Modelling an awkward and complex shape I'm learning Blender and started a project to model an old Leica camera I have. The top section of the camera has a very awkward solid shape, I've bitten off more than I can chew! 

In my limited knowledge I basically started with a cube and simply extruded bits, moved vertices around, used edge loops, and added a subdivision modifier. I'm really struggling with all the differing slopes and edges. 

Clearly I've approached it in a way which is not really working well, is inaccurate, and not efficient. I'd like to know how people would tend to tackle a shape like this?
don't worry, with training you can do much better. try to see how others model or what they use. I'm not a hardsurface modeler but here is my solution to this shape using box modeling:





use bevel when you can. or other modifiers.

other method includes but not limited to:
modeling with boolean (for easier workflow try hard-ops or booltool addons) then retopology it.