Left handed digital camera?

kazzah

Hi everyone
hoping someone may be able to advise me!
I have been contacted by a member of the charity I volunteer for
she is looking for a reasonably priced digital camera for her young son to use, but it must be able to be used by a left hander -he is unable to use his right hand
I have done a few searches on the internet - but I can't seem to find anything
anyone got any ideas ?
much appreciated

daska

It is possible to get cameras which support a remote or cable 'shutter release'... whether any of these would be reasonably priced is obviously a personal decision. It might then be possible for the method of shutter release to be incorporated in such a way that he could use it? Or attach a cable release to a monopod so he can also support the camera more easily.

Alternatively, you can now get mobile phones which include cameras of 3-5megapixel quality. Not all of them require SIM cards to work. And you can use them any way up in a way that cameras have less flexibility.

Lastly, there's the DIY option

kazzah

Thanks Daska
the boy is very young- in primary school, so whether or not a shutter release would be of any use, I'm not sure
however I do like the idea of the DIY one- perhaps as it is for a school project the class teacher could incorporate this into the lesson somehow
many thanks for your advice - I wll send these details to the boys Mum

daska

Would it also be worth looking for cameras that have the release on the 'front' rather than the 'top' of the camera body?

kazzah

will do - thanks for your help
I e mailed Mum the link you sent for the DIY shutter release and she was very imrpessed, so I think they may go down that route
much appreciated
Karen

gillumhouse

I have no idea what DIY means but I have a husband who lost most function in his right hand with polio at age 12 and now that he is an OLD guy with post-polio has also lost strength in his right hand and arm. He is an artist and after seeing the photos from my digital camera (my friend told me what to buy and I said yes, ma'am but she died last year so I am "up a stump". Is there a small digital camera of reasonable quality - does not have to be top of the line but do need sharp photos rather than fuzzy - that can be operated with a left hand (one handed please) for around $300 to $350 (or less)? He wants to be able to stick it in his shirt pocket and go! I know, he does not want much - but he is a man and they want everything!

daska

DIY means 'do it yourself'. My earlier post contains a link to some instructions on how to make your own shutter release. You'll see that the 'DIY Option' in the earlier post is in blue - that generally means it's a link which you can click on. Sorry, I'm not good with specific makes and models.

TOBRUK

kazzah wrote: »

Hi everyone
hoping someone may be able to advise me!
I have been contacted by a member of the charity I volunteer for
she is looking for a reasonably priced digital camera for her young son to use, but it must be able to be used by a left hander -he is unable to use his right hand
I have done a few searches on the internet - but I can't seem to find anything
anyone got any ideas ?
much appreciated

Hi kazzah, I too am unable to use my right arm and kept looking for a camera and video camera that I could use left handed - also one handed. Well I found something! It is a camcorder but with the function of also taking still images. You hold it one handed (a grip like a gun) and all the functions are at the back which you use your thumb to operate - it is wonderful.

There are many of these on the market and different makes and prices - some are under £100 and seen some around the £60 mark. However I don't know whether all of them have the option of taking still images. The one I have takes high definition photos and I suppose is in the mid to high range bracket (about £250) - It really is a joy to use. Before it was so difficult to use a camera and just impossible to be able to use a camcorder - now I have the best of both worlds.

Hope you find what you are looking for.

kazzah

Thanks Tobruk - I will forward your good suggestion onto the boys Mum to see what she thinks
Kazzah

ailuro2

If it's a digital camera, then most could simply be used upside down then use the thum to depress the button....and then rotate the images in your pc.

Most cameras have screens rather than viewfinders these days, so it's not so hard to help him get everything into the picture.

You can also buy little foldaway tripods from Poundland, mount the camera for him, then either hand can be used to press the button. I find pictures come out better using my little tripod - less camera shake etc.

This is a much cheaper option than buying a new camera, isn't it??;)

If that's no use, look into mobile phones with cameras, some of them are pretty decent quality pictures, and of course it would be dual purpose.

TOBRUK

kazzah wrote: »

Thanks Tobruk - I will forward your good suggestion onto the boys Mum to see what she thinks
Kazzah

Just to say, the camcorder is only slightly bigger than a digital camera and the monitor flips out. It is compact and fits into my pocket - it has really given me a lot of pleasure that I felt I was missing out on.