Ergonomic camera handle

An ergonomic camera handle, comprising:

• an “L” shaped body having a base portion and a generally upright portion;
• wherein the base portion is configured with a slot for removably inserting therein a base plate attached to a camera;
• a lock mechanism movably attached to the base portion and having a first normal state in which the lock mechanism retains the base plate within the slot and a second state in which the lock mechanism allows the base plate to be removed from the slot;
• a panel structure attached to the generally upright portion and configured with an opening and a notch, wherein the notch is configured to receive a camera viewfinder;
• a window positioned within the opening in the panel structure;
• wherein the panel structure is configured such that when a camera having a rear display screen is mounted to the base portion, the rear display screen is adjacent to the window, and wherein the panel structure is configured to orient the window and the rear display screen at a predetermined angle;
• at least one push-button mounted to the panel structure, the push-button being located at a predetermined location such that the push-button is aligned with a corresponding camera function button when a camera is mounted on the base portion, wherein the push-button engages the camera function button when the push-button is depressed;
• a camera shutter control button assembly mounted on the generally upright portion;
• and
• an electrical signal connector electrically connected to the camera shutter control button assembly and configured for electrical connection to an auxiliary electrical signal port on the camera.

An ergonomic camera system for extreme environments, comprising:

• a camera having a bottom portion, a base plate attached to the bottom portion, a rear display screen, a viewfinder, a shutter, at least one camera function button, a camera lens, an auxiliary electronic signal port and a battery;
• an ergonomic camera handle comprising:
• an “L” shaped body having a base portion and a generally upright portion;
• wherein the base portion is configured with a slot for removably inserting therein the base plate of the camera;
• a lock mechanism movably attached to the base portion and having a first normal state in which the lock mechanism retains the base plate within the slot and a second state in which the lock mechanism allows the base plate to be removed from the slot;
• a panel structure attached to the generally upright portion and configured with an opening and a notch, wherein the notch is configured to receive the camera viewfinder;
• a window positioned within the opening in the panel structure;
• wherein the panel structure is configured so that the rear display screen of the camera is adjacent to the window and wherein the panel structure is configured to orient the window and the rear display screen at a predetermined angle;
• a frame member removably attached to the panel structure and extending about the window;
• at least one push-button mounted to the panel structure and located at a predetermined location such that the push-button is aligned with the at least one camera function button, wherein the push-button engages the camera function button when the push-button is depressed;
• a camera shutter control button assembly mounted on the generally upright portion;
• and
• an electrical signal connector electrically connected to the camera shutter control button assembly and configured for electrical connection to the auxiliary electrical signal port on the camera;
• a protective enclosure enclosing the ergonomic camera handle and the camera, the protective enclosure comprising a front portion, rear portion, top portion and bottom portion, wherein the front portion is configured with a front opening that is aligned with the camera lens and the rear portion is configured with a rear opening sized for viewing the window in the panel structure, wherein portions of the protective enclosure extending about the rear opening are secured between the panel structure and the frame member, and wherein the rear portion of the protective enclosure is configured with indicia that indicates the location of push-buttons on the ergonomic camera handle;
• and
• a lens protector extending through the front opening and mounted to the camera lens and comprising a clear filter that protects the camera lens, the lens protector being configured with a circumferentially extending groove, wherein a portion of the protective enclosure is secured within the circumferentially extending groove.