Camera and equipment manuals (Page 2): I have read perhaps 10 pages in each manual, perhaps less, I also don't ask as I find I enjoy learning myself. To this day I have never read a...

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Dlevon wrote:

Just wondering how many photographers actually read every single page of their camera , lens, and equipment manuals? Or do they mostly figure they can learn it hands on, by themselves, and use the manual for emergencies?

I have read perhaps 10 pages in each manual, perhaps less, I also don't ask as I find I enjoy learning myself.

To this day I have never read a manual for a microwave, video/dvd recorder or anything else.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I read the manual, but with 2 differnt camera bodies it sometimes hard to remeber specific functions in each one. So I have Dropbox and have PDF vesions of the manuals in it so I can access them either with my IPad or my smartphone. At home I use an after market book such as Darrel young's one for my Nikons to explain the functions better

perpoto

many times the manuals are translated ,and problems lies there, eg Japanese to English

JR1 wrote:

I have read perhaps 10 pages in each manual, perhaps less, I also don't ask as I find I enjoy learning myself.

To this day I have never read a manual for a microwave, video/dvd recorder or anything else.

miamithom Loc: Cutler Bay, Florida, USA

It may seem redundant, however I like too PDF versions of the manuals and then print them out. 8.5 x 11 inches makes the type larger and I can mark up the pages with my own notes and not have to worry about obliterating important information.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

miamithom wrote:

It may seem redundant, however I like too PDF versions of the manuals and then print them out. 8.5 x 11 inches makes the type larger and I can mark up the pages with my own notes and not have to worry about obliterating important information.

Saves trees too when you don't get a paper manual or print it

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

I use Photo Best NIKON D600 Cheat Sheet

Info@PhotoCheatatSheets.com

skidooman Loc: Minnesota

Dlevon wrote:

Just wondering how many photographers actually read every single page of their camera , lens, and equipment manuals? Or do they mostly figure they can learn it hands on, by themselves, and use the manual for emergencies?

Seriously?? I've read every manual that comes with everything at least a couple of times. I think people that don't read manuals are like the guys that would rather drive around forever rather than stopping and asking directions.

Why is there always time to do it over, rather than do it right in the first place? My guess is that if manufacturers quit putting manuals in with their product (print or digital version), the people that say they never read them would be the first to complain about it.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I read the manual. It's a mistake (for me anyway) to try to read a large part at one time.

I re read often since my learning retention time can be poor at times

skidooman wrote:

Seriously?? I've read every manual that comes with... (show quote)

Radioman Loc: Ontario Canada

Dlevon wrote:

Just wondering how many photographers actually read every single page of their camera , lens, and equipment manuals? Or do they mostly figure they can learn it hands on, by themselves, and use the manual for emergencies?

********

It is important to read right through the manuals - not to learn how to do everything, but to know what it can do - you can learn how to do it when you need to.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

sodapop wrote:

I read the manual. It's a mistake (for me anyway) to try to read a large part at one time.

I re read often since my learning retention time can be poor at times

I think that is a good point "if" you are new to a camera range, but when moving "up" even jumping two/three cameras say a 1000D to a 1DX you generally know what to expect

Dave B Loc: Ramsey,Cambridgeshire UK

Having owned and used many Nikons since the world was much younger, I am familiar with how they work generally, as each one usually only differs slightly from the model previously used.(The exception to this was,obviously, switching from film to digital)and I only refer to manual if I don't know how to do something (or have forgotten) but I also make sure I know where to find the manual, should I need it!

RicknJude Loc: Quebec, Canada

miamithom wrote:

It may seem redundant, however I like too PDF versions of the manuals and then print them out. 8.5 x 11 inches makes the type larger and I can mark up the pages with my own notes and not have to worry about obliterating important information.

My thoughts also. Get them printed. It's hard to read a 300 page manual that is postage stamp size. The Purolator store prints cheap.

megapix Loc: Cape Ann Massachusetts

Dlevon wrote:

Just wondering how many photographers actually read every single page of their camera , lens, and equipment manuals? Or do they mostly figure they can learn it hands on, by themselves, and use the manual for emergencies?

I've always been a "let's push this and see what it does" guy. That said, I do need to read in between to fill in the blanks. As JR1 said it can depend on how you're upgrading. When I switched from my older Rebel to the 60D, there was a learning curve, IE button/control placement and video operation. But it was not like when I went from my Olympus point and shoot to the Rebel DSLR. That took me much longer to get comfortable with. Still, monkey see, monkey do is much better for me. I watch a lot of YouTube so I can see how it's done and copy it.

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Dlevon wrote:

Just wondering how many photographers actually read every single page of their camera , lens, and equipment manuals? Or do they mostly figure they can learn it hands on, by themselves, and use the manual for emergencies?

For me, it is a combination of both. Generally speaking, I buy from the same manufacturer, Canon, so I'll have a pretty good idea of how it's going to be laid out, as far as functions go. And, assuming that I've already been prepped from the ads and reviews for the new camera regarding the "new" features, I then hunt for these features on my own. After I've made this kind of search, THEN is when I go to the "index" in the manual and look for the things that are new. Staying with one camera manufacturer presents you with that advantage because as you keep buying from them, the cameras will still hold, pretty much, to the same basic layout.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

So many people have come unstuck on this one; the manual is there for your guidance- it pertains to YOUR camera etc. Read, it, and you will know what pertains to YOUR camera, so that you know, and can save time. Even the most proficient shooter knows that he might miss some detail for that particular piece of equipment, and therefore he/she will read it, just to make sure !