The RF System Challenge – the top plates
When I was chatting to Craig earlier this year, he told me that he felt “off” with the R3, like it wasn’t quite right. My theory on that was because he was so used to the 1 series camera, that the ergonomics were simply getting in the way of him naturally using the camera, the same way as 2 decades of 1 series camera before it. So that leads into this segment, the top plates of the Canon RF cameras.
Canon seems to have consistently laid out specific sections of their top plate. For example, the shutter button and front mode dial cluster that includes the mFn button and the record button. If we look at the R5, R6, R8, R6 Mark II, and even the R7 RF-S camera, where your right index finger moves off the shutter to use the mode dial or the mFn button or the record button is pretty much in the same spot consistently across the cameras. That means that for the most part, if you are even swapping in between cameras, you are going to find those buttons without having to take your eye off the viewfinder. Even the lower tier R50 shares a commonality and shows an ergonomic progression into more sophisticated button layouts going from the beginner camera to the prosumer and professional camera systems.
I always loved Canon’s preference for the right index finger being in control of the camera in terms of settings and function, more than just a shutter button. So, I’m happy that they are standardizing on one aspect of that. There is some variation from that under your index finger but much of that is governed by the depth of the camera and if it has a top LCD panel.
I wish they kept the 4-button / LCD layout from the EF mount system, but there isn’t enough room for all that on the much smaller RF system cameras.
The ergonomics are also consistent from the R/RP, R5/R6, and the top plate organization makes a lot of sense. The higher prosumer / professional R5 and R are the same, whereas the RP and R6 are like each other as well. We can see that the R6 also inherited the R5’s lock button as well, instead of the switch that was on the RP, making a more consistent layout across the three cameras – and illustrating that the R6 was more a prosumer camera, than the RP.
Up to this point, we can look at Canon’s layouts and agree that they seemed to have a good idea of what they wanted to do ergonomically.
There are 5 pages to this, so you have to click the page buttons at the bottom to advance the article. Something that Craig and I are experimenting with - we have some other things cooking for your reading pleasure in the coming months.
I'd wager to say you meant left/left hand here?
Looking at ergonomics at each camera on its own is a valid critique of their design. But I think a number of people particularly take issue with changes in camera ergonomics especially when they use multiple cameras in the lineup. Some people use an R5 and R7 for example, and I've heard it can be quite jarring when switching between the two bodies.
But, I'd say most people in the enthusiast/non-pro segment only own the one camera in a given range, so they get used to the ergonomics without worrying about overlap or confusion. But interested to see what others have to say. Great work Richard!
and yes I'm one of those people that would work with the 7 and 5 series cameras interchangeably at the same time. so the consistency of those two lines for me on the RF system is sad.
I came from the 5D-Line and had a the original "R" parallel to it. The R was ok. But i liked the 5D-Line better. Touchbar was aweful o_O
Than i had the R6 an shortly after it i paired it with a R5. Great combination. Ergonomics felt great. It felt ok to let my 5D go.
I now switched the R6 to the R6II. I struggled a bit in the first weeks and often forgot to turn my R6II to off. Switched to movie-mode instead :ROFLMAO: But i got used to it. I now like my R6II very much. Only thing to complain: i like the concave formed joystick of my R5 more than the convex formed of my R6II.
Before I sold my R5, I found it confusing to switch between the R5 and R8, with just one camera there is no confusion anymore :)
Oh! and another thing, I know a lot of people didn't like the move of the power button, I think once they make it standard between all the new cameras it will be fine however, I hate the new joystick thingy button, I think having the jog wheel doubled as the joystick (like in the 80D) would have not only free up some real estate but because of the distance between the directional buttons, it gave better control of the autofocusing points when moving them.
In all Canon is still the king for ergonomics and menu design.
I just hope they don't switch the articulating screen design. It's perfect as a side screen for video and even better for portraiture when acquiring different angles, thank God gone are the days of lying on the ground to get that dramatic look with a bride. I found it funny that all people talked about was using it for vlogging when most of use portrait photographers used it to get better angles of our framing. Just hope they don't touch it. It works find.
R7 wheel-joystick combo is a interesting design and I think it should implement on all lower end models. However I can see people with big hands(especially big thumb) hate this design.
The R50...... while I love the camera... where the back AF button is drives me nutty. Tiny camera, big hands... but it's too far to the right IMHO. It was also $500 and is pretty great for what I want it for.
Continuity will be coming, and it'll be based on feedback.
But, even when hiking, I far prefer the size of the 5 D IV over the R5/R6.
Not everybody has baby-hands, these cameras are hard to use without protheses like battery-grips or body "extensions". Isn't it a bit silly having to graft a piece of cast aluminium on a camera so one can comfortably handhold it?
How about a normal-sized EOS R* ?