Lens release button

Does anyone know why Canon switched to a body mounted release buttom from their lens mounted (FD) arrangement? It just feels wrong, especially being left handed!

why, because it's far cheaper

Damn you economics!!!!!!!

I find it awkward to press even being a righty.

bildeb0rg wrote in post #2408878
Does anyone know why Canon switched to a body mounted release buttom from their lens mounted (FD) arrangement? It just feels wrong, especially being left handed!

I'm left handed too, and I found a neat method of taking the lens off:

I hold the camera in my right hand by the grip.

Then I rotate my wrist clockwise which puts the release and DOF buttons facing me.

I grab the lens at it's base with my thumb and middle finger (this finger is longer and stronger).

At the same time I use my left thumb to depress the button and unscrew the lens just enough to unlock it.

I then move my left hand grasp to the solid area between the focus and zoom rings (24 - 105) and remove. It's now in my left (best) hand for handling.

With this method, it seems that the camera was made for we lefties. I can't figure out how righties manage it.

bildeb0rg wrote in post #2409091
Damn you economics!!!!!!!

Being economical is a good thing. After all, not only does it cost less to manufacture, Canon can pass the savings down to consumers and grab a bigger portion of the market at the same time, boosting its total sales. I can even draw you a graph if you like. Besides, it's not that big of a pain. Just press the button release with your left index while twisting the lens with your right hand. I'd much prefer the slight "inconvenience" at the savings of say, $10 per lens and a benefit of slightly shorter lenses.

I see your point. But I'd pay the extra £5 on a £1000 lens, if meant I could change quicker when I've got a combined weight of 400 lbs bearing down on me, going for a try, and I've still got the 300 f4 on. Ouch!!! Maybe Canon have just spoilt us all in the past? Oh, and please no graph.

Glenn NK wrote in post #2410267
I'm left handed too, and I found a neat method of taking the lens off:

I hold the camera in my right hand by the grip.

Then I rotate my wrist clockwise which puts the release and DOF buttons facing me.

I grab the lens at it's base with my thumb and middle finger (this finger is longer and stronger).

At the same time I use my left thumb to depress the button and unscrew the lens just enough to unlock it.

I then move my left hand grasp to the solid area between the focus and zoom rings (24 - 105) and remove. It's now in my left (best) hand for handling.

With this method, it seems that the camera was made for we lefties. I can't figure out how righties manage it.

It sounds like a good idea. For me, I rely on a similar technique even though I am right handed.

I put the neckstrap round the neck, so butterfingers don't drop the camera. Stabilize camera with right hand around the grip.

Use thumb and first two fingers of left hand to grab the lens around the barrel, and slide my grip backwards till my left thumb touches the release. Tighten grip, press left thumb into release, turn lens. The side of my thumb tends to slide over the surface of the release BUT the three fingers always retain a solid grip on the lens (if not, it's game over for the lens). Usually, this will also press the camera against me and hold it steady so I can grab another lens in my right hand, pop caps and be ready to change over quick. Technique.. it's all about technique.

And as the lefties have learned in a right handed world.. adapt. I think we right handed folks could learn a lot of lessons from them.

My sis is left handed - but has adapted so well that she uses right handed computer mice. Positioned exactly the same way - on the right hand side of the keyboard. So I can't see why I can't train my left hand to change lenses either

(I am almost ambi-mouse-trous (ie. able to operate mice with both hands ) although not as fast with my left due to lack of practice.)

Try it with a Stroboframe CameraFlip bracket on the thing....

At least Canon sticks to the left loose, right tight system.

This was originally one those obscure, 1 am, questions that hits us all at times. Thanks for all your input guys, but I think I'll use this as an excuse to buy another body! Oh, and I use a right handed mouse on the left hand side of the keyboard. I think it's probably 'cos I had no idea you could change them round...yep, I'm that green.

Lightstream wrote in post #2410897
It sounds like a good idea. For me, I rely on a similar technique even though I am right handed.

I put the neckstrap round the neck, so butterfingers don't drop the camera. Stabilize camera with right hand around the grip.

Use thumb and first two fingers of left hand to grab the lens around the barrel, and slide my grip backwards till my left thumb touches the release. Tighten grip, press left thumb into release, turn lens. The side of my thumb tends to slide over the surface of the release BUT the three fingers always retain a solid grip on the lens (if not, it's game over for the lens). Usually, this will also press the camera against me and hold it steady so I can grab another lens in my right hand, pop caps and be ready to change over quick. Technique.. it's all about technique.

And as the lefties have learned in a right handed world.. adapt. I think we right handed folks could learn a lot of lessons from them.

My sis is left handed - but has adapted so well that she uses right handed computer mice. Positioned exactly the same way - on the right hand side of the keyboard. So I can't see why I can't train my left hand to change lenses either

(I am almost ambi-mouse-trous (ie. able to operate mice with both hands ) although not as fast with my left due to lack of practice.)

Lightstream:

You have corrected me on my own technique.

In fact, I do the same as you - the neckstrap is NEVER off my neck. In fact when I start out, my bag's strap is around my neck, and when I unzip it to get the 30D out, I put the neckstrap on before I take the cam out of the bag!! So, I have two neckstraps on!!

As I recall, someone on one of these forums showed us a picture of the camera he had dropped - not nice - so I am doubly conservative and cautious.

I'm able to get away with thumb and middle finger of left hand because: I'm naturally left-handed and I'm also a piano player - my fingers are quite dextrous. I also use the mouse in my right hand - leaving my left hand is free to write.

But still, all in all, it seems to me that the lens mount and removal was designed by a left-hander.

For right-handers, the method I use might be problematic as this puts the lens in their left hand for easy dropping.

Incidentally, the Latin terms in music for right and left hands respectively are: manus dextrous and manus sinistra. Yes, the root of "sinistra" is in fact sinister. Of course we lefties don't quite see it that way.

Really getting off topic, the percentage of left-handedness is somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of the general population, and I read recently that one researcher feels that if young children weren't influenced (albeit subtly) to use the right hand, that the actual ratio would be 50/50. Interesting eh?

Anyway, as you say, it's all in the technique.

Going off topic... Being right handed now has a lot more to do with the devices that we use today. Though parental influence is still probably the biggest factor, the number of right-handed tools far exceed lefties. Computer mice are a good example as are pliers, keyboard numpads, most piano songs (right hand leads), cars - especially manual, and others. With ever increasing need to be right handed, it's little wonder most people are right handed.

In that light, Canon's placement of the release on the left side undoubtedly has a lot to do with the number of right handed users.

I hold my 300D in my left hand, grab the lens over the top with my right while pushing the release button with the nail on my right index finger, then twist off. Easy as pie!!

Canon's lens release button is right about where Nikon put theirs on the original Nikon F's that I have owned and used extensively since 1967. The Canon's lens release button just feels right the way it is.

Some interesting techniques, Ill have to try slipping the release button with my left thump.

I'm another lefty, and currently hold the camera in my right hand (with neck strap on), and grip the lens in my left hand, right at the base. That way the knuckle on my pointing finger is able to press the lens release, and I have a secure grip of the lens to turn it, and unlock it.