do you always carry camera manuals

**Lowell Goudge** · 05-10-2010, 10:56 AM

when you are out shooting do you have your manuals with you?

How about an I-POD or PDA?

If you have an IPOD touch or PDA you can get PDF file readers and have your manuals with you at all times.

I also have a calculation sheet for macro work with lens data plus extension tube info to calculate macro magnification ratios, and a sheet for flash calculation.

I will soon add the sheet I use for exposure as a function of aperture for all my lenses.

I find it useful to be able to carry all this in a small package, plus a few bird guides as well.

What used to take about 1 cubic foot of volume in paper now fits in something smaller than a wallet.

clmonk · 05-10-2010, 11:10 AM

My camera manual is well-worn and completely dog-eared and highlighted due to the many times I have read it, but I still have it in the bag every time I go out and, maybe it's my 59 year old brain???--but I still have to consult the manual on occasion. But even if I do not, the comfort of knowing I can is worth the added weight and room.

JeffJS · 05-10-2010, 12:09 PM

Cameras come with Manuals?

(couldn't resist)..

I have a PDF copy on my computer for quick search purposes. I doubt I could even see it on an iPod or PDA screen (which I don't own) so I try to know how the camera feature works before I leave the house.

Blue · 05-10-2010, 12:16 PM

Only for the K1000.

graphicgr8s · 05-10-2010, 01:06 PM

Originally posted by Blue

Only for the K1000.

Only for the Kodak Brownie and my pinhole camera.

Never kept a manual on me and still don't. Usually when I am shooting there is no time to read a manual. If I have a special project idea in mind when I go out that's not second nature I'll read that part of the manual or get online for opinions. But I never carry the manual.

mel · 05-10-2010, 02:47 PM

When I got my first DSLR I read the manual cover to cover as I was going from a K1000 (film) to a K10D. And I was totally clueless on half of it. With the subsequent cameras I only refer to them when I'm stuck on something so no, I don't carry them around. If I get stuck on something while out shooting, I make a mental note and figure out a work-around, then go back and look it up when I get home.

**GingerBeer** · 05-10-2010, 03:26 PM

I used to keep it in my camera bag all the time but have bought too much lenses or other gear that get priority over the manual when deciding what to take with me. I never referred to it that much out in the field but I do like having it with me just in case - I think I've found a reason to buy a new bag.

GingeM · 05-10-2010, 03:29 PM

Directions are like recipes... Only for girls...

Ducking and weaving like only a man can...

Djamison24 · 05-10-2010, 03:41 PM

I carry my manuals in pdf format on my iphone.

**GingerBeer** · 05-10-2010, 03:47 PM

I've got a crapberry (not a crackberry because I haven't found it addictive). Anyway it's not real useful for viewing PDFs but I do keep a PDF of the manual on my USB flash drive that I carry everywhere - useful if I have my laptop with me or there's a computer handy but less useful if there isn't because I didn't come with a USB port.

TOUGEFC · 05-10-2010, 04:05 PM

i keep my original manual at home in dry storage box along with the rest of my camera gear, and i have a pdf copy of it on my smart phone which reads pdf's, i rarely have to look at it tho.

**Lowell Goudge** · 05-10-2010, 04:30 PM

interesting to see there are several others that have it on a smart-phone/pda/ipod/iphone

I put it on my ipod to have as a back up reference, but in reality what I wish I had was a technical manual that showed the range of adjustments, perfromance curves and lens performance of all my lenses.

I'm sure it will get less use than a field guide

For my PZ-1 it came with a custom function cheat sheet that went in my wallet. That was useful when you wanted to do things you rarely did, like back wind film part way through the roll with the leader out.

alohadave · 05-10-2010, 06:03 PM

I don't carry any manuals with me. I read through it when I got the camera and put it away.

creampuff · 05-10-2010, 06:28 PM

I read the manual thoroughly beforehand... then it's all in the head.

opfor · 05-11-2010, 02:19 AM

Must be old age, I like having it in the bag for emergencies. Every once in a while there is something that pops up that I like to check to make sure I have it right.
If I'm busy taking pictures, it also makes it a lot easier for people to answer their own questions about "What's a Pentax?".

05-10-2010, 10:56 AM	#1
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	do you always carry camera manuals when you are out shooting do you have your manuals with you? How about an I-POD or PDA? If you have an IPOD touch or PDA you can get PDF file readers and have your manuals with you at all times. I also have a calculation sheet for macro work with lens data plus extension tube info to calculate macro magnification ratios, and a sheet for flash calculation. I will soon add the sheet I use for exposure as a function of aperture for all my lenses. I find it useful to be able to carry all this in a small package, plus a few bird guides as well. What used to take about 1 cubic foot of volume in paper now fits in something smaller than a wallet.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Do you carry around your camera.....	Cregar	Photographic Technique	73	07-24-2010 09:28 PM
Daily...carry around camera-recommendations	lesmore49	Pentax DSLR Discussion	29	02-12-2009 02:40 AM
How to carry the camera around	alubin	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	8	11-13-2008 12:50 PM
Camera Manuals	c13_	General Talk	3	04-03-2008 04:20 AM
Online Library of Film Camera Manuals, and... and...	solar1	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	2	11-08-2007 03:47 PM

05-10-2010, 11:10 AM	#2
clmonk Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eastern TN Posts: 269	My camera manual is well-worn and completely dog-eared and highlighted due to the many times I have read it, but I still have it in the bag every time I go out and, maybe it's my 59 year old brain???--but I still have to consult the manual on occasion. But even if I do not, the comfort of knowing I can is worth the added weight and room.

05-10-2010, 12:09 PM	#3
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Cameras come with Manuals? (couldn't resist).. I have a PDF copy on my computer for quick search purposes. I doubt I could even see it on an iPod or PDA screen (which I don't own) so I try to know how the camera feature works before I leave the house.

05-10-2010, 12:16 PM	#4
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Only for the K1000.

05-10-2010, 01:06 PM	#5
graphicgr8s Guest	Originally posted by Blue Only for the K1000. Only for the Kodak Brownie and my pinhole camera. Never kept a manual on me and still don't. Usually when I am shooting there is no time to read a manual. If I have a special project idea in mind when I go out that's not second nature I'll read that part of the manual or get online for opinions. But I never carry the manual.

05-10-2010, 02:47 PM	#6
mel Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,531	When I got my first DSLR I read the manual cover to cover as I was going from a K1000 (film) to a K10D. And I was totally clueless on half of it. With the subsequent cameras I only refer to them when I'm stuck on something so no, I don't carry them around. If I get stuck on something while out shooting, I make a mental note and figure out a work-around, then go back and look it up when I get home.

05-10-2010, 03:26 PM	#7
GingerBeer Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brisbane Posts: 126	I used to keep it in my camera bag all the time but have bought too much lenses or other gear that get priority over the manual when deciding what to take with me. I never referred to it that much out in the field but I do like having it with me just in case - I think I've found a reason to buy a new bag.

05-10-2010, 03:29 PM	#8
GingeM Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North of Canada Posts: 612	Directions are like recipes... Only for girls... Ducking and weaving like only a man can...

05-10-2010, 03:41 PM	#9
Djamison24 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Kansas City, KS Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26	I carry my manuals in pdf format on my iphone.

05-10-2010, 03:47 PM	#10
GingerBeer Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brisbane Posts: 126	I've got a crapberry (not a crackberry because I haven't found it addictive). Anyway it's not real useful for viewing PDFs but I do keep a PDF of the manual on my USB flash drive that I carry everywhere - useful if I have my laptop with me or there's a computer handy but less useful if there isn't because I didn't come with a USB port.

05-10-2010, 04:05 PM	#11
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	i keep my original manual at home in dry storage box along with the rest of my camera gear, and i have a pdf copy of it on my smart phone which reads pdf's, i rarely have to look at it tho.

05-10-2010, 04:30 PM	#12
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888 Original Poster	interesting to see there are several others that have it on a smart-phone/pda/ipod/iphone I put it on my ipod to have as a back up reference, but in reality what I wish I had was a technical manual that showed the range of adjustments, perfromance curves and lens performance of all my lenses. I'm sure it will get less use than a field guide For my PZ-1 it came with a custom function cheat sheet that went in my wallet. That was useful when you wanted to do things you rarely did, like back wind film part way through the roll with the leader out.

05-10-2010, 06:03 PM	#13
alohadave Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Quincy, MA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,024	I don't carry any manuals with me. I read through it when I got the camera and put it away.

05-10-2010, 06:28 PM	#14
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	I read the manual thoroughly beforehand... then it's all in the head.

05-11-2010, 02:19 AM	#15
opfor Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 276	Must be old age, I like having it in the bag for emergencies. Every once in a while there is something that pops up that I like to check to make sure I have it right. If I'm busy taking pictures, it also makes it a lot easier for people to answer their own questions about "What's a Pentax?".