Photographer Petitions Canon for Left Handed Camera

[Canon Rumors]

<p>Florida based photographer <a title="" href="https://twitter.com/sylphotography" target="_blank">Sylvia Cacciatore</a> has started to drum up public support to hopefully get Canon to pay attention to the needs of left handed photographers. Sylvia doesn’t have use of her right arm and shooting with her left hand on a right handed camera proves to be difficult at times.</p>
<p>She contacted Canon about her issue and received a response that sadly I’m not all that surprised about. Someone at Canon told her she should try out the PowerShot line of cameras. This has motivated her to try and get some public support for her cause, a cause I think could affect a lot of people around the globe.</p>
<p><strong>From Sylvia</strong>

<em>“My name is Sylvia and I am writing this as someone who is disabled and is also left-handed, and I am asking for the consideration of the development of left-handed cameras.  I suffered from a brachial plexus injury at birth that caused complete paralysis of my right arm, which also caused my arm to never fully develop.  Living in a world that mainly caters to those who are right-handed and have use of both their arms is not easy. There are many things I am able to do using one arm, but there are times when some things are difficult to do. “</em> You can <a href="https://www.change.org/p/canon-inc-design-left-handed-cameras" target="_blank">read her entire story at Change.org</a> and sign the petition.</p>
<p>For all the south paws out there, would you pay a premium for a left handed version of a 5D Mark III from Canon?</p>
<p>Source: [<a href="https://www.change.org/p/canon-inc-design-left-handed-cameras" target="_blank">Change.org</a>] via [<a href="http://petapixel.com/2015/01/22/disabled-photographer-petitioning-canon-make-dslr-left-handed-people/" target="_blank">PetaPixel</a>] & [<a href="http://www.thephoblographer.com/2015/01/21/photographer-petitions-canon-left-handed-camera/#.VMFWmy7F-Ud" target="_blank">Phoblographer</a>] | image credit // <a href="http://petapixel.com/2015/01/22/disabled-photographer-petitioning-canon-make-dslr-left-handed-people/" target="_blank">PetaPixel</a></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

 

[SeanS]

Sylvia might be interested in something like this:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=14288

 

[sweebee]

stupid idea, i'm left-handed (with everything) but you'll get used to it, now i don't know better anymore.

 

[lol]

I've always wondered if this is something that could be catered for by the use of battery grips. Yes, it would increase size and bulk, and limit access to the connections. I'm guessing it probably wouldn't be really economic to also sell a native left handed model of everything, so an add on left handed grip might be a workaround.

 

[andrei1989]

stupid idea, i'm left-handed (with everything) but you'll get used to it, now i don't know better anymore.

before classifying the idea as stupid, you should know that the photographer who started this suffers from a disability which does not allow the use of her right hand. furthermore, an idea is not stupid just because it does not apply to you personally.

 

[Dekaner]

This seems to me like the perfect case for aftermarket 3D printing. Understanding that the body would be a different material, not as durable, weather sealed, etc. - but I would think someone savvy could redesign a new body and adjust the wiring in such a way that it would fit. I wouldn't expect Canon to foot the bill for this, though they should be willing to assist if a technical matter comes up.

Think of it like an automobile. Does the manufacturer offer custom hand controls for individuals that are handicapped? I believe most of it is done aftermarket at additional cost.

 

[Dekaner]

Whoops! - SeanS beat me to this.

This also seems like a practical and perhaps much less expensive option. It's a flip bracket with a wired shutter release.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=14288

 

[gsealy]

stupid idea, i'm left-handed (with everything) but you'll get used to it, now i don't know better anymore.

before classifying the idea as stupid, you should know that the photographer who started this suffers from a disability which does not allow the use of her right hand. furthermore, an idea is not stupid just because it does not apply to you personally.

Unfortunately, the Internet has allowed the worst of us to express ourselves.

 

[chauncey]

stupid idea, i'm left-handed (with everything) but you'll get used to it, now i don't know better anymore.

"I don't know better anymore"...would seem to indicate that his grammar is lacking as well.
Would appear to be the basis for the mother of Forrest Gump espousing "Stupid is as stupid does" :

 

[privatebydesign]

Anybody heard of Steve McCurry?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLgd6isBAoM

 

[Chaitanya]

I am not south paw, but I remember when it comes to computer peripherals razer had asked for feedback and released as left handed gaming mouse. The market may not be big but maybe canon can release some sort of grip to enable left handed shooting if they think releasing a left handed camera maybe uneconomical.

 

[smfpics]

Being left handed myself I can empathise with the issue, but I have adapted to right hand working. I would have thought you could modify a old flash grip with a wired link to provide a solution. But I suspect the market is to small to make a well designed and produced commercial product viable.


My personal issue is I am left eyed ( use my left eye for the view finder ). Not a problem when shooting portrait images, the body sticking out the left side. But in landscape mode I have sometimes nudged controls on some cameras, which are to the right of the viewfinder on most cameras, with my nose and totally changed a shooting setting. Easy to spot in the calm of a studio or quiet event, very easy to miss in the middle of a live music shoot.

 

[mackguyver]

Anybody heard of Steve McCurry?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLgd6isBAoM

I've posted this each time I've seen this story - I'm not sure how anyone in her situation could miss that.

 

[OmarSV11]

Id love to see a modular camera design, it would be useful for right and left handed users. Google Project Ara comes to mind, but not to that extent. Sensor, viewfinder, shutter and all that's on the center of the camera, should stay intact, but all the control interface could go into a modular design offered in both left and right handed variations. If I had a 3D printer and the electronics skills I could try to do something like that.

The idead someone else posted about tearing apart a camera to retrofit it to a left handed body could be a solution, but possible?

 

[Akhiel]

Grip, Grip, Grip!!! In this case a horizontal one.
I'm sure that a significant number Canon users are left handed. My youngest son (6) is left handed too and I see frequently how he's struggling with the right hand-stuffs.
I don't this that Canon should under estimate the annoyances. Sometimes you can get used to, but most of the time you do other things than photography.
I thing also a third party can consider to produce a horizontal grip for left handed users.

 

[sweebee]

stupid idea, i'm left-handed (with everything) but you'll get used to it, now i don't know better anymore.

before classifying the idea as stupid, you should know that the photographer who started this suffers from a disability which does not allow the use of her right hand. furthermore, an idea is not stupid just because it does not apply to you personally.

Your right, for disabled people who can't use their right arm i can understand, but for normal lefties i can't. Its more expensive, need different accessories, harder to sell and you won't have much choice. Or they have to make a left version for the xxxD, XXD and all the xD camera's.

stupid idea, i'm left-handed (with everything) but you'll get used to it, now i don't know better anymore.

"I don't know better anymore"...would seem to indicate that his grammar is lacking as well.
Would appear to be the basis for the mother of Forrest Gump espousing "Stupid is as stupid does" :

English is not my native language.

 

[TeT]

two programmable buttons and a programmable dial on the left side of a pro body could fit... and I would bet most any user would find them useful...

 

[jebrady03]

I'm left handed but can't imagine shooting with a left handed camera. It would feel awkward to me. But, I'm sure over time I'd get use to it. However, I would never specifically purchase a left handed camera at this point.

I can empathize with the petitioner though. Hopefully, touch screen technology will help significantly.

 

[Peer]

I'm a left hander and prefer the so-called right-hand cameras we have today -- this because it's more crucial for me to be able to pull focus with my left.

-- peer

 

[Marsu42]

I'm a left hander and prefer the so-called right-hand cameras we have today -- this because it's more crucial for me to be able to pull focus with my left.

Interesting point - maybe even some right-handed people would get interested in leftie gear for this reason?

In any case, more button customization would be welcome - even now, you can for example tie the shutter release to a button on the left side with Magic Lantern.