Reading User's Manual (Page 2): Lynda.com also offers informative tutorials - another way to avoid those pesky manuals.......

Raven5278 Loc: Rockland MA

Lynda.com also offers informative tutorials - another way to avoid those pesky manuals.......

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

cmc65 wrote:

Except that David Busch has had a falling out with his publisher and his manuals for newer cameras have not been printed.

THANK YOU, cmc! That explains the ~9 month delay in the release of DD Busch's book on the Sony a6000. I had long since given up on buying it.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

I have a hard time reading, I enjoy the pictures. Some have better pictures then others. When in doubt, look at the picture.

Hang in there MCC.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

MMC wrote:

Today I saw advice to read manual carefuly when bought a new camera. I am not reading manual from the 1-st page to the last one. I am reading only pages which I need to set my new camera to desired settings. I would like to know how reading manuals other HH members. Thank you in advance everyone who answered my question.

I download manuals to Adobe Reader on my iPad. The search feature is worth the extra effort - except with Sony manuals; mine is small enough to read with my first cup of coffee.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

I've never read a manual cover to cover. 00i read enough to do what I want it to do. I read more as I want it to do more.
WHY do I do it this way????? because i'll never ask any camera to do all it's capable of.

Mr. B Loc: eastern Connecticut

jfn007 wrote:

My manuals never see the light of day. I just buy David Busch's books like this member does.

I read the manuals, as dry as they are. I also get David's books. But because I read the manuals I found four errors in his Canon 7D book which I confirmed with the author. The books are valuable for quick reference but no author is infallible. Think about how many books they have to write to keep up with the new cameras.

CO

I download user's manuals for my cameras, lenses, flashes, and radio triggers to my computer from manufacturers websites. I would much rather read them on my computer than paging through a booklet.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

dickparkans wrote:

When it come to manuals, I gave up a long time ago. They are all japanese translated to english. I just buy books written by David D. Bush. He does a great job explaining cameras and how to use them.

There is a reason why large book stores along with the likes of Amazon sell model specific books - those manuals that come with the camera really suck! Once you read a detailed book the manual can then be used a reference or toilet paper if too far from a bathroom.

They have been putting out this crap for years and will not expend the money to make it better. At least they put the quality in the camera.

ralphc4176 Loc: Conyers, GA

I am the same. I read the basics at the front of the book, then keep it in the Pelican case that also holds that camera and the accessories for it, in case I need to look up something in the field. In my opinion, modern owner's manuals for almost anything you buy are full of a bunch of mumble-jumble the manufacturers felt was necessary to include so they wouldn't be sued when some idiot stuck his pocket knife in a 120VAC receptacle.

nitrophil Loc: Dayton, Ohio

I refer to the manual when I have a specific question I need an answer to. If you can, download a .pdf version, that way you can save only pages that you need to read, and you don't have to keep a paper book around. Have fun with your new camera!

MMC wrote:

Today I saw advice to read manual carefuly when bought a new camera. I am not reading manual from the 1-st page to the last one. I am reading only pages which I need to set my new camera to desired settings. I would like to know how reading manuals other HH members. Thank you in advance everyone who answered my question.

tracs101 Loc: Huntington NY

Manuals are often written by technicians. Perhaps if they were written by photographers they would be easier to understand. Even better would be that if I want to learn from the manuals, they should be written by teachers or instructors. Just a thought I had.

mikeysaling Loc: essex uk

I keep the 'physical' manuals with the box the camera came in (including all packing and items I will not use - such as usb connectors . I download the PDF manual and use that to acquaint me with any general or specific features I don't know about. The PDF find facility always gets me to the correct part of the manual for further reading about detail functionality such as focus/exposure etc.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

I guess I am in the minority. I read the manual cover to cover with a highlighter in my hand and the camera at my side for on-hands referencing.

Picdude Loc: Ohio

MMC wrote:

Today I saw advice to read manual carefuly when bought a new camera. I am not reading manual from the 1-st page to the last one. I am reading only pages which I need to set my new camera to desired settings. I would like to know how reading manuals other HH members. Thank you in advance everyone who answered my question.

I cannot honestly saw I have read mine page-by-page front to back. I have skipped through it several times looking for specific items, and I keep a PDF copy on my phone for reference. I sure manufacturers don't expect anyone to read the manual page by page, but you should be familiar enough with it to know where to look for specific answers to your questions about HOW to change a setting or what the range of settings are. WHY you would use a certain setting is entirely up to you and beyond the scope of the intent of the Owners Manual. If an owner wants to know WHY, they should read the thousands of books published on exposure, composition, lighting, etc.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Bugfan wrote:

Anytime I get something new that has a user manual... (show quote)

Exactly the right approach if you ask me. I read manuals when I need them for what I need to know. 3rd-party guides are really helpful. I have several on my IPad and refer to them often.