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Wheels

Wheels

Julian Keeler
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Julian
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:eek:I have been reading the manual for my new toy, and I keep turning the camera on, messing with its menu seeing what I can do. Then I panic and think oh god im going to press something I shouldnt, and then Im knackered. So I switch it off again in shear terror :lol:
 
As David said, just dick around! The best thing you can do is mess around with it, see what happens when you do stuff. And if all else fails just reset to factory settings. I believe you can do that by holding down Qual and +/- ... but not 100% on that. In short, don't be afraid to have a good play with it!
 
Slow and Steady Julian, slow and steady... I seem to remember Darren got hold of a small CF card and saved all the basic settings onto it, so if all else fails it can be reset to the card.

Just read the manual, and only pick up the camera when you feel you need to work through something, sometimes it only makes sense when you have the camera in front of you, other times, it doesn't make sense until you read, play, then re-read. Just concentrate on basic stuff - knowing where the shutter release, and control wheels are, so you can operate 'em by touch.

It's a steep curve at first, but it gets easier, honest!
 
I think everyone is the same to be honest, particularly if it is someone's first ever SLR. The only way to learn is to play around with settings, etc to see what they do. There isn't anything that you can change that can't be undone.

Clarke
 
David Busch's Nikon D300s is a lot more user friendly, better illustrated and informative than the manual.
 
Only, in the most dire of circumstances (and that means never) should you RTFM :p
 
I never read the manual to be honest. For some reason my brain just can't soak information in that way. I have to go out and try things, figure out what things are doing by seeing them in action. Then I can go back and read about the things that confuse me, and why I was getting different effects, or what effects I should have expected. Then I might see another few terms... but if I read what they do then *WHOOSH* gone out of my head... So again, I just don't bother reading what they do. I just have to go out and dick around with it!

Funny how we learn in different ways eh! And I remember someone saying something along the lines of it being "stupid not to read the manual before using the equipment". Well, I for one can throw that theory right out the window! Not just from my own experience, but from other photographers that are just the same.
 
Step 1: remove all contents from box
Step 2: Look at front cover of manual
Step 3: Put manual back in box to never be looked at again :D
Step 4: Fiddle until something goes right :lol:


Or is that just me??
 
Forget the manual for a while :)

Set the new toy up - put it on automatic [ or get someone to do that for you ) ] .

Now go out and just take photos - anything , it doesn't matter what , so your fingers get used to falling on the buttons without you having to look to where you are supposed to put them [ your fingers ].

Now look at your pics and be astounded how good they are when you think back to your old , no longer with you , Point and Shoot.

Now start to move on s....l....o....w....l.....y and learn how to take good shots. It takes time , but remember you are the boss of your camera - it doesn't boss you about.

I got my first ever DSLR in December and I'm just now really starting to use it properly thanks to the wonderful weather we had when I couldn't really get out with it.

Relax and enjoy it and you will soon be taking fantastic pictures
 
arclight said:
David Busch's Nikon D300s is a lot more user friendly, better illustrated and informative than the manual.
Click to expand...

Julian...the Nikon D40 manual was rubbish so I got the Busch one from Amazon

the D5000 is too - have a look at this D300s Expanded Guide ..."link" ....
 
Forget the manual, put it on auto, go and play, take pictures of anything, everything, find all the buttons you need to press, get the feel of the camera, then start finding out what all the other functions are.

Dave.
 
hhahaha....
Half the posts on this Forum would never be written if people read the manual before playing with their cameras...

Here's my take on it:

RTFM - Read The eFfin' Manual!
 
Arkady said:
hhahaha....
Half the posts on this Forum would never be written if people read the manual before playing with their cameras...

Here's my take on it:

RTFM - Read The eFfin' Manual!
Click to expand...

Quite, but they are sometimes a little dry and obviously can get very techincal very quickly.

That said when you need to know the more complex features of the camera nothing can beat the manufacturers manual.
 
DrRusty said:
Quite, but they are sometimes a little dry and obviously can get very techincal very quickly.
Click to expand...

:notworthy: This is now my favourite forum post on manuals :thumbs:

Wheels said:
:eek:I have been reading the manual for my new toy, and I keep turning the camera on, messing with its menu seeing what I can do. Then I panic and think oh god im going to press something I shouldnt, and then Im knackered. So I switch it off again in shear terror :lol:
Click to expand...

I know how ya feel mate, one really should learn as many things about our camera's as possible, but I too have bravely delved into the customs functions only to retreat rather rapidly in fear of mussin summat up.

No harm can be done though so have a good ole fiddle and press them buttons ;)
 
DrRusty said:
Quite, but they are sometimes a little dry and obviously can get very techincal very quickly.

That said when you need to know the more complex features of the camera nothing can beat the manufacturers manual.
Click to expand...

Part of the trouble with manuals is that they are small and tightly bound.
Sit down at a table with the camera and manual and you still need four pairs of hands to hold the manual open at the right page and fiddle with the camera.

Why don't manuals come ring bound?

Got to say that the likes of Busch's and the magic Lantern guides go further into why you should choose certain settings rather than just how to choose them.
Easier to remember things if you know why rather than just how.
 
Just click away :D remember it's not a roll of film ££££££:eek: if in doubt just go to Auto:bat:(sorry) for that great shot,

i did this on my first DSLR then went back through history to look at the crap i took LOL



regards merc
 
Arkady said:
hhahaha....
Half the posts on this Forum would never be written if people read the manual before playing with their cameras...

Here's my take on it:

RTFM - Read The eFfin' Manual!
Click to expand...

I completely agree. RTFM :rules: think and stop complaining.

Perhaps also read a decent book about protography and light. You didn't start driving before reading the Highway code and the car manual, did you?

If you dick around, you may likely end up taking awful photos over and over again for many years to come blaiming the camera and the lens, but never the person behind it.
 
set everything flat...auto if you like...white balance...basic metering

take around 200 photographs....decide then which parameters you need to change...

probably you will venture into the land of P/A/S/M and more controllable metering

concentrate on photography not cameras
 
I highly recommend Thom Hogan's books (http://www.bythom.com) for Nikon bodies. Lots clearer, more in depth and easier to read than the Nikon manuals and some very good information on the tech side of digital capture if you care to read those parts, and workflow.
 
I lost the manual to my old camera but found a copy online, so could view on the PC/laptop (not through a 'naughty' site as far as I know or checked) - that could be a good option for when you are in the house and looking?

If I had a brand new kit, I'd advocate the whole 'get out there and enjoy messing about whatever happens' for at least a day or two and then, when the excitement subsides, take a breath and start to read a little!

BTW, to me a little is 'OMG, I never knew this thing could do this so I'll try it before moving to something else because otherwise I'll just forget all of it'!! - seriously, I am reading the Field Manual for my camera now and just trying things as I go along!

Honestly, I am a pure 'amateurist' or 'hobbyist' or whatever we call people who just get out a bit and enjoy what they do, so I am a little impatient but willing to learn - no way would I be keeping a babe like you have in it's box.....have fun with it and don't forget, people dumber than you use them so there's always a way out of anything you may set on it!!! (at least, tah's what I hope!!!).
 
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