If you are left-handed (like I am) then you have surely endured countless years of frustration trying to live in a right-handed world. As a young girl I remember struggling with notebooks (the spine always rubbed against by wrist), desks, scissors, pencil sharpeners and more. As I got older there were other left-handed obstacles. Small things like can openers, tape measures, belt buckles . . . heck, even coffee mugs! Of course some obstacles were bigger: adapting to the computer mouse on the right of the keyboard was tough in the 90s (thank goodness for wireless ones these days). And how could I forget learning to drive a standard shift (clutch on the right side of course!)
Still the one thing that was never an obstacle for me was using a camera. I have been a photo enthusiast since I was a teenager and I have never met a camera that I didn't like . . . until today. My first camera was a Canon and I've owned quite a few over the years. When my last camera died (of over-use) I borrowed my son's for a while. He'll be heading off to camp soon so I realized that I needed to get one of my own once again.
I decided to look at my FAVORITE camera brand -- CANON -- once again. I've used a Canon DSLR for 4 years and both of my sons have Canon point-and-shoot kinds. I wanted a camera that had a good zoom and after hearing great things from a friend, and reading some some good reviews, I decided to purchase the new Canon PowerShot SX210 IS. I have no doubt that the photos would be wonderful.
Unfortunately there is a design feature that discriminates against left-handers. I was crushed! Not you too Canon!
Here is the camera:
Looks pretty nice, doesn't it? Do you see the problem yet? No? Okay then . . . here is a photo of ME holding the camera:
What do you notice now? The stupid FLASH is on the TOP LEFT portion of the camera!!! That where I (and many other lefties) hold the camera. When I first started using it outdoors I didn't notice anything. Later I tried to take a photo indoors and the camera kept telling me that the flash was off. I didn't turn it off so I couldn't understand what was wrong. I switched it to AUTO mode figuring the flash had to go off now. Nope! This made no sense to me since a flash was clearly needed. After a few minutes (yes, sadly, it did take me a few minutes) I realized that while my right index finger was needed to press the shutter, my left index finger was holding the flash down. So frustrating! Funny that NONE of the reviews mentioned that the camera is for the right-handed population -- hmmmm. Must have been written by righties!
I'd never had this problem before with Canon so I took a look at my sons' cameras. The Flash is located on the FRONT of the camera. Just like EVERY OTHER CANON POINT-AND-SHOOT CAMERA I'VE EVER OWNED! I'm really sad to say that I'll be leaving the Canon family for now. I hear SONY made a really nice camera that is "LEFTY FRIENDLY". I'm off to Best Buy to make an exchange!
Hope you all have a fantastic weekend! -- Dawn
Wow. That does sound frustrating. Sorry. I guess I've never much given it any thought. But you should write canon a letter perhaps...
Posted by: alicia | June 04, 2010 at 06:34 PM
I am mostly left handed and I say mostly because of having to learn to adapt to a right handed world. My right hand is just stronger for some things like using scissors or knives. But I write and eat left handed.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 04, 2010 at 07:04 PM
Wow, being right-handed, I have never even thought about any of these! I can see how the camera thing can be frustrating.
Posted by: Coma Girl | June 04, 2010 at 08:59 PM
Bummer! I really have never given this much thought! Someone could make a killing off of left handed cameras...or reversible ones maybe.
Posted by: Mama Kat | June 04, 2010 at 09:55 PM
It's funny what we right-handed folks take for granted. Great post... I'm glad you're able to exchange it and find one that works for you.
Posted by: Petula | June 04, 2010 at 11:40 PM
Love your post! I am right handed too, so this would be frustrating for me for sure.
I am a new follower from Friday Follow, so glad to have found your great blog. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Eloise
Mommy2TwoGirls
http://mommy2twogirls.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Eloise C | June 05, 2010 at 09:22 AM
I'm a southpaw along with you. I had to learn to adapt to a right-handed world and did well. At least I'm still surviving. Like Jennifer, I write and eat left, but the rest has become right--or wrong?
Photography…gotta love it; right or left-handed it's still awesome.
Posted by: teachinfourth | June 05, 2010 at 02:54 PM
Love this post and your blog Dawn! You know something funny I remember? - being seated next to lefties at PS 117 - and bumping arms with them. Must have meant I liked sitting with the left handed types! One of them was probably you!
Posted by: Claire Butler | June 15, 2010 at 06:09 AM
I think this problem is not completly solved.
http://filecraft.com
Posted by: Makayla | August 03, 2010 at 10:43 PM