Nova DSLR Concept by Erin Fong
Industrial designer Erin Fong has presented an ergonomic and functional upgrade to the typical DSLR. Since the film roll is no longer a vital part of a SLR camera’s shape, the form can now change along with the function. Erin Fong’s Nova DSLR Concept gives the digital SLR two rotating handles that can extend to the right and left or to combine to one handle at the bottom of the unit. This provides greater control over the camera’s position (not to mention some needed respect for left-handed photographers) as well as the full set of keys and buttons at the users fingertips.
While the design of the DSLR is not broken, Fong’s Nova DSLR concept makes a very good point. That rectangular box that once houses a film roll doesn’t need to be rectangular any more. This gives creative freedom to the build factor of the DSLR to the future, one that has not really been explored until Erin Fong did so here. Beyond the fact that Fong even explored this territory, her execution is very solid. At once, she has challenged the standard for DSLR body design and actually provided a creative solution to how digital cameras can be made even better. [erin fong @ coroflot]
A GREAT IDEA!!!!
Although I will always be a bit more partial to film in that as of right now it’s STILL the better medium, I am ALL for the idea of digital really grabbing hold of it’s true potential!!! This new camera design is facinating! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for photgraphy.
Now, if only digital can create a ‘standardized’ sensor size.
It’s a very good idea and design, especially if the movement controls the focus when the camera is in Manual mode.
Great work!!!
What a great idea to get away from a box designed around a roll of film! With digital we don’t need that paradigm anymore.
It will be interesting to see if they include a gyro to stabilize the camera during shots (one would assume so) as this looks a bit more difficult to hold still than the current old box shape. Nonetheless, this is terrific!!
If only designers actually engaged in the activity for which they’re designing, we wouldn’t end up with daft ideas like this. Actually, just some careful observation of what people who do know what they’re doing would suffice.
You make a valid point that the film transport doesn’t dictate the shape of an SLR any more, but five minutes chatting to a photographer would tell you that you’ve got to support the lens. One hand on the lens, one hand on the body. Two handles on the body = unusable.