Being Left Out By The Designers

I must preface this column with the statement that I am right-handed when writing and using power tools. I am also right-eyed while shooting a rifle or shotgun. Shooting a revolver involves closing both eyes and waving it about until the noise stops. This is really only effective if if am inside a barn and the doors are shut - I can then hit the barn at least once out of six shots.

I wear my wristwatch on the right arm because no-one ever told me not to. It does not seem to affect the passage of time. Round here at 4:30 it drags slower and slower...

But I am aware that there are many people who are left-handed and who are disadvantaged when it comes to operating things designed for the right-handers. The dear old Exakta film cameras are long gone - at least they gave Lefty a button to push to fire the thing, even though they still made him wind on with the right thumb. No-one since has been kind to them at all.

There are particular perils for the left hander who has a weak right eye - if the camera has a viewfinder window on the left of the body his whole face will be across the camera and if it has a central viewfinder window his nose will be so far over that his thumb will be in it. No wonder that people who try to do photography under these conditions might well consider moving back to the older SLR or TLR that has a waist-level finder and a hood to shade it.

If you wish to introduce the question of large stomachs or chests at this point I will withdraw to the back of the monorail 4 x 5 camera and look at the ground glass screen. You may join me under the black cloth. If you are claustrophobic I suggest you give up landscape photography and purchase postcards. I can do no more.

Uncle Dick