Left Hand of...Photography?

July 22, 2009 11:58 AM

Is there such a thing as a left-handed SLR? My fiancee has limited use of her right hand, but she's rapidly outgrowing her little Canon point and shoot. Ideally, I'd like to get her a (relatively) entry level SLR with left-handed controls. Digital or 35-mm is fine, as I'm open to whatever bizarre eastern European models the hivemind can find. Under $750 would be ideal.
posted by Oktober to Technology (24 answers total)

I obviously don't know your wife's specific situation, but SLR operation is really two-handed. The right hand controls are a bit more fine, though, so if she can turn a dial with the right with some precision a left-handed camera may work. Sorry that I can't speak to the existence of such a camera.
posted by awesomebrad at 12:05 PM on July 22, 2009

Err, fiance.
posted by awesomebrad at 12:07 PM on July 22, 2009

The only left-handed SLRs I've seen are in ads where they've obviously horizontally flipped the whole thing for a different composition. I think you might be out of luck. Most left-handed photographers just learn to deal with it. I'm not sure if that's an option in your case.
posted by echo target at 12:20 PM on July 22, 2009

Response by poster: The last time I used an SLR with any frequency was my dad's old Pentax, and that had the shutter button and film advance on the right. We're more than willing to make things worth with tripods, straps, etc, but it's pretty necessary to have at least the shutter button on the left.
posted by Oktober at 12:23 PM on July 22, 2009

If she is willing to use a tripod then a remote release will certainly work left-handed. Some also have IR remotes that could be a potential solution. I have never seen a left-handed SLR.
posted by TedW at 12:26 PM on July 22, 2009

Have you though of faking a left-handed shutter button with a cable release?
posted by word_virus at 12:28 PM on July 22, 2009

Hmm... what about mounting the camera on something like a Manfrotto 322RC2 with one of the electronic or cable shutter release accessories? They make a big point that these things are reversible for right or left handed use. I would be going to a large camera store to actually try this out first prior to buying.
posted by FishBike at 12:30 PM on July 22, 2009

A more cumbersome solution would be to get a Canon (Nikon probably has a similar solution) DSLR and carry around a laptop, this basically allows you to control all settings on a camera and fire the shutter from the laptop. Note that unless your camera has LiveView (or similar), you'd need to have your eye up to the viewfinder for composition purposes.

This solution obviously has many drawbacks, but at the same time, would allow for one handed operation.
posted by jangie at 12:30 PM on July 22, 2009

A vertical grip will give you more options and a wired Nikon remote is just a switch with a couple of wires. A little epoxy, a normally open switch and a oem remote to steal the connector off of and you could mount a shutter anywhere you want. You can even use the epoxy to build up a left handed grip for your remote shutter button to go into.

However all the rest of the controls are going to a problem too. The command dials and assorted buttons are designed to be operated by the thumb and index finger of the right hand so she is going to limited in accessing those features on the fly.
posted by Mitheral at 1:06 PM on July 22, 2009

I clearly don't know what limitations your fiance has, but I have a Canon Rebel XSi and on the manual focus setting there's really only the "take the picture" button to press with the right hand, and it's very sensitive. My very small-handed daughter can use it if I'm holding the camera with my left hand. So your fiance could hold the camera mostly with her left hand. The other controls, though positioned on the right side of the camera, could be used with either hand.

I'd suggest you go to a camera store or a Best Buy or equivalent and have her try some out some cameras.
posted by cooker girl at 1:11 PM on July 22, 2009

Oops, instead of "manual focus" make it "auto focus." Sorry.
posted by cooker girl at 1:12 PM on July 22, 2009

Hold the camera upside down, as far as accessing the controls with teh left hand instead of the right.

However it is nice to be able to use one hand to zoom and one hand to work the buttons.

Prime lenses that do not require zooming for framing and composition (well any lens really) would not be subject to that need.
posted by digividal at 1:17 PM on July 22, 2009

Speaking as a lefty and camera geek, I think I can pretty well say the only SLR you will ever find with a left handed shutter release and advance would be a vintage Exacta. Some of the later models from the 60's are a little more robust and should give you something close in experience to your dad's old Pentax. Other than that, I'd go with the suggestions of a vertical grip or remote release.
posted by bill the tinman at 1:22 PM on July 22, 2009

A handle that can be placed on the left with a shutter release like this one for a Canon Rebel might do the trick.
posted by caddis at 2:08 PM on July 22, 2009

If you're open to tripods then all you'd need is an infra red remote control to make your DSLR totally left hand operable. I use this one for my Canon XTI
posted by merocet at 2:15 PM on July 22, 2009

In the same spirit as jangie, consider using an iPhone (or iPod Touch) with DSLR camera remote. A lot less bulky.

It's still not a perfect solution, of course, but it does give you a fair amount of flexibility.
posted by adamrice at 2:18 PM on July 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Exceedingly, exceedingly rare.

Check out Ken Rockwell's blurb about his left-handed Nikon.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 2:36 PM on July 22, 2009

A Bite or tongue switch might work.

Rolling F-Stop is a blog about adapting cameras for those with various disabilities.
posted by SpookyFish at 3:03 PM on July 22, 2009

You may find a battery grip makes things a bit more usable, since it replicates key controls. The shutter release would be by the little finger instead of the thumb...
posted by rodgerd at 5:04 PM on July 22, 2009

Bar some quirky early digi compacts, you're not going to fond an answer. Unless she has limited motor control in her right hand, I suspect she'll find it easier to get used to than she thinks. I know some excellent left handed photographers. A bigger disability for some people (depending on your camera) is being left eyed.
posted by Magnakai at 5:34 PM on July 22, 2009

Here is a grip that allows you to flip the shutter button over to the left side of the camera. (random store link). You could probably remove the flash bracket and just use the grip/trigger button.
posted by davey_darling at 5:53 PM on July 22, 2009

A bit indirect, but: try calling B&H? Or post the question here, or here?
posted by dubitable at 6:31 PM on July 22, 2009

If you or someone you know is fairly handy with tools, I would suggest a simple DIY shutter release cable built in to a lump of epoxy that replicates the shape of the hand grip, but on the left hand side. This could then either be glued directly onto the left side of the SLR body or attached via a metal plate screwed to the tripod mount.
posted by primer_dimer at 2:39 AM on July 23, 2009

If you're looking for a left-handed DSLR, the answer is: no. Just like you'll be hard pressed to find a left-handed manual gear box in a modern car, you won't be able to find a left-handed shutter release in any DSLR. I'd rather have my more dexterous hand free for focusing anyway, all you use the shutter release for is pressing anyway.

That said, I do have a Russian Moskva 4 6x9cm rangefinder folder (takes 120 film) with a left-handed shutter release but focusing with your left hand is a pipe dream.
posted by jedrek at 4:17 AM on July 23, 2009