Are you finding the Sel/Set and Power switches hard to use? at DVinfo.net

Brent Ethington · December 8th, 2007, 04:44 PM

I'm finding that neither of these controls on the back of the camera extend far enough from the camera to make them easy to use. I have to use a fingernail to use them with any accuracy. More often than not, when I try to scroll with the Sel/Set control, I find that I press on it, thus selecting an item instead of scrolling.

Are others also finding these difficult to use?

Eric Pascarelli · December 8th, 2007, 05:33 PM

The sel/set on the back is definitely fiddly. Instead of using it, use the joystick on top - it adds some left/right functionality and is a lot easier to use for me.

The power switch is slippery but it doesn't bother me so much.

Brent Ethington · December 8th, 2007, 05:38 PM

thanks Eric! I didn't realize that you could use the joystick for navigating the menus - thought it was only for changing the on-screen options... :-)

definitely much easier!

Colin McFadden · December 9th, 2007, 03:36 PM

I absolutely agree - I think it's a fantastic camera and I'm loving it, but there are a few choices in terms of button placement and button style that could have been better. Really, I'd like to be able to navigate menus with my right thumb, while holding the camera.

Kevin Shaw · December 9th, 2007, 03:49 PM

I found the power switch to be awkward but it may be for the best that it's difficult to bump, as apparently you could lose data if you shut the camera off while recording. Regarding the Select/Set dial, I'm used to that from my FX1 so I didn't mind it too much, but it is easy to press while you're scrolling and that was a minor nuisance. I also thought the recording mode selection options should be at the top of the first menu instead of the bottom of the last one.

Brent Ethington · December 9th, 2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Shaw

... Regarding the Select/Set dial, I'm used to that from my FX1 so I didn't mind it too much, but it is easy to press while you're scrolling and that was a minor nuisance.

I found the FX1 control reasonable to use - it was larger and extends beyond the back of the camera more than the PMW-EX1 (which was why I was surprised that they made it harder to control).

Quote:

I also thought the recording mode selection options should be at the top of the first menu instead of the bottom of the last one.

I agree about the recording mode selection options! Putting the video format selection at the bottom of the "Other" menu category makes no sense... They should have used another menu category and grouped the video mode settings together - e.g., video format, interval recording, frame recording, S&Q mode, etc., to make them easier to access.

Eric Pascarelli · December 9th, 2007, 08:53 PM

I agree about that menu. I like to shoot 1080p, but when I want to do slo-mo, it would be nice if I didn't have to go to two deeply buried separate menus.

Brent Ethington · December 9th, 2007, 08:55 PM

Maybe there's some place we can pass feedback on to Sony for a future firmware update? That would be great to see

December 8th, 2007, 04:44 PM	#1
Brent Ethington Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: WA Posts: 180	Are you finding the Sel/Set and Power switches hard to use? I'm finding that neither of these controls on the back of the camera extend far enough from the camera to make them easy to use. I have to use a fingernail to use them with any accuracy. More often than not, when I try to scroll with the Sel/Set control, I find that I press on it, thus selecting an item instead of scrolling. Are others also finding these difficult to use?

December 9th, 2007, 03:36 PM	#4
Colin McFadden Sponsor: divergent media Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 201	I absolutely agree - I think it's a fantastic camera and I'm loving it, but there are a few choices in terms of button placement and button style that could have been better. Really, I'd like to be able to navigate menus with my right thumb, while holding the camera. __________________ Divergent Media Support www.divergentmedia.com

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December 8th, 2007, 05:33 PM	#2
Eric Pascarelli Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 498	The sel/set on the back is definitely fiddly. Instead of using it, use the joystick on top - it adds some left/right functionality and is a lot easier to use for me. The power switch is slippery but it doesn't bother me so much.

December 8th, 2007, 05:38 PM	#3
Brent Ethington Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: WA Posts: 180	thanks Eric! I didn't realize that you could use the joystick for navigating the menus - thought it was only for changing the on-screen options... :-) definitely much easier!

December 9th, 2007, 03:49 PM	#5
Kevin Shaw Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,488	I found the power switch to be awkward but it may be for the best that it's difficult to bump, as apparently you could lose data if you shut the camera off while recording. Regarding the Select/Set dial, I'm used to that from my FX1 so I didn't mind it too much, but it is easy to press while you're scrolling and that was a minor nuisance. I also thought the recording mode selection options should be at the top of the first menu instead of the bottom of the last one.

December 9th, 2007, 08:53 PM	#7
Eric Pascarelli Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 498	I agree about that menu. I like to shoot 1080p, but when I want to do slo-mo, it would be nice if I didn't have to go to two deeply buried separate menus.

December 9th, 2007, 08:55 PM	#8
Brent Ethington Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: WA Posts: 180	Maybe there's some place we can pass feedback on to Sony for a future firmware update? That would be great to see