sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Does anyone use and understand all the capabilities of LR, Elements Photoshop CC? Does anyone use all the capabilities of a dictionary or a cell phone. Who would want to simplify any of those. You use the part that gets the the job done. A manual is not meant to be read cover to cover, it is a reference manuel not a novel

lone ranger Loc: Port Saint Lucie, Florida

well I disagree. I own a Nikon D800 and use the live view video feature, as well as most of the other features, as I happen to be a engineer, and I like when things are complicated, as so, I can figure them out........

CoastalAgent Loc: Montara, California

The Apollo 11, which landed Neil Armstrong on the moon had less technology on board than your cell phone or your camera. He definitely used "manual". Imagine what he could have if done he were riding something more advanced than the equivalent of a point and shoot? Play with and try some of the bells and whistles. They're fun!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Amen

Serious neophyte

The only way I can learn my camera or my editing software, LR5, is to get a good manual,study it cover to cover, and practice, practice, practice. It challenges me and keeps me busy in my retirement.

lone ranger Loc: Port Saint Lucie, Florida

well said

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

More than likely you will not use all the features in your camera. Art Wolf has some pretty amazing material, and I understand his point of view.

There are significant advancements in autofocus technology, which is pretty critical for sports and wildlife shooters. The various parameters will get you up to a 30% keeper rate, compared to the old days of using a Novoflex Follow Focus rig, with a manual camera connected to a motor drive, and after shooting 30 rolls of film you'd be thrilled if you got 3 great shots.

Many camera functions are oriented towards ease of use and effects. Picture control settings are more for amateurs or pro jpg shooters that must tackle a job where images must be made instantly available, such as reportage, some sports etc.

Manual shooting is important to "own," the fundamental understanding is the foundation for all that happens with a camera. However, working pros in fast paced environments benefit from the various automatic settings, particularly Aperture Priority exposure, along with being able to switch focus points, metering methodology (average, center wt, and spot), being able to make exposure and ISO adjustments without taking the eye off the viewfinder, etc.

Yeah, I would read that manual just to see what is possible with your camera. I am certain that there will be some features that you will make much use of, and some, like video for me, will either be seldom used or not at all.

Completely ignore the advice to toss the manual. That just makes absolutely no sense, especially since the manual provides the reference for all the cool stuff you camera can do. Also ignore the advice to shoot manual everything. Photography has improved because of the technological innovations, and you would be foolish to not take advantage of them.

I look through the 20,000 images I took with film, then the 100,000 images I have done with DSLRs - and there is a significant difference. I am not considering composition or aesthetics - which are constantly evolving, but the technical quality improvement, which at the beginning of my DSLR use took a hit (Nikon D70s), but has continually improved each time I upgraded to better cameras.

To answer your question. The really good "complicated" cameras can be set up with presets and profiles to operate simply and easily. So the answer is yes and no. Yes they are complicated (lots of features), but no they are not (they can be customized to use only the features you want/need).

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

I'm in the YES camp. My old Fujica ST801 & Olympus OM2 were quite capable of outshining me (and probably still are). I don't know what could be simpler than the row of red diodes in the ST801 for over and under exposure and I miss a manual aperture control ring. An ST801 with a full frame sensor on the film plane would probably be photgraphic utopia for me.

I print out the manuals into an A4 fold flat ring binder and still have trouble and experience similar difficulties with the processing side - it just doesn't seem logical to me.

And it's not just cameras! Anything where the manual is bigger than the item (phone / I-pod etc.) I start of in a bad way and just get worse.

A.J.R. Loc: Devon, UK

In my opinion most digital cameras are far too complicated, and now days I very rarely use manual. Not so in the days of film though when there was no option on my Rollei, Hasselblad and view cameras. I would probably still use manual but on most cameras its such a fiddle that I feel it's much quicker to use Program, Aperture or Shutter priority and in the rare occasions I need to alter the exposure, use the exposure compensation control dial (if the camera has one),

Unfortunately camera manufacturers try to make cameras to suit everyone, which means vast menus to trawl through, and the chance of hitting the wrong button by mistake and then taking time to correct it.

I think part of the answer is more appropriately placed control dials to save going into the menus.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

The only thing about DSLR's I don't like and don't use, is the video. I have been an artist all my life. I make pictures drawn, painted, photographed, computer generated, but all can be framed and hung on a wall, and contemplated for aesthetic pleasure. You can't hang a video!
As for bells and whistles, I have been fascinated since childhood with gadgetry, first I tried to draw my own rocket ship console with dials and switches all over the inside of a big cylinder of paper that was my ship that I could crawl into...then came the Thunderbird (Ford) a car that had buttons and switches on an overhead console, which predated the Goldfinger car, the Astin Martin DB5 with its bells and machine guns, etc. Now my creative juices are satisfied with a camera that has more options than a Bond car, in my case it is the Nikon D5200, a rare bird that has 24 megapixels AND an articulated screen and etc and etc...! It took me two years with my first digital to figure out white balance, that was ten years ago and now I am trying to learn focus stacking and HDR,,,if I ever run out of things to fiddle with and new things to learn to make a better image it will be no longer interesting.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

You are not really paying much for the extras: the capabilities exist anyway--they are just implemented with firmware.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Agreed - most of the higher end cameras have dial and button accessible controls - menus are used for less used features. And the buttons can be redefined as to their function.

EddieC Loc: CT

I agree. My toaster is digital haha :)

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

That's what I do too. I get the books from both of them.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Amen! You may not use the all the features today but as you grow and expand you will be thrilled they are there. If you know ahead of of time it's too much find a cheaper model and thus fewer options.