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How do you hold your 717?

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Steven W. Bennett

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What's the best way to hold the 717 for maximum
steadiness when using the EVF? I usually wrap my
thumb and first two fingers around the barrel of the
lens, just behind the flash. Unfortunately, this puts
my fingers out of position for using the zoom button.
I suppose I could use my little finger on the zoom ring
but...

Any contortionists out there with a better way?

Thanks for your suggestions.
 
Steven W. Bennett said:
What's the best way to hold the 717 for maximum
steadiness when using the EVF? I usually wrap my
thumb and first two fingers around the barrel of the
lens, just behind the flash. Unfortunately, this puts
my fingers out of position for using the zoom button.
I suppose I could use my little finger on the zoom ring
but...

Any contortionists out there with a better way?

Thanks for your suggestions.
Click to expand...
Hi Steve,

I hold mine very much the same as you , but I did try an idea from peter iNova;s book whereby you place a metal keyring around the righthand connection on your camera to slip a finger through thus avoiding dropping if you let go ,

I did not like it much tho , I normally wrap the sholder strap around my arm when im shooting just as a safeguard,

Jules

--

Please check out my site and if you have a comment please visit my guestbook . http://www.sonycam.co.uk

Julian Porter Southampton UK
Sony P9 & 717 Lots to learn :)
 
Steven W. Bennett said:
What's the best way to hold the 717 for maximum
steadiness when using the EVF? I usually wrap my
thumb and first two fingers around the barrel of the
lens, just behind the flash. Unfortunately, this puts
my fingers out of position for using the zoom button.
I suppose I could use my little finger on the zoom ring
but...

Any contortionists out there with a better way?

Thanks for your suggestions.
Click to expand...
--

Bit puzzled by your method! I simply cradle the lens in thumb and all four fingers, exactly as I would have handled my old SLRs (and the OLy 2100 from which I upgraded.

Feels very comfortable and thumb and forefinger fall perfectly on the zoom/focus ring.

Adrian L
 
julian porter said:
I hold mine very much the same as you , but I did try an idea from
peter iNova;s book whereby you place a metal keyring around the
righthand connection on your camera to slip a finger through thus
avoiding dropping if you let go ,

I did not like it much tho , I normally wrap the sholder strap
around my arm when im shooting just as a safeguard,
Click to expand...
Hi Jules,

Thanks for the comeback. I never even connected the
shoulder strap. The first thing I did was bust the lens cap
cord to remove the plastic onnector for threading the
strap through, and just tied the cord to the left anchor.
I picked up an adjustable wrist-strap on Ebay for about
$10 and connected it to the right anchor. It gets used
all the time as dropping the 717 would probably result
in a pile of unusable scrap.

BTW, nice pics on your site. I even like the family stuff!

Steve
 
Adrian Langford said:
Bit puzzled by your method! I simply cradle the lens in thumb and
all four fingers, exactly as I would have handled my old SLRs (and
the OLy 2100 from which I upgraded.

Feels very comfortable and thumb and forefinger fall perfectly on
the zoom/focus ring.
Click to expand...
I think I picture what you're saying, Adrian. Palm up with the heel
of your palm closest to you and the the thumb and forefinger
extending toward the zoom ring with the other three wrapping
around the barrel?? Unfortunatelly, my wrist does not bend back
very easily and that is quite uncomfortable for me.

Steve
 
Adrian Langford said:
Steven W. Bennett said:
What's the best way to hold the 717 for maximum
steadiness when using the EVF? I usually wrap my
thumb and first two fingers around the barrel of the
lens, just behind the flash. Unfortunately, this puts
my fingers out of position for using the zoom button.
I suppose I could use my little finger on the zoom ring
but...

Any contortionists out there with a better way?

Thanks for your suggestions.
Click to expand...
--
Bit puzzled by your method! I simply cradle the lens in thumb and
all four fingers, exactly as I would have handled my old SLRs (and
the OLy 2100 from which I upgraded.

Feels very comfortable and thumb and forefinger fall perfectly on
the zoom/focus ring.

Adrian L
Click to expand...
Pretty well the same. My last medium format film camera for 15 years or more was a Hass with a SUPERB 100mm f2 Planar lens. That was fairly big and long-ish so it was both natural and best to just cradle the lens on the underside and it gave support and just felt right. Same exactly with the 717..but importantly, with this 'cradling' towards the front end of the lens it means I can almost naturally use the zoom lens ring on the lens front. After having used the manual lens zoom twist of the Dimage 7Hi I'd NEVER go back to button-zoom and this twist ring zoom on the 717 is one thing that attracted me...it is a gem that a lot do not seem to know or appeciate...FAR better than button pushing

--
EJN
 

Steven W. Bennett said:
What's the best way to hold the 717 for maximum
steadiness when using the EVF? I usually wrap my
thumb and first two fingers around the barrel of the
lens, just behind the flash. Unfortunately, this puts
my fingers out of position for using the zoom button.
I suppose I could use my little finger on the zoom ring
but...

Any contortionists out there with a better way?

Thanks for your suggestions.
Click to expand...
--
Joe
DSC-F717, http://pbase/misterpix
 
Steve,

You'll be surprised how tough these cameras are. Someone ran over their 707 with a SUV and it still worked. I dropped my 707 on a concrete sidewalk with no ill effects last year. Thats not to say they are invincible but they can be tough.

gerrit
Steven W. Bennett said:
julian porter said:
I hold mine very much the same as you , but I did try an idea from
peter iNova;s book whereby you place a metal keyring around the
righthand connection on your camera to slip a finger through thus
avoiding dropping if you let go ,

I did not like it much tho , I normally wrap the sholder strap
around my arm when im shooting just as a safeguard,
Click to expand...
Hi Jules,

Thanks for the comeback. I never even connected the
shoulder strap. The first thing I did was bust the lens cap
cord to remove the plastic onnector for threading the
strap through, and just tied the cord to the left anchor.
I picked up an adjustable wrist-strap on Ebay for about
$10 and connected it to the right anchor. It gets used
all the time as dropping the 717 would probably result
in a pile of unusable scrap.

BTW, nice pics on your site. I even like the family stuff!

Steve
Click to expand...
 
Hi Steven,

I hold my F707 with a big grin on my face:) I love my camera, and I just thoroughly enjoy using it, and learning about it......being a girl I would imagine I have smaller hands than you, but still I often fumble with the zoom, it's in an awkward spot would have been nice if the w/t button was in front of the Shutter Button, so that you could manipulate it with your second finger while still keeping your first finger in Shutter Button.....but it's where it is and cannot be moved:)

I would really love the next model to have an Image Stabilizer in it, I hold my hand so it fully supports the entire lens ........ Skippy (Australia)
Steven W. Bennett said:
What's the best way to hold the 717 for maximum
steadiness when using the EVF? I usually wrap my
thumb and first two fingers around the barrel of the
lens, just behind the flash. Unfortunately, this puts
my fingers out of position for using the zoom button.
I suppose I could use my little finger on the zoom ring
but...

Any contortionists out there with a better way?

Thanks for your suggestions.
Click to expand...
--



Everyone has a right to be stupid. Some just abuse the privilege. (Unknown)
 
Since I dropped my 707 last year which damaged it to the point of Sony sending me a 717 as replacement, I have since used a wrist strap from an old cell phone on the ring near the battery compartment. Now I can hold the camera with confidence with the weight mostly carried by my right hand, my right thumb against that protrusion where it sits naturally and my last three fingers around the handgrip leaving my index finger loose to move between the shutter, the EV button and the wheel. My left hand supports the lens with the palm up, a la Joe Reilly. Carrying the weight of the camera with my right hand frees up my left hand to move forward to the focus/zoom ring or back to let my thumb reach the control buttons near the hinge.

I strongly recommend the wrist strap for those who don't like using the neck strap. I can't imagine the key ring being comfortable. They can be easily obtained at cell phone stores. I did, however, test it's strength by securing it to a door and yanking at it strongly several times

I can't see that key ring Peter INova suggested being comfortable. Can you imagine if someone or something somehow twisted your camera away from you with your finger in the ring? I know that's kinda far off but being an ER nurse, I've seen stranger things happen.

Omar
--
hamili
P5, 717,pbase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/hamili/favorites
 
A couple of years ago at Disneyland, a kid was playing with a toy gun mounted on the fort at Tom Sawyer's island. He fell while his finger was on the trigger. It pulled his finger off.
Hamili said:
I can't see that key ring Peter INova suggested being comfortable.
Can you imagine if someone or something somehow twisted your camera
away from you with your finger in the ring? I know that's kinda
far off but being an ER nurse, I've seen stranger things happen.
Click to expand...
--
John
http://www.pbase.com/johnrweb/ A PBase Supporter
http://www.pbase.com/domdom/
 
Steven W. Bennett said:
julian porter said:
I hold mine very much the same as you , but I did try an idea from
peter iNova;s book whereby you place a metal keyring around the
righthand connection on your camera to slip a finger through thus
avoiding dropping if you let go ,

I did not like it much tho , I normally wrap the sholder strap
around my arm when im shooting just as a safeguard,
Click to expand...
Hi Jules,

Thanks for the comeback. I never even connected the
shoulder strap. The first thing I did was bust the lens cap
cord to remove the plastic onnector for threading the
strap through, and just tied the cord to the left anchor.
I picked up an adjustable wrist-strap on Ebay for about
$10 and connected it to the right anchor. It gets used
all the time as dropping the 717 would probably result
in a pile of unusable scrap.

BTW, nice pics on your site. I even like the family stuff!

Steve
Click to expand...
Thanks Steve,

I appreciate that , Im still very new to all this but enjoying everyday so far and have lots of catching up to meet you guys here

Jules
--

Please check out my site and if you have a comment please visit my guestbook . http://www.sonycam.co.uk

Julian Porter Southampton UK
Sony P9 & 717 Lots to learn :)
 
Gerrit Pang said:
You'll be surprised how tough these cameras are. Someone ran over
their 707 with a SUV and it still worked. I dropped my 707 on a
concrete sidewalk with no ill effects last year. Thats not to say
they are invincible but they can be tough.
Click to expand...
I won't be trying those at home, but it's good to know
they can take some abuse. Thanks, Gerrit.
 
Skippy said:
I hold my F707 with a big grin on my face:) I love my camera, and
I just thoroughly enjoy using it, and learning about it......being
a girl I would imagine I have smaller hands than you, but still I
Click to expand...
I hope your hands are smaller than mine!
Member said:
often fumble with the zoom, it's in an awkward spot would have been
nice if the w/t button was in front of the Shutter Button, so that
you could manipulate it with your second finger while still keeping
your first finger in Shutter Button.....but it's where it is and
cannot be moved:)
Click to expand...
I find myself repositioning my hand to adjust the zoom and
again to take the shot. Not terribly efficient, but there seems
to be a flexibility problem with me, maybe from 45 years of
playing piano.
Member said:
I would really love the next model to have an Image Stabilizer in
it, I hold my hand so it fully supports the entire lens ........
Click to expand...
I could use that too - call it coffee-cam for reducing caffeine shakes.
Thanks, Skippy.
 
When using the EVF, I hold mine palm up in the left hand and thumb at the ready on the controls at the back of the lens for manipulating white balance, AELock, meter pattern. I reach forward with the thumb to do the zoom button sometimes, but mostly I work the zoom/manual focus ring with my right hand. Once I get my framing right, my right hand goes back to the exposure controls and shutter release.

The left hand grip allows a steady, firm grip on the camera without fear of dropping it, and a left-hand wrist strap connected to the eyelet at the body pivot on the left works as a drop safeguard. I carry the camera in my left hand, cradling the lens, when I'm walking between shooting points with the lens hood on, or stick it in the Sony leather case used as a holster (worn on the left) when I don't have the lens hood fitted.

It's reasonably ergonomic for my use. I wish the case would fit the camera with lens hood ready to use.

Godfrey
 
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