Do Compact Cameras Have a Future ?

Ergonomics of Very Small Cameras

Mockup of a very small camera as proof of concept. A camera can be very small yet still have decent ergonomics and a well developed user interface.

 

Challenge of the Smart Phone    Not so many years ago, if you wanted to make a photograph, you needed a camera of some kind. These days most photographs made by most people utilise a smart phone. Image quality from these devices is improving every year. So who needs a camera ?  For many people the answer to this question is..... "Not me."

It comes as no surprise therefore that sales of compact cameras have fallen dramatically over the last few years.

Rear View of the mockup

 

Compact Camera Fightback  It seems to me that if compact cameras are to survive at all they need to offer a substantial improvement over smart phones in image quality, performance and the user experience. The camera has to be engaging and enjoyable to use. It has to provide a clear step up from the utilitarian convenience of a smart phone.

Image quality and performance are largely driven by technological development. The user experience is mainly defined by ergonomics.

Holding the mockup one handed. The right index finger can move easily from the shutter button to the scroll wheel, as shown here.  Grip on the camera is quite secure without strain. The relationship between the fingers and the camera is quite different from that which would be the case with a larger body.

 

Whence my interest ?  Sony has caused quite a stir with it's RX100 and RX100 Mk2 compact cameras with their  large (for a compact) sensor having a diagonal dimension of 15.9 mm and 20 million pixels. I recently had the opportunity to test a RX100 and can confirm that this camera's image quality is better than most compacts. But I found the experience  of using this camera was utilitarian and not particularly enjoyable. I found it difficult to hold securely. There is no EVF for eye level viewing. The controls while functional are so small their use is more a chore than a pleasure.

Rear view showing how the right thumb can move easily from rest position to the JOG lever without disrupting grip.

 

The ergonomic design challenge  I wondered  if  it would be possible to design a camera the same size as the RX100/2 but with more appealing ergonomics. I have made many mockup cameras to test out my ergonomic design ideas but had not previously tackled a mockup project on such a small scale.

Mockup design specification 

Size  I used the RX100 Mk2 as a starting point, then allowed an increase of 2mm in height and 3mm in depth  to accommodate the EVF and thumb support. The lens module is the same size as that on the RX100, but moved to the left (as viewed by the user) to make room for a handle.

Features  I wanted a built in EVF, a decent ergonomic handle, a built in flash, Mode dial, main scroll wheel, JOG lever,  swing out monitor and sufficient buttons to drive the camera while looking through the viewfinder  without disrupting grip on the unit.

Mockup Size  Comparison

	Width mm	Height mm	Depth mm	Box Volume	EVF ?	Sensor Size diagonal mm
Sony RX100	102	58	36	213	No	15.9
Sony RX100/2	102	58	38	225	No	15.9
Lumix LX7	111	68	46	347	No	9.5
Lumix LF1	103	62	28	179	Yes	9.5
Canon G16	109	76	40	331	No, has OVF	9.5
Nikon P7800	119	78	50	464	Yes	9.5
Mockup	102	60	41	251	Yes	Up to 15.9

Mockup features, rear

 Mockup Features Described

Holding  The handle at the front was developed in situ, by experimenting with different shapes, sizes and locations of the handle module until it was comfortable and located my fingers in the correct positions to operate the shutter and other  controls. You can see that the relationship between the hand, camera, handle and controls is completely different from the layout which works on a larger camera.

Viewing  The monitor could be fixed (giving the largest size), swing up/down type or fully articulated (giving the most versatility but smallest size). Each of these arrangements could work. As always with monitors, there is a tradeoff  between size and versatility.

The space allowed for the EVF is larger than that provided on the Lumix LF1 so should be adequate for a good viewing experience. A production model would have a soft rubber eyecup and sensor for auto switching the view from monitor to EVF.

Mockup features, front

Operating 

Rear of Camera   Many cameras this size have a circular 4 way controller module on the right side of the monitor, surrounded by very small buttons. I find these arrangements fiddly, difficult to operate yet  prone to accidental activation. So I replaced the 4 way controller with a JOG lever located immediately to the left of the right thumb where it is always easily accessible yet will not easily be accidentally bumped. A JOG lever can be moved up/down, left/right and /or pushed inwards. In Capture Phase it can directly move the active AF area. In other Phases of use it can scroll around menus and make selections.

There are 5 buttons on the back of the mockup. The function of each is user selectable from a comprehensive list of options. I would set one to open a Quick Menu for Prepare Phase actions. I would use two for primary exposure controls in Capture Phase (ISO and Exposure Compensation)  one for Playback and one to access the Main Menus. But other users will have different ideas about button tasking.

Note that the buttons are considerably larger then those usually found on a camera this size. Thus they are easy to find and operate by feel. But they are positioned so they will not easily be activated accidentally.

Top of Camera  From the left we have the EVF module, then the built in flash unit. Next comes the shutter button with surrounding control lever and behind this the main control dial, which works like that on a DSLR. On the far right is the Mode Dial with P,A,S,M and other positions.  The lever around the shutter button could be used as an on/off switch or power zoom actuator.

Holding the mockup. Not the world's best ergonomic experience as there is not much for the left hand to grip. But the right hand is stable and overall the camera is secure to hold and operate.

Front of Camera  On the top of the lens housing I have indicated three control modules. These could be used for Camera On/Off, OIS On/Off, AF/MF, Still/Movie, Power Zoom actuator or almost anything else as selected by the user.

Evaluation  The Mockup has a smaller box volume than the Nikon P7800, Canon G16 or Panasonic Lumix LX7 yet it provides a full suite of user controls for the expert photographer. The G16 and P7800 have their main control dial located in a very awkward place, beneath the middle finger of the right hand so the user has to release grip on the camera to operate the dial.  The LX7 control dial is on the back of the body where it is more accessible but it is taking up the place of the thumb support so is not ergonomically optimal. The control dial on the mockup is always easy to reach and operate with the right index finger.

The Lumix LF1 has an EVF but no handle but is smaller than the mockup and indeed smaller than the Sony RX100. But of course it has the smaller 9.5mm sensor and no main conrol dial.

The Compact Camera Dream....Wish....Fantasy......

Many of us have long wished for a very compact, take anywhere  camera with full sized  image quality and performance. The concept has much appeal and manufacturers have delivered many products catering to this wish. Sony's RX1, RX100 and RX100/2 cameras appear to push the  "small camera, big picture" theme further than any previous products from any maker. But I think the concept needs further development and refinement.

Summary  I think that if the compact camera is going to survive as a type of device,  it needs to move in the direction suggested by this mockup. It needs to offer the enthusiast/expert photographer the kind of engaging experience which is not available from a smart phone. It needs to be a proper camera which is enjoyable to use, not merely a utilitarian thing which happens to be able to make photographs.  It needs to pack all this functionality into a genuinely "take everywhere" package which will still make very good photographs.