As of today, there are no left-handed DSLRs and even mirrorless cameras on the market. The reason for this is that camera manufacturers are catering to a majority of right-handed users who make up about 90% of the population.
So, if you’re left-handed, you might have to get used to shooting with your non-dominant hand.
However, as a lefty, you can easily adapt to shooting with your right hand. You may even find it easier to use a right-handed camera since you can use your dominant hand to keep the camera and lens more steady.
And for most people, there’s no real need to shoot left-handed.
Also, left-handed people have some advantages over right-handed people in their daily lives. Lefties make up about 10% of the world’s population, but they tend to be concentrated in certain areas: The Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States have higher percentages of left-handed people than other countries.
Some studies even showed that left-handed people tend to be more creative and intelligent than right-handed people.
It is thought that this may be because lefties are forced to use both hemispheres of their brain at once. This means they can process information more quickly and accurately than right-handers, who only need to use one hemisphere of their brain at a time.
Can you get a left-handed camera?
Most camera manufacturers make their cameras with the assumption that you will use them with your right hand.
As we’ve talked about earlier, these giant manufacturers such as Nikon, Canon, Sony, and Fujifilm cater to the majority of people who are right-handed.
This means that “almost” all the shutter buttons, switches, and dials on their cameras, are placed in a way that makes it easier for you to use them with your right hand. And it has been this way since the first cameras were made.
When you use a camera like this, it’s not very difficult or awkward because you’re familiar with how these cameras work. However, if you want to use your left hand to hold the camera things can be a little tricky.
If you’re left-handed, this can be a real problem because everything is in reverse for you.
You’ll have to use your left hand instead of your right hand to change settings, advance through images or videos, etc., which takes some getting used to if you’re new to photography or videography and not used to doing things with your non-dominant hand.
Fortunately, there are some clever ways to hold the camera with your left hand:
- You can get a battery grip and hold the camera with your left-hand upside down.
- Make a DIY Left-Handed Camera Aid. It’s not that easy to make though.
- Make a DIY Left-Handed Camera adapter. This one works with a small point-and-shoot camera. But with a little bit of tweaking, maybe you can get it to work with a DSLR or mirrorless camera as well.
- If you really want to use your left hand to hold the camera, you can get a pistol grip.
These ideas may not be the most comfortable thing in the world, but if you’re willing to put up with them, it’ll work.
For left-handed photographers, I can assure you that holding a camera in your right hand is also comfortable and this can’t make using a DSLR or any camera quite difficult.
This is because you will be able to reach the controls on the right side of the camera with your right hand. For example, if you want to change your aperture or shutter speed settings then you will be able to do so without having to remove your eye from the viewfinder.
Are the any left-handed camera adapter?
Many manufacturers include extra grips to make holding the camera easier. As a left-handed person, this is a bonus since they can also be used with the left hand without difficulty. Sony, for example, provides the VCT-SGR 1 handle, which can be used with either the left or right hand and is compatible with the Sony RX100 VII. Canon also provides the Canon Grip BG-E20* for the Canon 5D Mark IV* and the Canon Grip BG-E22* for the EOS R series.
It should be noted that several grips are camera-compatible. Some, on the other hand, can only be used with certain cameras. So, before you purchase, be sure to verify for compatibility.
Does Canon make left-handed cameras?
Canon didn’t make any left-handed cameras. But they have a variety of smaller cameras that you can easily use with your non-dominant hand.
They have a selection of point-and-shoot cameras that are designed for beginners but they can still take some pretty good pictures such as the popular Canon PowerShot GX-7 Mark II.
If you’re looking for something with more power, check out their mirrorless cameras like the Canon EOS M50 or the Canon EOS M6. These cameras have interchangeable lenses, so they’ll have more options than other point-and-shoots.
Is there a Nikon left-handed camera?
There is this fake rumor that Nikon made a left-handed APSC camera in 2019, but it’s just not true. It looks like they mirrored the image in Photoshop or another image editor, but Nikon doesn’t actually make any left-handed cameras.
Conclusion
Being left-handed has its perks and its drawbacks. On one hand, you’re in great company with some of the most talented people in history. On the other hand, being left-handed can be frustrating at times—especially when it comes to using technology like cameras and computers.
Hopefully, this article helped shed some light on why there’s no left-handed camera and how to get around it.
Emma Lucy is the Founder & CEO of Emma Lucy Photography. She has over a decade of experience shooting weddings and other intimate events. She also tests the latest digital camera bodies, lenses, analog cameras, and other gear from Canon, Nikon, Sony, and other camera brands. She is From London and currently lives in the United States of America, where she spends most of her time as a self-employed professional photographer and writer.