The five best handling digital cameras of all time
2024 ж. 15 Мам.
119 918 Рет қаралды
Outside of technical stuff like image quality and autofocus, there are some cameras that just make you happy when you hold them. To celebrate great ergonomics, Chris Niccolls runs down his top five handling digital cameras of all time.
0:00 - Intro
1:14 - Number 5
2:53 - Number 4
4:15 - Number 3
5:47 - Number 2
7:35 - Psych!
8:08 - Number 1
10:23 - The wrap
Music provided by BeatSuite.com
www.beatsuite.com
Rental equipment provided by The Camera Store
www.thecamerastore.com
-----------------------
DPReview.com is the world's largest digital camera review website. Welcome to our KZhead channel! Subscribe for new feature videos, reviews, interviews and more.
Discover the world's most in-depth digital camera reviews at www.dpreview.com
What about Jordan's take?
5. Nikon Z6 II/7 II 4. Panasonic G9 3. Leica Q2 2. Fujifilm X-T4 1. Pentax 645Z
@@dpreview i agree, G9 is one of the best handling bodies, ergo/grip wise, has a heft to it, solid build
Hey maybe Jordan should’ve done his take too!
The Nikon F6 definitely feels better than the D750 or D850. The F6 probably feels the best of any camera without a built in grip. But my ultimate favorite is the D5/D6. The Z9 feels great too and has the best ergonomics as far as button placement and what not. But the D5/D6 just fit my hands like a glove.
@@CoachCSan Jordan's just the cameraman, he does as he's told!! 😂😉👌🏼
The Panasonic G9 is one of the best I've ever held. If I could have the lovechild of a G9 (video specs, stabilization, ergonomic, menus) with the sensor, low light abilities, and autofocus of a Sony a7iii I would never need another camera.
I second this ^^^^ that would have been the perfect camera
Have to disagree, the Nikon Z6 is a much nicer camera to use. Panasonic menus are overly complicated and their cameras have wayyy too many buttons in general.
@@jeremypentsil6390 I third this ^^^. Ergonomics and menu system. Best of the best.
I fully agree on this as I own both of the world's G9 Body ist my personal all over favorite 😍 a child of a G9 and a7IV (technical abilities) would be a dream
@@cyberwarfare9118 I haven't had a chance to use the Z6 yet but I've heard good things! I love all the buttons on my G9. I have literally every one of them customized and use them for various video and photography setups. To each his own though :)
I also love the Pentax K1. A few years ago I went to a camera shop and tried several DSLR and the one which fitted like a glove was the K1. Magnificent engineering by people who love photography - that's my impression anyway.
I sold mine a few month ago to switch to sony... I clearly miss the ergonomics...
Love my Pentax K-1. Completely switch to Pentax only after I discover the K-5 and then switched to the full frame K-1. Great line of cameras and I absolutely love that you can use those 50 year old film era great glass lenses.
As a Pentax shooter - Thanks for the K1 love. It is truly an amazingly intuitive, ergonomic, weather sealed and rugged body. For that matter, all Pentax cameras are great in the hand
My favorite is the Olympus em1 mk3, the grip is perfect for my hand. I'm still not crazy about the on off switch placement, but otherwise it's great.
you can swap it to the lever though! XD a shame if you already use the lever :(
The E-M1 is indeed very nice to hold but I don’t find it as intuitive to use as the Panasonic G7. In other respects and on the balance of everything, the E-M1 is the better camera even though it loses out on some really cool features. For handling, I prefer the G7
EM1 II has the best grip I’ve ever held on a camera
@@davidm5790 I so agree. All my fingers fit on the grip and that's with medium+ sized hands. I usually have a wrist strap on and when walking the grip can dangle on my fingertips and not fall off thanks to the subtle indent in the grip. It really is perfect.
Yeh I agree on the Pentax K-1. It’s been about a few years now and it’s big and heavy but it just feels right. So much control, so customise-able, so right. I also own a couple of Fujis and an Olympus but I always feel like too many things miss with them and when I go back and pick up my K-1 ii it’s just so good. Actually I like the budget K-70 better than them too
For years, I relied on a D750 for professional and personal use and absolutely agree it’s a great-handling camera. I currently use a Canon EOS R5 for virtually everything because, in addition to phenomenal image quality, it is a joy to handle (and it provides access to some of the best lenses for 35mm format I’ve ever used). Overall, I think your choices on spot-on. As usual, I enjoyed the video; keep them coming!
I personally thought the Gameboy Camera was the most comfortable and ergonomic. No other camera both takes photos and plays games all in one!
It also has a hidden music production feature called Trippy H. 😎
There was a Samsung Galaxy Camera that you could play Angry Birds on.
They should let you play chess on Leica cameras.
Ehh have you used magic lantern on a canon lately...
@@caffeinecreature samsung also played that game of how agonisingly soft one could make a lens with that camera (they absolutely smashed it)
My Panasonic G85 is basically perfect. Just feels great in my hand and all controls are where I want them to be.
Love my G85 as well!
"MFT ist dead" "Best handling camera of all time" MFT-croud: "Avengers - assemble!"
I haven't used any of the cameras mentioned by Chris. But I'll toss in another positive comment for Panasonic G series handling, menus, and general. IMO, they're fantastic. So good, I was actually a but surprised not to see the G9 (or its FF twin the Panasonic S5) mentioned but I think Chris personally is a bit more of an Olympus shooter.
@Ty Amararachchi oh ffs. I commented under the wrong thread. Please stop consuming cable news, especially Fox. Read a newspaper instead (the FT seems to be a very good start if you consider the American ones all biased) and emerge from your filter bubble. This religion-like support of talking points set by a few conservative US talkshow hosts is one of the biggest opportunities for a downfall self-inflicted by the West. Also: Stop hating Greetings from somewhere outside the US. P.S.: I know that there are many people outside the US who approve of Trump and Putin and dislike science-based approaches. They are however part of the political minority. To all of those: Please feel much invited to also critically check your own beliefs.
I used to be a Pentax shooter and to my mind nothing has come close to the K-3 series in terms of handling. Everything was exactly where it needed to be. Back button focusing was a joy and the grip was fantastic. I moved to Nikon and although they design great camera bodies too, the K-3 was something a little bit special.
Yep. But I also have the previous K-5, which I think was the blueprint AND the K-5 got a Gold Award for DPReview :-)
I vote in the affirmative and think you guys should do more videos like this. Initial reviews are great but a lot of camera shoppers want to know what it's like to live with the camera day in and out. This was a great start because handling, menus, reliability and many other things create the overall experience; good or bad....
I'm completely Nikon Z and loving it. But at some point I switcht from a D610 to a D750. And that was a big difference. With the D610 there were some 'pressure points' that gave me slight bruising in my hand after an intense day of shooting. No such problems with the D750.
Lumix G9 is the best I've ever used in terms of ergonomics, feels, intuitiveness, weight, build, handling.
My Lumix S5 isn't near as good as the G9 in terms of ergonomics, it's almost perfect.
My favorite camera I've used as far as ergonomics/usability goes is hands down the Lumix G9
Probably one of the most beautiful too. If I had spare cash, I wanna get one just as a room decor.
@@professionalpotato4764 I would absolutely buy another one! The only good thing about it being so underrated is that you can pick them up used for a pretty affordable price
The only things wrong with that camera are the terrible continuous af and the awful MFT image quality, the ergonomics are great though.
@@youknowwho9247 The image quality is far from awful and the AF is good for photography, not always 100% but far from terrible. For video the continious AF isn't good.
G9 has godlike ergonomics. The play button on the top left is bad though.
Most comfortable… Olympus EM1 ii. It’s the right size, does everything I want. If I want bokeh, I shoot film with m42 mount lenses. For full frame digital, the Canon 6D. It’s the right size and not to heavy (light equals comfort). I really don’t care about megapixels, 20 is fine for 99% of my hobby (yes, I don’t shoot photos for money, I do it for fun. ✌️
I think Chris mentioned that he really enjoyed the ergonomics of the E-M1 series as well. I own the E-M1II and G9, and I prefer the G9 for handling. But, G9 "cheats" in that the body size deforms the idea of M4/3 compactness since it sizes up to APSC and some FF camera sizes. Don't care, love both lol.
@@Estirvana Well said!
I do like the list format. However, I'm subscribed and I pretty much like everything you both do. Great work, top-notch video shooting, and quality, great scripts to go with first-class editing. I look forward to what comes next.
I'll be honest - I've changed my mind on this one a fair bit. I used to say that the D500 is my all time favourite camera to hold, but by now I've tested bodies with so many different form factors ... I really think it's all just what you're used to. Recently had an a7 IV in, then went back to my Nikon DSLRs. Both switches feel wrong at first, but are fine after an hour.
The camera that fitted my hands perfectly was the Olympus E-3. The first time I had it in my hands I knew I would buy it one day. And so I did. It is more than a decade ago since I bought it and I struggled hard to sell it several years later which I did anyways - and since then I want it back from time to time. It was just a joy to hold and use it!
Runner-up for me is the Panasonic G9 for video and sports photography. My #1 is the Pentax K1. Would love to be able to afford a Sony A7IV or Canon R5 but for now the Pentax K1 feels like making love.
My first DSLR was a Nikon D80, and I still feel like it's the best-feeling camera I've used. Deep grip, two dials, top screen and a huge viewfinder - all of these combined made for perfect ergonomics. These days I mostly shoot video using Panasonic G80 (smaller grip, but lightweight) and GH5 (bigger grip, but heavy), both of which I love, but D80 still has a special place in my heart :)
For me, my old trusty Panasonic G7 is still the most comfortable camera i've used. Lots of customizability, enough function buttons, very light, but still enough of a decent grip. As nice as larger camera's can feel, to me the heaviness just brings it down a lot, making me enjoy taking the G7 around much more for casual trips around - as long as the conditions don't get too harsh.
I was just going to comment myself when I saw your comment right at the top. Yes, I agree that the G7 is so comfortable, light, sophisticated but easy to grab and go. Although I have a Leica Q2 with grip and thumb rest and Olympus E-M1, plus a Sony A7 MkIII with the Smallrig grip, the G7 comes out on top for handling. The grips on the others do improve them massively but the G7 still outclasses them. Reading down the list of comments, Panasonic cameras seem to be disproportionately liked. This is no surprise to those of us that use many cameras of course.
I agree about the G7.
Hey Fabian. Like you... my g7 is still my travel and everyday cam. i have a fuji s5 beast as my stuido cam. yah its only 8mp. yes its from 2005. yehp. when they can beat that i'll replace it. speedboost a brilliant old nikon lens. Or try the manual ttartisan 17mm 1.4 and 50mm 1.2 and meike 35mm 1.4. and you get real metal lenses with aperture rings. I'm waiting on g9 specs into a g95 size camera.. until then no reason to upgrade. I'd get the leica 17mm but... i'm older the thought of 500 bucks for a lens is still nonsense to me. the meike is clickless so I'm looking for something similar thats clickable softly. Maybe laowa who have the electronic communication will make something.
Best camera for every day use: Fuji X100V, best ergonomics: Olympus E-M1X with 12-100/4Pro ;-) And the best thing of this cameras is: Both are mine.
Nikon D750 and the Pentax K-7 (with the add-on grip especially) are my top picks for ergonomics. I haven't tried the R3/R5 but I'd imagine they are very nice. I did like the RP with the grip extension.
I agree on the K-7 (haven't held D750 yet). Got a K-3 now but the K-7 is far better one the ergonomic side.
Thank you guys for your work! I love watching your videos. It was very interesting to get information from a person who used a bunch of cameras.
Minolta 7D would be on the list for me. I did use many different Minolta film cameras before getting the 7D, so that may be part of why it seemed so intuitive for me. The grip felt perfect, and all the controls were where I expected them to be. I didn't replace it until the Sony A7iii came out, and at that was mostly because I just couldn't ignore the much higher performance of the newer cameras.
Totally agree... I still use it once In a while...I never went into the menu after the first few times of use....fantastic ergo the button and diles were perfect for me
always enjoy your work.
Panasonic G9 is in my opinion one of the best handling cameras available. The menus make sense, the buttons and dials are in logical places, and it’s so customisable. Basically every button/dial can be customised to do basically anything you want! I’ve tried a Nikon D750 and the G9 is far far far better handling.
YES
IMHO: Handling is a toss-up. Image quality, dynamic range, autofocus are all in the D750's favor. The D750 remains a very under-rated camera.
For me - S1, it just feels right in my hand. And I can manipulate every setting in just half of time required to blink. I just love it. With every lens I own, adapted manual lens, or native glass... It is just perfect.
Meaning the Leica one?
GENIUS! You are a genius. You picked the correct camera as number one, but more important, you picked it for the right reasons. It's organic. How do you like that for a one word description? I had given up photography due to age, being unable to carry the big 1Ds and super telephotos and to stand for long times to get birds, and then storms. So I gave up. Then I thought, why not make photographs at home of various subjects. I started with flowers. A great solution. So. I needed a camera for an old man. If an old person can use a device, it's useable. The essential elements must be easily accessible. The R5 is that in spades. Tapping the Mode button, then that sweet touch screen to select custom settings, and using the Info button to get to refinements is intuitive. And intuitive is necessary. The R5 solves so many handling *and* usability issues for me that I was amazed. And the number one big deal? Ease of focus and ease of managing the focus process. Thanks for your brilliant comments. About future list videos? If it feels natural, not as part of a production process, but as providing timely information. YMMV.
Thanks again .. great insights & perspective 🙂👍
I have used so many systems but none beats Panasonic G9 from m43. The balance between body and lens, the button, the grip all made it so good in handling
Great video like always. Thank you 🤙
Now Chris did the top 5 best handling camera. Now it's time for Jordan to do top 5 Hybrid camera that is great for using video without having to do a lot of editing more preferably straight out of the box. Cheers
I love the feel of my Pana g9 because it reminds me of Pentax.
I was at the camera store in Calgary,and I was intent on buying a Nikon z7 till I put a canon in my hand. The canon R6 just felt like it was designed for me , and they nailed the ergonomics perfectly. I’m kind of kicking myself that I didn’t get the R5 now,but certain people talked me out of it as they didn’t like the screen on top and preferred a dial . It didn’t seem that bad to me 😊
Love my D500 feel and intuitive use
Nikon D750 so far. In 2017 I switched from a D7000 to a D750 and the grip + controls just felt perfect to me. Much better than the D610, D810 and D500 at the time! The Z6 is really close after all that time but it took a few month to get used to the grip. I also tried many other secondary cameras from Sony, Fujifilm and Panasonic but some things in the interface or controls were always weird. As a secondary cam the Ricoh GR III is propably the best for me.
Really liked this List Style Video. Make more!
The Nikon D750 was a major workhorse for me a couple of years ago when I used to work as a photojournalist for newspapers. Loved it!
i just got a used k1 in 2023..Pentax have always been my favorite Photography cameras hands down , I own multiple new mirrorless ff cameras and the k1 image quality still as good as ever..I use it with manual focus lenses along with mirrorless on shoots. Makes me slow down an appreciate shooting again..way more than just using eye detect auto focus and pushing buttons .
K1 hits it out of the park - like so many Pentax cameras (albeit not for video, lol)! IQ that just about knocks everything else out of the park. Low light & astro - amazing, with the astrotracer and gpc built in. 5 user modes - just with a spin of the dial iso, exposure, bracket, hdr, crop, all with the command wheel It's just the pinnacle of DSLR design. Awesome.
for me its the Nikon D4S Just fit my hand perfectly - and as a sport shooter with no time to worry about what/where to press, I always felt at home And an Oddball camera, the old Sony A99 really worked for me back in the day with combo of versatile screen, great buttons and nice in hand feel
There is just something about the ergonomics of the Nikon flagships. For me, it’s the D5 - the second I I picked it up, I knew it was “the one” - no camera has ever felt so perfect in my hand as this.
Leica SL Type 601 soooo perfect. The 4 function buttons around the screen just work perfectly. A Bauhaus design classic.
For me it's the G9 from Panasonic - picture quality is nowhere near those of recent FF cameras,but handling is just out of this world.
YES
We love all of you guy's content including this type of content. Can't get enough. I do prefer the integrated portrait grip of the pro-sports bodies otherwise yep the R5 is a joy to use. I had a suspicion that the Q2 would sneak in there too.
Know I'm going to be the odd one out here, however, in 60 odd years of amateur photography have I enjoyed using a camera as much as I have the Fuji XPRO 3. It is something at now 75 I find a joy to take out almost every day. Yes, the X100v would be more practical but I'm into changeable prime lenses. Each to their own, but thought I'd give this unique camera a mention.
I've been using Canons since 2008... 40D, 7D, 5D mk II, III, IV, R and now R5. The R5 seems like they took the best ideas from the 5-series and the R and combined them. After using cameras from Panasonic (GX7 and GX8), Fujifilm (X-T2, 3 and 4) and Sony (A7 III), the R5 is the nicest to use of them all.
Try the a7 IV though, it's infinitely nicer than the III. Love the grip on the R5, but personally can't stand the back wheel on the Canons.
Similar route starting with the 20D in 2004 although bigger gaps between models 20D, 50D, 5Dii, 5Div and R5. The R5 is the Swiss Army knife of cameras for my use case :)
I had a GX7 and agree. It had nice balance and was light. Using Fuji X-T3 now.
@@Chris-NZ Canons back wheel in very nice. My Sonys, I hate the knurled feeling.
@@ryanb8736 The 20D has one !! Still feels good today but not the postage stamp sized LCD :)
I have a T7i and RP and they both are very pleasing in my hands. I had a XTi in the past and enjoyed that as well. So far I have enjoyed the feel of canon cameras. But I don’t have a lot of experience handling too many from other brands.
I hope you guys keep going. I don't know all the details of the closure, but I hope you can continue, if necessary with a new channel and a new site or sites. You guys have gifts that a lot of people appreciate.
Chris and Jordan are moving the show over to PetaPixel.
I jumped from canon 80D to Eos R5 and have had no issues with navigating the many additional features. It’s great.
The GH6 is a new high light in usability. The flip up and out screen is the best way to do screens. A good menu system, customizable buttons and a lot of stored complete custom settings where you can prepare ready to use setups for stills and video helps to make use out of a huge number of functions withing a second if you are out in the field. Lots of small helper-functions like Shutter-angle, Waveform, vector-scope and guide lines for different aspect ratios are still unique in Panasonic cameras.
Never, in 40 years of photography, have I enjoyed using a camera so much as I do my Panasonic G9. I spent three months researching a new camera purchase during the first Covid-19 lockdown here in the U.K. and when I finally got to try out the four cameras on my shortlist when my local camera store re-opened, the G9 won. The grip, the number of controls and control layout, the top LCD, the EVF, the customization, all brilliant.
For all day use in the studio the Panasonic S1(R) was by far the most comfortable to hold and the menu, the EVF and touchscreen are fantastic to use. For personal walk-around it’s the Q2 (monochrome in my case). I must admit I added the grip (long fingers). That makes it even more perfect to hold although less gorgeous to see…
Please continue Listicles with Chris Niccolls, I just love these type of videos especially with Chris’s sense of humor. My most favorite DSLR of all time is D750. Cheers!
Thanks for the review on the handling of cameras! I am still loving the concept of my Pentax K1, a very well desinged and rugged Camera but I am now using my Nikon Z6 and Z7 much more for everyday use and with the meike grip-Extension they feel as comfortable in my hands as I wish a camera should feel. You are right that the D750 was also a very good choice, but overall the new Z bodys fit very well in my hands!
I agree, the Z 6 and Z 7 are very nice handlers-they were the cameras that replaced my D750 and D810, respectively. However, I found the bodies to be just a little too cramped for comfort. And I really am not enamored with the design and features of Nikons new Z lenses.
Pentax K3. Used it all winter in Canada. It will be bittersweet to go back to my X100V.
I like the lists as long as it’s you two having fun!
My favorite for photography is the Canon 6D. Granted, it can't do much other than taking pictures, but it's so easy and intuitive to handle. You never need to pay attention to the menu. I also like the R6 but it's still not as comfy for me.
The name is great! 😂 I liked this list-style-video. My favorite cameras... Well, I didn't have nearly as much cameras in hand like Chris, but I always felt, that the handling of the Canon 7D was really great. My number one choice would be the Fuji X-T3 (I just like the screen more, then the one on the X-T4).
Hi - Fairly new to the channel, great video. So what is Chris's favor focal length if it isn't the 35mm? I'm curious as I am sure others are . Thanks
Great post again. I've looked at the Fuji 100 and through the hybrid viewfinder - awesome! Indeed an outstanding choice. Amongst Pentax, Nikon and Canon I guess in the end the question is, which brand are you used to. I'm used to Nikon. And still use all my DSLRs except for the D50. The D3500 for weight and battery life in the mountains, the others including the D7000 with its poor autofocus - for handling
Looking forward to any new "tests" coming out with this kind of headline. Worked with "lists"... ;) Over the years I have shot a set of various cameras, but once I went digital I have stayed with Canon. I did loads of reading on what I wanted before investing in a system, but once I had one in my hand I was sold completely. The ergonomics works for me, and the menu system works for me. Now that I have my first full frame extra everything camera, I still feel at home with it. It is only my brain that have a hard time memorizing every function that is available, and when it is best to use it - I can hardly blame the camera for that.
i feel panasonic cameras are missing, they have great ergonomics e.g GH5, G9 etc
Agreed on the D750! Always made shooting enjoyable and somewhat easy bc of the grip. Make one for film cameras please!
I totally love the handling of the D750, but I will say the D850 is better for me. But taste is taste, it just feels premium.
Lumix G9 and EM1 Mark III have to be on this list.
Agree about the Leica. I switched entirely to Leica from 40 years with Canon. The M and the SL series are easy to handle. The M is a work of art and combined with good glass, are easy to use and produce amazing images.
I own both a Nikon d610 and Z6. I think one of the reasons why I still use my 610 a lot is the way it feels in my hand- solid and perfect placement of buttons (love the shutter sound too). Btw Z6 is not bad in anyway, its just that the design of Nikon FX dslrs are just so good that it doesn’t feel outdated(except maybe the weight which most people might not be comfortable with, I dont mind it in most situations).
I disagree, the placement of the AF mode selector button on Nikon dslrs and the Z9 is horrible. For those who don't know it is on the front left next to the lense mount. This means it is practically impossible to reach when using longer lenses. For the Z6 the 2 front function buttons on the right side are in a better position but it is still not optimal. Having 2 button you cannot see but might want to distinguish is always a bad situation, also Nikon cameras never let you customize all buttons completely and for no reason. Still I think the handling of the Z cameras is a lot better than for the F mount cameras.
@@phelanwolf6747 I dont find that placement of buttons to be an issue in both Z system & dslr even while using a 70-200 lens. I have never had to take my eye off the view finder or the screen while using it. Also I never had the need to change the AF mode so often that I end up missing a shot because of the placement of the button.
@@abhisheknair2863 maybe try a 200-500 or a 150-600? Anyways Nikon could simply allow all the buttons on the Z bodies to be completely customizable to make it a lot better. For instance I do not use the "disp" button on the video/photo mode switch, having this for instance to switch to tracking mode instead of using one of the front buttons (or assigning both front buttons) to it would be very convenient. Similarily for the F bodies, if any button could get any function the actual button layout is a non issue. For Nikon this would just be a simple change in the software but would have a huge impact on usability.
I love the way my OM-D E-M1 Mark II feels. It's just perfect for my hand. The menu system, on the other hand, is an abomination.
Completely agree. The grip is great with all sizes of lenses, verrry customizable buttons, Olympus pioneered the dual dial with dual mode switch (2x2) and the screen articulates. Excited to get my OM-1 to get the focus joystick and try the new shutter button and wheel layout.
The gear icon on the SCP makes up for a lot of shortcomings, though.
Good to see Pentax. I know they are niche, but their ergonomics are so great.
My favourite mirrorless body still the Olympuis Em1 Mk 2
Hi. Great video as usual, could you and Jordan update and do what’s in my camera bag. With what camera you actually own and use please lee🇬🇧
As a Sony user, awesome video anyway and as always, thanks Jordan & Chris!
I still have a D750 Chris sold me at The Camera Store, maybe seven years ago. Always a good source of information even back then.
Definitely enjoy the "list" videos!
i've spent so much money getting back into canon after selling everything in 2017. I got an R5 and i juts love it, it's the camera i've always wanted :)
I love this top 5 format.
I have only had Nikons - onto my 5th now - so while I appreciate a comparison video - I couldnt imagine changing as it would cost so much to replicate the lenses. But thank you for making it. :)
For me, it's the Canon EOS 6D Mark II as the ONLY traditional Canon full frame DSLR with a fully articulating screen and controls that are just right. Also, it has a great top screen and a mode dial, which no mirrorless body has yet combined. I have looked at all the full frame Canon RF bodies (R, RP, 3, 5 and 6) and been disappointed by all of them overall but with each having some characteristics I enjoyed. And I absolutely love the viewfinder on the D850, but that would involve completely switching systems.
The panasonic GH line has been my favorite but then again im a videographer so those menus and button layout make the most sense to me
Even the GH line looses to a prosumer camcorder, just vastly better to hold a videocamera then it is to hold a DSLR style body for video shooting, you have to understand a DSLR body was designed to be taken up to the eye and held like that, but a video camera body is designed to be held at any position.
Chuck a Meike grip extension (not a battery grip) onto a Sony camera and it feels so much better. Just adds a little more room for pinkie finger. My grip did have a little edge which felt strange but a light sanding and now feels seamless.
My favorite is the Nikon F2 Photomic. it feels just right in my hands. All metal construction, just the right size and weight. I took my best photos with the Nikon F2 and Kodachrome slide film. I use digital cameras now because of the cost, but it's much less satisfying. Sometimes, I grab the F2 and bring it up to my eye. Still magic.
Leica Q2. I LOVE just having mine in hand. It has everything I need at hand - and everything else via easy menus. And so beautiful to look at...
Nice idea! Listicals with Chris Nicolls sounds very good.
I like that everyone is voting for their own camera! I think the three brands that make handling the highest priority are Nikon, Fujifilm and Pentax. I am glad that Chris recognised that in the video. I have stayed with Pentax mainly because the handling improves with each new model. Yes, the K-1 and K-3 III have complex customisable buttons, but they fall to hand brilliantly and I can do all the adjustments I need with my eye at the viewfinder. Almost never need to use the menus
I’ve shot Nikon, Sony and now Canon and I agree, R5 feels so good. Only other camera that just felt natural when I picked it up was the D700… a long time ago
Still have my D700. Always impressive to grab it with a vertical grip after becoming used to tiny Z cameras.
Before I got the EOS R5, the most enjoyable camera handling experience came from my Pentax K3ii and just after that, my Pana G9. When the R5 came on the scene, I initially poo-poohed it because of the cost. Eventually, after digesting it's amazing specs and successfully convincing a friend to let me hold his, I knew I had to get one. When it arrived and after I had spent some time getting familiar with it, I quickly forgot about all my other cameras (and I have quite a few). The EOS R5 is as close to a perfect camera as I have ever owned. It almost immediately became a virtual extension of my arms and delivers some of the most beautiful images I ever imagined I could produce. Even if video is (like me) not something you usually do , the R5 is still worth every penny! It's autofocus system alone will steal your heart.
Loved this make this content more ❤️❤️❤️
I haven´t owned or tried many cameras, but here is my opinion: I own a D90, a D7100 and a D500. As someone mentions below it´s all about what you get used to, but the D90 always hurt me a little after long sessions of use outdoors shooting wildlife. The D500 is an impressive improvement in ergonomics from the D90. it´s amazing. I haven´t used the D7100 too much, but it feels fine. The Pentax K3-II did make a special mark on me in ergonomics field. Fantastic camera. So smooth dials, shutter sound. I tried it before the D500 and I was really sad other aspects didn´t fill my needs because I got in love to the Pentax. But I have to admit that probably the most comfortable camera I have grabbed was a Canon 70D at the store. Everything so natural for the hand, specially the shutter button position. But I didn´t like the position of the front dial, placed behind the shutter button, it doesn´t make sense for me. I believe the new OM-1 has to be very very comfortable. (though too small for my taste, being so comfortable with the D500). I wish I could try a Pentax K3-III. Regards from Spain.
I love the handling of the Nikon D850. I used to love the handling of the Canon 5D Mark III / IV - I still do, but somehow the D850 feels more “sure” and refined.
Best handling camera I have owned is the d500. Love the list style btw. More would be great.
I have an older Pentax camera. The K-5II. Like all Pentax cameras it's solid and built like a tank. It has some weight to it especially in my case because I keep the battery grip on mine. The grip of the camera as well as the grip is perfect for me. Nice and deep. Controls are simple to navigate and use.
OM Systems Olympus E-M1x without question.
Yes, more list videos would be great. Also, my memory isn't great, have you done a video on what you both personally use for shooting?
Great presentation...liked and subbed.
I couldnt agree more with the D750. It's a legend. I've put over a million clicks through over 5 different bodies and the way it feels in your hand and operates is a quick forgiveness for the small focus area and lack of thumbstick. It's the Toyota Hillux of post 2014 DSLR cameras.
Hi Chris and Jordan. Can I ask what camera you're using to record this review? The colours, contrast and natural skin tones look great.
This was shot on the Panasonic GH6
Good video, Chris! My personal votes are, in order, the Hasselblad X1D II 50c, Leica SL2, and the Leica CL2 with an added thumb pad. The X1D II is so good at handling, it's almost invisible!
I was surprised the X1D and SL2 weren't included (haven't tried the CL2) as they are at the top of my list as well. In addition to simply superb feel in the hands both menu systems are far and away the easiest to navigate. The X1D nips the SL2 due to it's weight advantage.
For ergonomics and interface design, I'll second the X1D. It's a beautiful design that you just want to pick up. It's just that the Fujifilm GFX 50S II hardware and software engineers have wrung so much more functionality out of the same (dated) sensor. I wish that technology could be inside an X1D; then it would offer a complete shooting experience.
I've used friends Nikon's including D750, D850 and D500 and maybe it's being a "Canon guy" but I never liked the feel and layout (but those D850 images were nice). I went through Canon crops of t3, t4i, and M5, then got an RP and loved it but recently sold to go to an R6 and I love this camera body. Large enough without extra bulk, heavy enough to balance a 700-200 but not too heavy to through the RF 35 and carry around all day. Just love it!
Put me down as a yes for the "list style" videos... love these comparisons. Also, how do the EOS R5 and R6 compare in this context?
They are basically exactly the same in handling other than the mode dial and a little different texture.
While Sony cameras have some menu quirks, I do enjoy having 3 programmable dials and a dedicated EC dial. I do wish Sony would take some ideas from the Nikon Z cameras for component layout (e.g. off-center EVF).
That's only the older bodies though. The new Sony menu system is hands down the best of all camera brands. It's the only one where I instantly find whatever I'm looking for because it's so well organised.
@@youknowwho9247 There's one blatant omission, IMO, that keeps it from being the best of all camera brands. The Fn menu is not accessible from the touchscreen like it is on Canon, and Fn can't be assigned to any other button, so pure touch control feels disjointed. Also, the Playback menu's Delete option that allows you to mass delete photos (after hitting the key button to protect the ones you want to keep) can't be assigned to a custom menu for some really bizarre reason, and the camera doesn't have a "Delete All" feature, so the only assignable menu item is to format the card, but you might not want to do that considering things like custom settings can be saved onto the card that you'd lose. I understand these are nitpicky things, but this is why I slightly prefer the Canon interface. Still, I think Sony is very close, especially with the A7 IV, which loses the dedicated EV dial which I always thought was a waste of space and gives us a third top dial. I think it's within like 5%, but I still give Canon the edge.