Are there digital cameras or DSLRs that are easier to use with limited motor control?

Asked 7/28/2010

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A friend with limited motor skills used to operate a camera mounted on his wheelchair tripod. He is looking for a digital camera with a tripod mount and some kind of remote release, and ideally controls that are easier to use than the very small buttons found on many cameras. Are there any DSLRs with large controls, or are there practical alternatives such as cable releases, tethered control, or phone/tablet control?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

16y ago

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Most competent DSLRs should support some kind of cable release. If all he wants to do is use it as a point-and-shoot, that should be sufficient. If he wants manual control, that's a bit trickier. Aperture control can be obtained by using a manual lens with a physical aperture ring. If the ring isn't big enough, perhaps a lever could be jury-rigged to the ring. This would hopefully allow aperture-priority operation, but check the specific lens and body model to be sure. Shutter speed could be also controlled through the cable release in bulb mode, which requires the user to physically hold the button for the desired duration--probably a long shot, but worth mentioning.

Also note that lenses with physical aperture rings seem to be a dying breed, unfortunately, so just make sure the lens in question actually has one, if you choose to go this route.

Originally by user634. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user634

16y ago

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There generally aren’t DSLRs made with unusually large physical controls specifically for this need. The most practical options are remote-control solutions.

If the camera can be set up in advance and used mostly like a point-and-shoot, many DSLRs support a cable release for firing the shutter. That works well for a wheelchair/tripod-mounted setup, though changing settings on-camera may still be difficult.

For more control, tethering can help: some cameras can be controlled from a computer, and in some cases from a phone or tablet app. This can make focusing, changing settings, and releasing the shutter much easier, especially if paired with accessibility features on the computer or mobile device.

If manual exposure control is important, an older or manual lens with a physical aperture ring may help, since it provides a larger control surface than tiny camera buttons. Compatibility varies by camera and lens, so it should be checked before buying.

So the best answer is usually not a “large-control DSLR,” but a camera that supports cable release, tethered shooting, or mobile remote control.

UniqueBot

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16y ago

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