Photo Tips
Your manual is an important piece of equipment that should be read and carried with you whenever you travel.
For many people, myself included, the first step when opening a new camera (or any electronics) is to throw the manual away. I look at it almost as a challenge. I'm a smart fellow, I can figure this out on my own. Sadly, this is one lesson I have yet to learn. Each new camera includes new technologies, new buttons to push, re-designed interfaces, and different terminology. The cameras these days are incredibly advanced pieces of equipment. If you try to do it on your own, you will probably replace your camera before you learn everything there is to know. In addition, when you are shooting in the field, you don't want to be speeding time learning about your camera. You should be shooting!
The solution: Read the Manual!!! Sounds simple enough. Makes sense. By reading the manual you will learn about any new technologies incorporated into your camera, and how to use them to your benefit. It will help you to set up the camera so that you won't need to fuss with it in the field. Certain situations call for specific settings, and if you haven't read the manual, it's likely that you will have to poke through the ALL of the settings to find the ones you need. This could mean missing 'the shot'. In the field, you should be able to work your camera by sense of feel. You should be focusing on your subject rather than fiddling with different buttons. The settings should be second nature which frees you up to direct your energy at your subject. You can only do this, if you read the manual and understand your camera and it's settings.
In addition to reading the manual, throw it in your camera bag, so that if you can refer to it when traveling.
- Colin McNulty - Rosmaru Expeditions