Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.dcameras (
More info?)
"Grant Walker" <grantwalker@dodo.com.au> wrote in message
news:4208ae81@news.comindico.com.au...
> Hi,
> I have only the use of my left arm and as cameras are built from
> right-handed people I am having difficulty pushing the shutter release
> without shaking the camera.
> My fingers are not the strongest either, so I have problems holding the
> camera and I was wondering whether anyone else had found a solution to
> this problem.
> I am using Panasonic DMC -- LC 70 which is a nice compact little camera
> and fits in my hand easily but my hand tenses when I try to push the
> shutter button, the camera was fine when I tried it out at the shop but
> it's a bit different in real life.
> Thank you for your positive replies,
> Grant.
>
Does the camera have a tripod bush? If yes, then there are a number of
solutions that spring to mind.
At the simplest maybe a bracket handle would help you hold the camera more
securely. The old threaded shutter release film cameras could then be
trigger operated via a cable release. They were quite popular for telephoto
use. The more modern smooth shutter button would need some sort of
cradle-clamp-cludge to do this. I have seen some sort of device produced to
do this but I couldn't locate the source. It was for a 900 series Nikon
compact digital. It may have been right-handed of course. You might need
assistance to assemble anything along these lines as well.
I could imagine a handle down the lhs of the camera (black plastic grippy
ski pole type handle) , with a plunger-button on the top operated by your
thumb. Cable goes out from the bottom and returns to the rhs where it
operates the shutter. The operating end of the cable is located in a fixed
position by a bracket above the camera shutter button. All held together by
a bottom plate under the camera. Logistical problems in making sure that
access to battery & memory card compartments and that any displays & view
screens & finder are clear. Difficult to know how easy this would be without
having the camera in front of me!
If you have a general stability problem then a mono-pod could be used.
Assuming that you could use this one-handed then this could give you more
holding stability. Then the shutter button press force is downwards towards
a solid base. The actual fitment to the base of the camera could be with a
quick-release plate so might be manageable for you? You could also get some
sort of tension strap to keep it from moving away from you.
I don't know whether this would apply where you are (down-under?), but
sometimes the local high-school / technical college might look favourably at
your requirements and deem it to be a suitable design & technology project
for a student. They would go down the design, prototype, test, produce final
item route. Possibly not a quick solution. You would have to be able to fit
in with their requirements as much as they meeting yours of course.
Just a thought.
Regards
Len
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