In the right hands, a camera can be used to create beautiful works of art. In the case of the Nova DSLR concept camera, the digital camera has become the art.
Since the start of the digital photography period, camera manufacturers are developing and releasing new cameras at a record pace. Most new photo cameras are still built off of the same basic body style that has been around for decades.
This is not true for the Nova digital camera. Similar to the futuristic concept cars at the auto shows, the Nova DSLR is a space age concept of what photo cameras may look like in the future.
The Nova was designed by a California College of the Arts' Industrial Design student Erin Fong. The innovative design definitely takes the camera design out of the box that most cameras are shaped as.
The unique design is very space age. The Nova digital camera has two arms that move.
When the arms are spread out, the Nova looks like a controller for a video game. With the arms closed the concept camera has more of an appearance of a gun, specifically a laser gun from a sci-fi movie or an old home movie camera.
While the design of the camera is innovative, it does create some concerns about the functionality of the camera for the user. Most of the controls are on the front of the two arms of the Nova DSLR camera.
This will take some time to adjust to compared to currently with most photo cameras' controls being located on the top or back of the camera. At the concept stage, it is unclear if having the control buttons located where the user is also holding the camera would cause settings to be inadvertently changed.
The Nova camera's design also allows the user to hold the camera in three positions. One is with the arms out and one hand on each arm. The other two are with the arms together underneath the lens.
If the arms are out, than the user will hold the camera with their hands almost in the same fashion they would hold onto a bicycle handle. This will allow the user to control the digital camera functions with their fingers.
When the arms are closed their are two ways to hold the camera and take an image. The first way is close to the face with one hand on the lens and the other working the controls on the arm.
The other option on how to hold the Nova camera when the arms are closed is with one hand in almost the same fashion as holding a water hose handle. None of these ways of holding the camera provides a stable platform for quality picture taking.
Even with the image stabilization that is available today, it is still important for the camera user to hold the camera still in order to produce a quality image. The unique concept design of the Nova DSLR camera seems not to be very ergonomic to allow the user to hold the camera comfortably and still at the same time.
The proper way to hold a photo camera for the ultimate support is to hold the body with one hand and support the lens by holding it from underneath. With the arms of the Nova camera out, there is no support for the lens.
With the arms closed and held close to the face, then there does not appear to be enough room to proper support the lens and still work the functions of the camera. When the user is holding the Nova digital camera in one hand, that can create a tremendous amount of camera shake resulting in a bad image.
It is possible for the user to hold the Nova digital camera as if it was a pistol with a two handed grip. Not sure how many people want to stand in a firing position to take an image of their kids though.
While the Nova DSLR is just a concept camera, there is already a camera on the market that has a radar gun shape design. The TuffCam by RM Educational Software is designed for children ages 5-10.
The Nova digital camera is noted as being a DSLR. If this is true then the user will be able to change the lenses on the camera.
The fact that the design of the Nova photo camera does not allow the user to proper support the lens would be an issue when a heavy or long lens is placed on the camera. Some of the lens on the market today weigh more than some camera bodies do.
A longtime flaw in the design of cameras has been that the shutter release button has always been on the right side of the camera. The Nova digital camera has the shutter release button on one of the arms of the camera.
Since the arms move, the user can move the shutter release button to either side. This may not be as big of an issue with this camera design for those left-handed, since both hands will be operating functions of the camera. It does give the user the choice though.
It is also unclear about what level of photographers the Nova photo camera will be marketed to if it is to ever go into production. The more advance and professional photographers are going to have concerns over how the camera is held and how it works on a tripod.
The concept camera is based off of a Canon body. It is possible that could change to any manufacturer or a new separate manufacturer may come out of this design.
Regardless if the Nova digital camera ever gets out of the concept mode, the design that Erin Fong created is an interesting piece of art to look at in itself. By looking at it, we may be seeing some bits of the future of digital cameras and photography.
Written by Denise Clay, Certified Professional Photographer
For Huliq
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