Hard to hold?

[jonbon]

Aloha,

Hope I am not being picky, yet my newly aqquired R8 does not have a nice "bump-out" hand hold, as I was hoping for. The newly upcoming Lecia DuxLux-4 is going to have an optional "hand-grip" that looks exactly what I am hankering for.

Wish the R8, "a tool one can use everyday" felt better to me in my hands. (

Question - does the R10 do better than the 8 in terms of "nicer to hold" - very subjective I know. I have the opportunity of exchanging the R8 for a R10 or even a TZ5 (which does seem to come with a nice grip), so any thoughts you may have on the R10 will be much appreciated.

jonbon

 

[Neil Gowlland]

Hi Jonbon,

I don't have a digital camera but am seriously considering getting one. A key selection criterion is how comfortable it is to hold (I have largish hands). Whilst I haven't spent a lot of time on this, I like the R8/R10 not so much because of the (smallish) bumps themselves but because they are covered in a grippable rubberised material. However, because of the larger screen of the R10, there seems to be less space for one's thumb.

I have briefly tried the TZ5 and didn't like it as much. Whilst it has a larger front bump it is covered in a somewhat slippery material. I have also read comments that, because of the larger lens, the weight is biased to the left.

The Panasonic LX3 is, of course, very much the same as the more expensive Dlux 4 and comes with a built-in grip. I don't know how good it is in real life and anyway I am considering neither of them, in particular because of the (for me) very restricted zoom range.

All other things being equal, which of course they aren't, I suspect that the most comfortable camera to hold would be the Canon G9 with Richard Franiec's custom grip. I have no idea whether the grip would fit the new G10.

Hope this helps a bit.

Neil

 

[jonbon]

Dear Neil,

This is very helpful and thank you very much. Interesting to hear of the imbalance feeling of the TZ5 when the lens is extended, and that makes sense.

I have spoken with the good chaps at PopFlash.com where I bought my R8, and Alex there does say there is a difference in the grip of the R10, better, rubberier and more substantial - though all dimensions remain the same for both cameras.

DId not know of the G9's custom grip - sounds cool - wonder if that will carry over to the newly spoken of G10 as well. That camera, as well as the Leica are too much for me at this time.

So, as the R8 really does not "fit to hand" for me well enough, its either the R10, or still, the lauded TZ5. Your insights and comments are much appreciated. Mahalo Nui Loa (thank you very much) from here on the Big Island of Hawaii. jonbon

 

[jonbon]

Thank you again, Neil.

I have the new R10 - and, to me, there is a definite improvement in the grip over the R8. Small thing perhaps, yet love the feel, and am convincing myself it was worth the extra $115 - and think it was! Love the new 10 and hope all is well with your camera life as well. J.