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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