Inside Story

A camera that acts like a camera not only has the look of a camera but also draws from the camera as a whole in the feel and quality when held and operated. Tomonori Kimura, who was in charge of the internal layout, says, "We played pitch and catch with designers in devising an internal layout that would give a sense of 'durability' when the camera was held and operated."
"Five metal plates were inserted to prevent the body from twisting," tells Kimura. They answered the designers' requirements such as to hide the screws that anchored the top cover. Efforts were made with the internal structure to anchor the top cover.

Along with the top cover, the grip adds a sense of durability. The grip is likely what invites users to grab hold of the camera the instant they set eyes upon it. "This kind of firm grip is uncommon in digital cameras of this class," tells Kimura. Considerations were given repeatedly to the materials and form. Kimura explained, "For example, the camera is easily held even from the thick part of the grip and, if the camera is placed on its back with the lens facing up, the operating buttons are not pressed."

"We were at a loss over the color of the grip," admits Okuda. Since we were pursuing a camera that looks and acts like a camera in the R8, the only color variations we could work with were, in principle, silver and black. The black grip was given a sedate tone from early on, whereas designers went through endless studies of which color would work for a silver grip. "We chose brown because it made the camera look light and modern; black gave too much of a retro look," tells Okuda. This is the first time that a grip has been brown, so it strikes the user as something new.