Reading the Manual

[Tronhard]

THE IMPORTANCE OF READING THE MANUAL:​

I've been shooting for over 40 years, using almost any brand around, so you think I would be blasé about picking up a new camera and just use it.

Now, as I say frequently, that if one is a competent photographer, one should (if necessary) be able to pick up any camera with basic controls of ISO, Aperture and Shutter, and take competent images with it. Having had gear stolen, lost, destroyed, damaged or otherwise, I have had to apply that principle myself with the gear I had to hand. A client won't accept the excuse that you lost something so the project is off.

That said, I actually take care with every new camera, especially the much more sophisticated ones available today, to download a PDF of the manual and go through it. I use a PDF because I can keep it on my device and use the search function for specific phrases. Sure, much of the basics I can skip or skim over, but there are often major innovations or little gems that need to be discovered and applied if one is going to use the gear to its potential.

Having been a supporter for the Canon user support forum for some years now, I am amazed at how many people contact us because they don't know how to use some feature of the gear that is obviously and clearly described in their manual. It seems the new method of learning is to ask someone to do the research for them and then give them the answer rather than seeking the answer oneself.
I cannot sufficiently emphasize the benefits of going through the manuals for one's equipment (not just cameras for that matter) and discovering not only the elements of how to control, but to use the camera to its potential as a creative tool. Contacting someone for support is something we should all feel able to do, it's an important part of gaining control and skill, but it should come after putting some time into research and education.

BTW, by Manual I mean either the one that comes with the camera, or a 3rd Party book on the equipment.

 

[icopus]

Well, said!

I find that reading manuals through - camera, car, whatever - clouds my mind to the point I don't remember anything. It's an overload of information.

However, I have found that I retain the information for much longer (oh, say... a week, give or take a day) by reading manuals in short bursts, or only reading what I'm interested in at the moment, is the way to go for me.

I suspect information overload (and impatience) is why many don't read manuals.

Having said that, I do eventually get the manual read and sometimes reread. And you're absolutely right; exciting discoveries are often found!

Oh, wait... that was your point, right?

 

[Tronhard]

I think there is a difference between the wiring of the brains of my generation (a late baby-boomer) and the 21st century generations. While I was used to two-hour lectures at a time, and reading a lot of material, they struggle with both - according to my own experience and that of my late wife, who was an academic. She told me of a student who approached her during course selection to ask if the course involved a lot of reading. When told it did, she said "I don't do books or long stuff, I like videos and short things". "In that case, don't take this course" was the reply, after all it was a literature unit.
They seem to prefer short bursts of information, but can multi-task better then my generation - I was at a lecture recently, which was limited by student request from 120min to about 40min. The young lady in front of me sat at her laptop through the whole thing, with at least 9 windows open concurrently and flipping continuously between them. I found this stressful but fascinating, but wondered if she actually absorbed a word the lecturer said...

 

[electronpusher]

I do scan Canon manuals from cover to cover, but I tend to remember more by going back to look at specific menu items that become important to me. Canon manuals are so dense with info, I find aftermarket books easier to read and often explain settings in more understandable detail.

 

[Tronhard]

I do scan Canon manuals from cover to cover, but I tend to remember more by going back to look at specific menu items that become important to me. Canon manuals are so dense with info, I find aftermarket books easier to read and often explain settings in more understandable detail.

That can be very true, but I applaud you for making the effort to find information for yourself. I too find some brand manuals are much harder to read than others - the manual for my Sony RX-10IV was one such and I got a 3rd party manual to make some sense of it all.
I tend to look through the Table of Contents for new features or those that have changed, and focus on those.

 

[icopus]

I think there is a difference between the wiring of the brains of my generation (a late baby-boomer) and the 21st century generations. While I was used to two-hour lectures at a time, and reading a lot of material, they struggle with both - according to my own experience and that of my late wife, who was an academic. She told me of a student who approached her during course selection to ask if the course involved a lot of reading. When told it did, she said "I don't do books or long stuff, I like videos and short things". "In that case, don't take this course" was the reply, after all it was a literature unit.
They seem to prefer short bursts of information, but can multi-task better then my generation - I was at a lecture recently, which was limited by student request from 120min to about 40min. The young lady in front of me sat at her laptop through the whole thing, with at least 9 windows open concurrently and flipping continuously between them. I found this stressful but fascinating, but wondered if she actually absorbed a word the lecturer said...

I, too, am a late baby-boomer. However, I must agree with you. I figure my problem is the mobile over my crib didn't stay there long enough.

 

[SkedAddled]

I do scan Canon manuals from cover to cover, but I tend to remember more by going back to look at specific menu items that become important to me. Canon manuals are so dense with info, I find aftermarket books easier to read and often explain settings in more understandable detail.

I'm much the same, with the exception that I'll use Google to find tutorials(NOT videos) to explain.
At the same time, I take note of posts that touch on subjects which interest me, look into the subject further,
then try my own results against the original. If I need more information, I go looking for it myself.

 

[OhLook]

I find that reading manuals through - camera, car, whatever - clouds my mind to the point I don't remember anything. It's an overload of information.

However, I have found that I retain the information for much longer (oh, say... a week, give or take a day) by reading manuals in short bursts, or only reading what I'm interested in at the moment, is the way to go for me.

My mind works the same way. Beyond that, following instructions while reading them makes for better retention, combining the practical exercise of new information with receiving the information intellectually and not applying it.

 

[TheAnalogGuy]

​

THE IMPORTANCE OF READING THE MANUAL:​

I've been shooting for over 40 years, using almost any brand around, so you think I would be blasé about picking up a new camera and just use it.

Now, as I say frequently, that if one is a competent photographer, one should (if necessary) be able to pick up any camera with basic controls of ISO, Aperture and Shutter, and take competent images with it. Having had gear stolen, lost, destroyed, damaged or otherwise, I have had to apply that principle myself with the gear I had to hand. A client won't accept the excuse that you lost something so the project is off.

That said, I actually take care with every new camera, especially the much more sophisticated ones available today, to download a PDF of the manual and go through it. I use a PDF because I can keep it on my device and use the search function for specific phrases. Sure, much of the basics I can skip or skim over, but there are often major innovations or little gems that need to be discovered and applied if one is going to use the gear to its potential.

Having been a supporter for the Canon user support forum for some years now, I am amazed at how many people contact us because they don't know how to use some feature of the gear that is obviously and clearly described in their manual. It seems the new method of learning is to ask someone to do the research for them and then give them the answer rather than seeking the answer oneself.
I cannot sufficiently emphasize the benefits of going through the manuals for one's equipment (not just cameras for that matter) and discovering not only the elements of how to control, but to use the camera to its potential as a creative tool. Contacting someone for support is something we should all feel able to do, it's an important part of gaining control and skill, but it should come after putting some time into research and education.

View attachment 11192

Agree with you, but many manuals are poorly written. Bad translations and so on.

 

[Jon]

I will refer to my camera manual, only to find where a specific function is hidden.

 

[Yno]

When I ordered my R6 Mk II, I had to wait a while. Canon did have the manual available for download, so I got it and went through it a few times. When I actually had the camera in hand, I pulled it up again to answer specific questions.

When he released it as a PDF, I bought (at a very good price) "Canon EOS Mark II Experience" by Douglas J. Klostermann. It is written in a much easier to understand manner than the Canon Manual. I had previously bought his version for the 5D Mk III, so I knew it would be good.

By the way, he does allow it to be printed out if any of we oldsters still like a real book in our hands!

 

[Tronhard]

​

Agree with you, but many manuals are poorly written. Bad translations and so on.

I agree, but my point is a lot of folks don't even try. The prefer to go on line and ask someone to find the answer for them. This is not limited to photography. A university did an experiment on this. They brought together a diverse range of age groups: from the over 80's through to teenagers and gave them all the same questions to answer. They could use whatever sources they wanted, but there were books, computers and of course they could use their smartphones. The results were quite revealing but somewhat predictable as people reverted to the means that were within their comfort zones.
The oldest looked up books for their answers - they took longer, but their results were amongst the most comprehensive and accurate.
Less old and middle aged used computers to research form relevant sites. Faster and also quite accurate.
The youngest went on line to social media and asked the questions. They got the answers the fastest, but the results varied considerably in depth and accuracy.

 

[Tronhard]

I will refer to my camera manual, only to find where a specific function is hidden.

That is logical if you know what to look for. I think the challenge is, in part, that there is a constituency of people migrating from cell phone cameras who are used to the very automated systems and it's a dose of cold water to realize that has to learn the technical principle of exposure and composition. In that context, many of those have no idea what features to look for or, when migrating to a new system - e.g. from a DSLR to MILC, that some new features require some research and digestion to make the most of the new features and, at times, avoid fighting some of the new features.

 

[Northroad]

When I get a new camera the first thing I do is download the manual while the battery is charging. Then I sit down and watch a few youTube tutorials with camera in hand, shooting and tweaking settings as I watch. Take it out in the yard and play with it. Then occasionally go through the menu from one end to the other, looking up things I don't understand and following threads on this forum and others.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

I always think I can learn everything by simply doing it. Learning as I go along and learning from my mistakes. I only grab the manual if I can't find the answer in and with the device itself. Canon User Guides are bad and particularly the absence of an index is maddening, especially since the search function requires the EXACT spelling of a term! If I can't find it there, because Canon uses a term I never thought of, or it doesn't explain certain behaviour (which is al too often the case), I look on the internet, preferably something in written form. Youtube is my last stop but only if I can find something short and to the point, which is a rare find. If all fails, I come to POTN, now Focus, to ask the good people here.

 

[Jon]

I have a few of my manuals in PDF, easier to search for items. Plus, you can add your own notes to it.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

I have a few of my manuals in PDF, easier to search for items. Plus, you can add your own notes to it.

That's what I do too! Very handy.

 

[Jon]

I always think I can learn everything by simply doing it. Learning as I go along and learning from my mistakes. I only grab the manual if I can't find the answer in and with the device itself. Canon User Guides are bad and particularly the absence of an index is maddening, especially since the search function requires the EXACT spelling of a term! If I can't find it there, because Canon uses a term I never thought of, or it doesn't explain certain behaviour (which is al too often the case), I look on the internet, preferably something in written form. Youtube is my last stop but only if I can find something short and to the point, which is a rare find. If all fails, I come to POTN, now Focus, to ask the good people here.

Until someone comes along and says, "RTFM".

 

[apersson850]

I read the manual. Then at least I remember what's possible to do. Sometimes I realize "this is nothing I'll have any use for", but that day I was wrong about that I still remember you can do it. Maybe not exactly how, but then I can look it up again.
Not reading the manual implies not knowing what my new thing can do, and if I select that way, then I could have saved myself part of the expense and bought a simpler model.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Until someone comes along and says, "RTFM".

Well, I hope not. It was not allowed on POTN and it's not allowed here. People asking a question on Focus need to be properly answered. Even if they could have looked it up in the manual.