonic TZ110 9 10 4 9 13 5 50 Sony RX100 Mk4 9 10 7 10 10 5 51 Sony RX100.5A 10 10 7 10 10 5 52 Panasonic TZ70 9 10 6 9 13 2 52 Canon G7X.2 9 8 8 9 14 5 53 Panasonic TZ80 9 10 7 9 13 5 53 Panasonic LX100.1/2 10 8 11 10 10 5 54 Canon SX60 9 8 16 11 6 4 54 Leica D-Lux7 with handle 10 8 12 10 10 5 55 Panasonic TZ90 9 10 7 10 14 5 55 Fuji X-T1 10 9 9 13 10 4 55 Nikon B700 9 8 16 9 13 2