When was the last time you read your camera’s manual, if ever? Could you even find it if you needed it? They can be dry, coma-inducing reading, but are often handy as a reference. Especially in the early days of camera ownership when all the buttons are shiny and new or during foggy memory days when you just can’t remember how to change that setting (or if you even have that setting available to change).
If your paper manual has gone by the wayside, never fear, most manufacturers make PDF versions available as free downloads (this goes for almost any piece of electronics, not just cameras!). These have a few advantages over paper- easy portability if you already have a smartphone or tablet in your bag, easier to search compared to the sometimes incomplete index, and they’re available without first buying the camera.
You read that right, being able to download a manual for a camera you don’t own is a good thing for at least two reasons, neither of them masochism. Once word gets out to your family that you’re some kinda camera enthusiast, you become the families official camera tech support person. This job includes manning the free 24-hour helpline and is much easier if you have the relevant camera manual on hand so you can appear to be a clairvoyant camera wizard over the phone (“You need to hit menu, left, left, down, ok, left, ok, menu and now your pictures will be 23% more awesome” “…but I didn’t think you even owned a Nikon?”).
Secondly, when shopping for a new camera (or advising those family members on a purchase), it never hurts to give a prospective purchase’s manual a little look to see if it’s packing or lacking those features you need. Online reviews are grand, but the manual gives you a dry list of features that may not be important to a reviewer but are to you.
Included for handy reference below are links for a few manufacturers so you can get their reference manuals in your hand. They’re in no particular order and some are are drop down lists for their cameras and all the other electronics they make (don’t tell your family that you have access to their Canon printer manual or the phone won’t stop ringing).
Pentax/Ricoh Manuals
Canon Manuals (Hit “Download Centre”)
Nikon Manuals
Sony Manuals
Olympus Manuals
Your favourite camera manufacturer is missing? Add it in the comments!
Owen Sound Camera Club 