gsnelson Loc: Western Maryland

The most intuitive menu is the one you are most accustomed to. I shoot with Sony, Nikon, and Leica. The simplest is Leica, but it comes with a penalty in the pocket (or bank account). I set my cameras up so shutter speed, aperture, and Iso are on the surface of the camera. Learn the functions that you use, and don't worry about the other functions until you need them--one at a time.

Bill_de Loc: US

On Nikons I use My Menu. I list my most used menu items there. It makes no difference if I am shooting with a DSLR or Mirrorless.

However, with a touch screen LCD I find myself using the "I" button more and more. It's a transitional thing.

I "had" 2 different Sony bridge cameras and found their menu system challenging at best.

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jtwind

My suggestion is to start with priorities. The average photographer doesn't need a quarter of what some of these cameras offer. I shoot in manual, need to change ISO, I usually shoot with a 2 second delay on a tripod, need to get into focus modes, need to set it at RAW, and need to format it not much more. The menus can be confusing but break it down a bit. I shoot a Sony and folks rail about it but it really isn't bad when you get down to it and Sony's custom buttons really allow you to organize what you need. Now my Fuji, that's a meny I still haven't been able to wrap my head around, wow!

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

While all cameras have menu systems Fuji Fuji is most like an old fashioned camera. You can pick up a Fuji camera and just look at the camera turn it on and start using it.
I also don’t recommend Busch’s books on cameras. This is from experience I bought his book on the Olympus EM-5. There were errors,important information left out and he spends a lot of time photoshop and processing that’s not what I buy a camera manual for.
There are several good books on Fuji. Also Creative Live has videos you own forever on most cameras. The instructor is excellent.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Decide on which features you want or need to use, learn those and ignore the others.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

As technology has moved on, so has user manuals. Many cameras has third party written user manuals. Some by Busch and Friedman on the Sonys. As I look at the Sony provided paper user guide, I look at it as a Table of Contents. Sony provides a free digital guide, but it seems to be just a fluffed up printed.

Nicholas DeSciose

Turn the camera on and set it on automatic start taking pictures. After a while you might want to move on to something else like aperture setting very useful. And practical. And if working in low light you might want to increase the ISO. But first just get used to using the camera in automatic. You have a very good camera.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I have had studets like you. They grew up doing film quite well but were totally baffled by all the menues , bells and whistles on the big 3 camera manufactures. These students were very happy with and made the transition to digital without much pain and suffering by using Fuji cameras. They have several models out and take a look at them. For instance; the T-2 and T-3 have stutter speed dials and ISO (ASA) on top just like your old film camera. They also can emulate most of the films that Fuji offered. I personally am a Sony owner but my students of the film era, find the Fuji cameras easy to transition to. One of my students uses all her old film lenses on her T-2. Fuji cameras are like other mirrorless cameras in that there are adapters to fit almost every brand of older lenses. I suggest that you look into renting one before you make the financial jump. Note: I primairly use Sony cameras but I am a Photography Instructor, so I try to be neutral an a persons equipment choice. Yet I have to be familiar with all the camera manufactures in order to help my students. Welcome to the digital world.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

Set you Sony cameras to personal choices to set the camera to your daylight settings and anotherone for your night settings. On my a6000 they are C1 and C2. On my a7iii they are on the mode dial along with A, S, M, Auto. After personal choices are set it only takes one button to switch. Also you can set the quick axcess menu in the FN button to those things you regularly change. There is more than one way to simplify things on the Sony cameras. I hope this helps.

rcarol

That's interesting. I shoot Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony and I find the menu system of the Canon to be the easiest of all of them to use.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Panasonic Lumix menus are highly regarded. Fujifilm menus are generally easy to navigate. Although recently improved, Olympus and Sony are still cluttered.

I’ve not used Canon or Nikon mirrorless gear, but Canon menus were my favorite of those two when I used their dSLRs.

Read camera reviews on http://www.dpreview.com and similar sites. Watch reviews on YouTube. Then borrow or rent to try before you buy!

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

Whoever said it--take a deep breath. It's a difficult thing dealign with the new digital menus. Earlier this year I switched from a Nikon DSRL crop frame camera system to a Sony a7iii mirrorless full frame system. I almost lost it trying to understand the menu system until I somehow learned to relax and get back to basics. Basics are still the exposure triangle and focus. My camera still has the ability to set for manual, shutter priority and iso with manual wheels much like the DSLRs so that really helped. I still struggle with focus but it's my many "focus" now because I can control the other important variables. I'm only working with one lens and the camera has a manual switch to change from autofocus to manual focus so when I'm shooting through brush or fences I can quickly switch to manual. If you just concentrate on these basics I think it will be easier--I am starting to get some good shots (finally). Good luck--and it's still fun once you simplify it.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Me too. I've heard and read lots of folks found the Canon menus the most intuitive and easiest to use. But, I guess it all depends upon what you're accustomed to using. Anything new takes a little while to learn.

One thing that's nice with Canon is that the menus have remained fairly similar across the generations and have a lot of similarities from one platform to another. Some of the Canon film camera feature labels and terminology from 20+ years ago have been carried over and continue to be used. Their point n shoot and bridge camera menus are similar to their DSLRs. Over the past 20 years or so I've used Custom Functions to set up things like Back Button Focusing... first on a couple generations of their film cameras, and since 2004 in a half dozen generations of DSLRs. Sure, there have been changes, but they have been incremental improvements mostly, not radical "make overs". Their manuals, too, have remained pretty consistent over the years. If you've read one, you're already familiar with the general organization and terminology when you pick up a new one.

Plus there are some features on some cameras that allow you to avoid the menu almost entirely... The Q-button on many Canon DSLRs, for example, gives direct access the primary camera settings rapidly. Customizable controls and user defined menu pages are another helpful tool. 99% of the time when I have to dive into the menu (which isn't all that often) I only have to access my Canon cameras' User Menu page, where I've installed six or eight features I access the most. Top of the list is "Format card", which I do every time I insert a fresh memory card.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I hate to read a menu, while I can not see myself doing it!

RichLacey Loc: Atlanta

Does your local technology college offer classes on DSLR photography? They can go from beginner to advanced within several classes. Also, post-processing might be covered. Relax and have fun with it and continue to seek out hoggers for guidance. Rich