Camera palm rests

[Clarifixer]

Over the years I've fiddled around with ideas to make cameras more comfortable in the hands, and have come up with variations on the theme of palm rests. A machine shop in my basement makes it fairly easy to whip out designs and see if they work or not. The R4s and OM-2n are older examples.


Having just received a D-Lux 5, I couldn't help myself and turned one out from 2" ABS plastic rod stock, which I bead-blasted to get the matt look. I tried one with a clear acrylic ball and it looked way too weird! It is screwed into a ReallyRightStuff plate utilizing a stainless steel 1/4-20 threaded rod and then attached to the camera as usual via the threaded tripod socket.


I have fairly large hands and find handling very comfortable at eye level. You can get a real grip on the camera body with the left hand while you manipulate with the various controls with the right on a digital camera. The ball also allows easy handholding for waist level candid shots using the thumb for shutter release. It screws off of the plate in an instant to allow tripod use with an RRS ballhead. With film units, the focusing ring and various exposure controls are at your fingertips while your palm holds the weight of the camera.


Yeah, it adds a little weight and size, but improvements in utility and ergonomics make it worthwhile for me.