[Des Gardner]

Why don't camera companies do a CD instruction on how to use, instead of a destruction manual which can at times be very hard to understand, this includes flash units as well.?????

[jake]

'cos it costs cash!
I think it's a common fault that people writing manuals are so familiar with their own, often narrow, discipline that they don't realise what level they have to drop to to make them comprehensible to non specialist readers.

[Whipspeed]

Prefer a manual I can keep in my bag. CD would only really be useful at home.

[Des Gardner]

I too have nothing against manuals but it seems that an awfull lot of people just do not understand the way things are put across to them........I always take my manual away with me for something to read when I am on my travels........

[Markulous]

Hey, better than it used to be when they were roughly translated from Japanese - getting to grips with the use of English was just the first step!

I rarely read manuals - well, I'm a bloke, right? We don't do manuals! But on the occasions when I'm totally baffled (all too often! ) I always read the PDF version (even sadder, I usually have this manual before I've received whatever it is to which the manual refers!). Paper's just so last century!

[Des Gardner]

I know all about those done in Japanese, I took mine back to the shop and they sent for a new manual..... great...... it came a week later........written in Chinese!.

[brian wright22]

The CD pdf is usually very similar to but a fuller version of the printed one.
I have found that a SLR paper manuals to be excellent from Canon & Nikon and are a full user manual but the cheaper compacts just supply a shortform paper manual and you have to use the pdf version for the full version .
Give me the full paper manual everytime, then I can read it at leasure in the lounge in front of the tv and not stuck in front of my computer being anti social!

[VinnyP]

I prefer the PDF then I always have all of them with me on my phone and I can search them. Same with car owners manuals etc etc.

[Daggensan]

I carry my manual in my bag, and frequently refer back to it. But I've got to say there are still a few pages that I still have trouble understanding, and struggle with. I think Jake hit it on the head, they need to be written to accomodate the full range of users.

[SteveO]

If you prefer a CD then just download the user guides from the manufacturers website and burn a CD

I keep both!

[Dave Canon]

I do generally read manuals (ex-scientist). In fact I am the only person I know who has read Martin Evenings book Adobe Photoshop for Photographers from end to end (currently reading his Lightroom 2 book). I do normally read a camera manual end to end and understand each section even if I do not use all of the features in practice. Exceptionally, I did not read the manual with my EOS 5D2 as it seemed instinctively easy to use. I have referred to the manual for details on using the video and live view. The manual seems to be easy enough to follow and is written in reasonable english. There is more to read if you are using the more sophisticated automatic features or using JPEG but a Raw worker using single spot focussing and exposure (and often manual settings) there is less to read about.

Dave

[Silver Dragon]

CD or Paper....
I am usually miles from the computer when I need to read the-book-of-words to find out what I am doing wrong....

PDF, you cant "Bookmark" the page by folding the corner, I always get lost reading them, you cant stick a finger in a page whilst you fast-forward to another bit...
I prefer the pocket guides... as long as I remember my glasses.

[VinnyP]

Originally Posted by SteveO

If you prefer a CD then just download the user guides from the manufacturers website and burn a CD

I always do that, but before I get the camera so I can hit the ground running. Most cameras are so similar these days, usually you just need to look at the changes from your current model.