Hi tech cameras

[Don Fischer]

Been thinking and seems no one makes a true entry level DSLR camera any more. Maybe they never did. Get a new DSLR today and you just about need a degree in computer's to almost figure out how to use it. I up graded my Nikon D 70 to a Nikon D5000. had no clue how to really work the d70 and the D 5000 threw mw way out. Then feeling cool upgraded the D 5000 with a D7000. Gonna be the last up grade! Added a Panasonic ZS 100 to carry around and not the first real clue how it really works. Had to get help to get it going. Somehow the word reset escaped my notice, not a clue what it did. Love it today but it's so far out of my league it's a crime! Imagine just getting into it and having a camera that pretty much all you had to do was turn it on. Found out with my Panasonic that after reset I put it on "A" and ignore the rest and it takes really nice photo's! But for some reason the camera company's seem to be in a race to see who can develop the first no one ever figures out! Actually I think they reached that point several years ago. I doubt most people with high end cameras don't know how to use everything in then camera. Looking through the guide for my D 7000 it struct me that all I wanted to do was take a picture. I suspect that might be what makes phone cameras so popular. Not a lot of learning needed, simply turn it on a take a picture. My son has one of them and my old D 5000 and he has never used the D 5000! Go figure!

 

[cgw]

Cameras don't vary all that much in what they do compared to how you get them to do it. Think you're annoyed by user interfaces that usually involve thickets of nested menus. Agree they can be frustrating. Might help to get a small notebook for keeping track of settings, how to access them and what they do.
I have several stashed in bags for the cameras they contain. Saves time and avoids blood pressure spikes!

 

[Original katomi]

I don’t like manuals
I take the kiddie approach
Play with the buttons untill I know what they do
On upgrading… when I can’t do what I want to do with the current kit or find a work around then it’s time to upgrade or stop trying that particular project.

 

[denum]

Cameras don't vary all that much in what they do compared to how you get them to do it. Think you're annoyed by user interfaces that usually involve thickets of nested menus. Agree they can be frustrating. Might help to get a small notebook for keeping track of settings, how to access them and what they do.
I have several stashed in bags for the cameras they contain. Saves time and avoids blood pressure spikes!

Great advice on the notebook. I've made cheat sheets with loads of good info on them. I keep them in my camera backpack as well as on my phone.

 

[Jeff15]

The only good camera is the one you have with you when opportunity provides the inspiration.

 

[Dale H. Cook]

Might help to get a small notebook for keeping track of settings, how to access them and what they do.

For my K-70 I exported the PDF manual pages for the menu settings to JPGs. I have four copies marked up in color to show my settings, annotated as needed to understand them. They are assembled back into PDFs - one for my normal settings and three for the user modes. Those live on my phone for easy reference, along with the PDF copy of the user manual.

 

[DigiFilm]

This is no different than any other technology. Most of us use Windows and maybe Excel. I know hundreds of people that use both, I don't know anyone that uses all of the features. Use the ones you need and forget about the rest. Honestly, I have no idea what all is in the video menus of any of my cameras, I don't care. On the rare occasion I shoot video I use the dumb button they provide.

Some tips:
Most cameras have a 'favorites' or 'my menu' you can populate with the setting you most often access. I also use it if there's a neat feature I want to use, but I don't use it often enough to remember where it is in the menu.

Many cameras have a built-in help Menu.

Find the online edition of your owner's manuals, most are searchable PDFs. It may take a couple of tries, but the right combination of search terms will get your answer.

Resist the impulse to use a content creator for presets that you can download to your camera. Those are great for a neophyte, but if not careful you can become dependent very quickly. Once you learn the menu, you can find things on your own. Teach a man to fish...