Canon 600D

[SmartRRs]

Hello, I've just bought a Canon 600D but am thinking of returning it, it just doesnt feel comfortable in my hands, there is nothing on the left side to grip, I just wondered if anyone else agrees with me? It takes a really good picture, but the panasonic FZ45 I had prior to this Canon just felt more comfortable. Also I find when the flash pops up it catches my left hand sometimes. I suppose if you've got really small hands it might feel better.

[NathanFranke]

You buy it online? Camera bodies are much of a muchness these days. Unless you're going for a particular sensor size or feature, rule of thumb is to buy the body that fits best in your hand, or get a battery grip.

Before returning it, take it to a store that sells battery grips, ask if you can try one on your camera and see if that helps.

[Doug Pardee]

You're holding it wrong. An SLR/DSLR usually has a heavy lens attached to it, so you hold it by placing the camera in your left palm with your fingers wrapped lightly around the lens from below. With a really large lens, your left hand supports the lens and the camera hangs off the back. Your right hand does not grip the camera, but gently takes care of the fine-adjustment of aim and operates the controls — especially the shutter release. For maximum stability, both elbows should be down against your body.

If you are "gripping" the camera with either hand while taking photos, you're going to introduce camera shake. The "grip" is for handling it when not actively taking photos. (This article here on DPS disagrees with me: How to Hold a Digital Camera)

Here are some pictures and a video: Do You Look Like an Amateur When You Hold Your SLR?

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by SmartRRs

, there is nothing on the left side to grip, I just wondered if anyone else agrees with me? It takes a really good picture, but the panasonic FZ45 I had prior to this Canon just felt more comfortable. Also I find when the flash pops up it catches my left hand sometimes.

Lemme guess: you're holding the lens with your arm over the top of the camera.

Dont do that.

Doug has the appropriate links.

[inkista]

+1. Adjust your hold.

Your manual, p. 39 shows you how to hold the camera, but most people skip that part, because it's in the "getting started" section that's got all the how to insert your battery and memory card into the camera type stuff.

However. Proponents disagree about the portrait/vertical orientation hold. Some say you want your right hand at the bottom of the camera, not the top, when you go into portrait. Hand on top can introduce torque into the proceedings. I'd say try it both ways and see which feels more comfortable/stable to you. Personally, in portrait, I tend to make a fist with my left hand, pointing up, and rest the lens on my left hand's knuckles (less give than the wrist in the more traditional hold). There are variants to every hold and everybody has personal preferences.

But your left hand should be supporting the weight of the camera/lens combo from below. The weight should NOT be dangling off the fingers of your right hand, and your right hand should not be maintaining a deathgrip on the camera.

[veritasimagery]

+1 on the posts about your grip. Your left hand should be holding the bottom of the lens, not the camera.

Like said in another post, try getting a battery grip for it (there are some pretty good third party ones out there), this will add some heft to the camera, plus gives you controls for when you are holding it in the portrait position and eliminates the awkward hand holding.

[SmartRRs]

Thank you for your help, its certainly helped a lot!