My FZ30 with Bite Switch (Pics)

Here's me and my FZ30. The Bite Switch is in my mouth and connected to the remote outlet on the camera. When I bite down on it, it snaps the shutter (takes a picture. These switches are usually used by skydivers. It allows them to be hands free and it allows me to be able to hold the camera with both hands. There's a cuff that goes on one hand that mounts where the tripod usually goes. It helps me hold the camera since I'm not able to use my fingers. Thus, the need for the Bite Switch and cuff. Just ask if you have any questions. Comments are welcomed.

A view from my left side. The red piece in my mouth is made to bite on and hold up well.

A view from my right side. My cheek looks like it's about to blow up.

A view from the front. You can see the cuff around my hand pretty well in this picture.

Hey Johnnie!!! I was just thinking about you and wondering how you were coming along. Very nifty cool set up you have here. Looks like you are getting a nice setup to fit your needs. This is great. I am so happy for you and us. Your shots awhile back were very nice.

Are you able to see through the viewfinder easily? Can you zoom in and out? Tell whoever took the shots they did very well in showing us the setup you have going. Oh and did you think of this yourself? HMMMM a patent could be waiting.....lol. But maybe.

Thanks for the compliments. I've had to figure things out as I go, but I'm learning. I'm getting more comfortable with it. I pretty much thought up what I needed and some really nice people helped me make it work. Linux fixed the bite switch for me so it would adapt to the camera. A nice guy in Canada volunteered to make the cuff. I was frustrated and thought 'd never get the right parts to make it work for me. I'm glad I hung with it. I do have to get someone to help with rthe zoom. I don't change it often. I just move my chair forward or back to zoom in or out. My dad took the pictures of me with a Sony digital. Can't recall the model, but it's not the kind that holds the floppy disks. Thanks again for your compliments and for thinking of me.

RIVERFOOT wrote:

Hey Johnnie!!! I was just thinking about you and wondering how you
were coming along. Very nifty cool set up you have here. Looks like
you are getting a nice setup to fit your needs. This is great. I am
so happy for you and us. Your shots awhile back were very nice.
Are you able to see through the viewfinder easily? Can you zoom in
and out? Tell whoever took the shots they did very well in showing
us the setup you have going. Oh and did you think of this yourself?
HMMMM a patent could be waiting.....lol. But maybe.

Super glad you found a solution that allows you to take photos easier.

I am sure you are not the only one who would need something like this so showing the pictures of your set up really helps.

I know I will be forwarding this thread to two folks I know.

Enjoy snapping away.
--
Michele
http://www.pbase.com/percival

That looks like a successfula arrangement. Glad you are up and running. You mentioned that the zoom is not accessible right now. I wonder whether a band of metal or plastic could be put on the zoom ring, with a lever attached. A large hose clamp might work for this, and the lever could go on the tightening mechanism. Just a thought.

Hi, Johnnie:

You have a neat adaptive set-up. Since I am a bilateral amputee with low vision, you've caught my interest. My hands work OK, but since I need to walk with fore-arm crutches, it's difficult to stand and operate the camera. The FZ30 is rather heavy and needs the 2nd hand to operate the zoom ring. Yet, when I can use both hands, I really prefer the zoom ring.

I now have the FZ7, which is smaller and lighter, and can be operated with one hand. The zoom lever is around the shutter. And it still has the 12X stabilized zoom, and many other FZ-series features.

As for my low vision, I appreciate the large LCD, easy to read on-screen data, and the good readable menu system.

As I look at the pictures, I wonder if you could operate the zoom ring with the back of your hand that is under the lens barrel?

You are ingenious. I wish you the very best in enjoying photography.

Dick Stevens, FZ30m FZ20, FZ7, etc.

Johnnie,

keep up the good work. I wish I was inventive enough to come up with a solution to the zooming problem. I hope someone does soon.

Thanks for all of the nice compliments!

If you enlarged the zoom ring with a thick rubber band you could probably actuate it with your hand easily. Question though is whether with your style of holding the camera steady you might accidently bump the zoom?

You could get a properly sized pipe-clamp and cover the band portion with heat-shrink tubing to protect the camera, and make it look a little "nicer" and have the screw portion available as a lever or lever attachment point.

So yeah, what is the minimum allowed in this box anyhow?

Johnnie,

What a great idea! I'll bet you'll start seeing a lot of folks using bite switches before long. Good luck, and have fun.

sansin wrote:

Johnnie,
keep up the good work. I wish I was inventive enough to come up
with a solution to the zooming problem. I hope someone does soon.

There used to be zoom levers on the market, mainly intended for 8mm Film cameras. A ring to fit around the lens's zoom ring with a appr. 2" lever to operate the zoom smoothly.
As I am writing I am trying to find a lnk to accessories, but without success
Do they still exist? I dunno!

"necessity is the motherhood of invention" What a great idea. It goes to show, when there's a will, there's a way. Looking forward to seeing your work here.
--
Cheers, Gene (The one in Oregon)

Oly D-450 Z - DMC FZ1v2 - FZ10

Many years ago, I had a Hasselblad with a zoom ring lever. Very handy. Does anyone have an old Hassy lying around? Ha-ha.

Dick Stevens, FZ30. FZ20, FZ7, tec.

There used to exist a lever like this:

Its a bit like the devices to easily open screw-top cans etc.