Keeping photo manuals simple.

[Celtic 77]

Just throwing it out there. But just suppose the manufacturers, instead of having 6 ways to Sunday on programming a camera to do everything including adjusting the valves on my B, in my case an Olympus E5, produce a manual that hints at...wait for it...photography and some of the fundamentals. The book that came with the camera many yeras ago makes me feel like I should have been an IBM programmer! Thoughts?

 

[Basil]

I know what you mean. The manual for my Canon 5D Mark IV is 676 pages! There is a section in the front called "Getting Started" which outlines the technical things you need to get started operating the camera, but it doesn't have anything in it about basics of photography. Luckily my camera has a menu system that is very well thought out and functions are organized into logical groups, but there was still a pretty steep learning curve as it's a complex beast that doesn't lend itself to a simple manual.

For most of my learning I have often relied on various tutorials, usually in the form of online courses I've purchased. I also belong to KelbyOne, Scott Kelby's online community (a paid membership), which has hundreds of excellent, professional produced courses, with many different professional as instructors. Kelby. The courses are grouped into "Tracks" where a track might have several courses that are of related topics and each course will have many lessons. Here's an example:



As you can see, this Track on Photography Fundamentals has 17 separate courses (things like
"The Twenty Time Proven Rules of Composition," "Lenses: Accessories Basics," "Light, the Main Element in Every Photograph," just to name a couple.
Each of the courses will have several "lessons."
You don't have to take the entire track if you don't need to, you can pick and choose what you want to learn about. It's a really great learning environment they have put together.

 

[Celtic 77]

I know what you mean. The manual for my Canon 5D Mark IV is 676 pages! There is a section in the front called "Getting Started" which outlines the technical things you need to get started operating the camera, but it doesn't have anything in it about basics of photography. Luckily my camera has a menu system that is very well thought out and functions are organized into logical groups, but there was still a pretty steep learning curve as it's a complex beast that doesn't lend itself to a simple manual.

For most of my learning I have often relied on various tutorials, usually in the form of online courses I've purchased. I also belong to KelbyOne, Scott Kelby's online community (a paid membership), which has hundreds of excellent, professional produced courses, with many different professional as instructors. Kelby. The courses are grouped into "Tracks" where a track might have several courses that are of related topics and each course will have many lessons. Here's an example:

View attachment 81459

As you can see, this Track on Photography Fundamentals has 17 separate courses (things like
"The Twenty Time Proven Rules of Composition," "Lenses: Accessories Basics," "Light, the Main Element in Every Photograph," just to name a couple.
Each of the courses will have several "lessons."
You don't have to take the entire track if you don't need to, you can pick and choose what you want to learn about. It's a really great learning environment they have put together.

Yikes!! I will say I am glad I learned on a manual camera and still use the "sunny 16" rule. I try to shoot manual or if just grab shots I'll use "program". In color I'll carry a polarizer and maybe under or overexpose depending on the light. Again, this is from shooting in the "old days" of film. I had a friend who spent more time didling with equipment and he usually missed the shot! Can't learn that from a 676 page manual in my opinion...Well, off to Bermuda Saturday, and hope to fing some LBC's and stunning landscapes...adios

 

[Basil]

My first camera was much simpler - a Canon T-70, which did have a couple of "auto" modes, but I mostly shot in Manual back then. I still have the T-70 Film camera.

 

[DrEntropy]

Just throwing it out there. But just suppose the manufacturers, instead of having 6 ways to Sunday on programming a camera to do everything including adjusting the valves on my B, in my case an Olympus E5, produce a manual that hints at...wait for it...photography and some of the fundamentals. The book that came with the camera many yeras ago makes me feel like I should have been an IBM programmer! Thoughts?

Agreed, the manuals for the pro-sumer and pro grade digital cameras are decidedly heavy on details about the operation of the things. But considering the buyers of those more advanced cameras aren't the 'point-n-shoot' types, my guess is the manufacturers assume a higher level of understanding WRT the fundamentals of photography and would rather sell separate publications for those less versed in that area.

Also, considering the capabilities of a DSLR, what it can do as compared to an analog camera is strikingly complex. Well beyond the three film camera variables of shutter speed, ∱-stop and ASA/ISO. I began learning the craft from the bottom-up as a pre-teen, lucky to have a second-gen professional as my tutor. From the basic camera controls and how they affect the image, to the different darkroom chemicals and what effects they had on emulsions. Most all of that is now internal to a DSLR, and what is not can be manipulated later with software in an "electronic darkroom." So I can forgive the manufacturers for going heavy on the details of operation and foregoing Photography 101.

Yikes!! I will say I am glad I learned on a manual camera and still use the "sunny 16" rule. I try to shoot manual or if just grab shots I'll use "program". In color I'll carry a polarizer and maybe under or overexpose depending on the light. Again, this is from shooting in the "old days" of film. I had a friend who spent more time didling with equipment and he usually missed the shot! Can't learn that from a 676 page manual in my opinion...Well, off to Bermuda Saturday, and hope to fing some LBC's and stunning landscapes...adios

The "sunny 16" rule... on the occasion of teaching a class on fundamentals, some student inevitably asks: "What shutter speed and ∱-stop should I be using?" as we're outdoors in daylight. Being the smartarse, my answer would be to wet my finger in my mouth then stick it in the air and proclaim: "125th at ∱16." Only half the students would laugh...

And don't fing overtly in Bermuda. I understand they're rather sensitive about such things!

Seriously, enjoy the trip. Bring us some stunning images.

 

[GregW]

I'm actually thankful manuals don't cover photography. I always carry mine in my bag. I don't use auto bracketing very often, so I may need to freshen myself on how to turn it on and adjust how many stops I want. I also bought the same camera for my second body for an IR conversion because of the complexity of the menuing system. Early in my digital journey I had a D3200 and D60. The menuing systems were different so I had to remember the different buttons to push to accomplish the same thing. Totally agro.

 

[DrEntropy]

I'm actually thankful manuals don't cover photography. I always carry mine in my bag. I don't use auto bracketing very often, so I may need to freshen myself on how to turn it on and adjust how many stops I want. I also bought the same camera for my second body for an IR conversion because of the complexity of the menuing system. Early in my digital journey I had a D3200 and D60. The menuing systems were different so I had to remember the different buttons to push to accomplish the same thing. Totally agro.

This consistency of operation was the reasoning behind my getting The two D7500's for "his & Hers" and later the D7200 as my second. I hate to be fumbling while a good opportunity gets away. Lost a shot of that hawk in flight because of front dial/back dial mistakes. Only got a tail and wingtip in frame. Then severely under-exposed the last shot of it on the fence. It lit off right after that. Thanks to you and Darktable for the save!

 

[Celtic 77]

Agreed, the manuals for the pro-sumer and pro grade digital cameras are decidedly heavy on details about the operation of the things. But considering the buyers of those more advanced cameras aren't the 'point-n-shoot' types, my guess is the manufacturers assume a higher level of understanding WRT the fundamentals of photography and would rather sell separate publications for those less versed in that area.

Also, considering the capabilities of a DSLR, what it can do as compared to an analog camera is strikingly complex. Well beyond the three film camera variables of shutter speed, ∱-stop and ASA/ISO. I began learning the craft from the bottom-up as a pre-teen, lucky to have a second-gen professional as my tutor. From the basic camera controls and how they affect the image, to the different darkroom chemicals and what effects they had on emulsions. Most all of that is now internal to a DSLR, and what is not can be manipulated later with software in an "electronic darkroom." So I can forgive the manufacturers for going heavy on the details of operation and foregoing Photography 101.



The "sunny 16" rule... on the occasion of teaching a class on fundamentals, some student inevitably asks: "What shutter speed and ∱-stop should I be using?" as we're outdoors in daylight. Being the smartarse, my answer would be to wet my finger in my mouth then stick it in the air and proclaim: "125th at ∱16." Only half the students would laugh...

And don't fing overtly in Bermuda. I understand they're rather sensitive about such things!

Seriously, enjoy the trip. Bring us some stunning images.

Definitely will send shots! Spectacular island. I love the wet finger analogy... BYW, if your so inclined, check out some images on Alamy...put the last name of Cassidy in an advanced search and see what happens!