First[and probably, last] mirrorless camera.

[Johan Schmidt]

I just purchased a Nikon Z6lll, which will be used exclusively for wildlife photography. After years with film and digital cameras, I decided to bite the bullet and try mirrorless. My question is this. Do you guys actually read the Operator Manual in detail before attempting to photograph? I'm relying, at present, on instructions from Steve in each of his publications including the Wildlife Setup Guide. I'm sure that there will be times when I need to REFER to the Operators Manual without reading, in detail, the 76 pages available on the internet. My reluctance to hop on the mirrorless train is the teaching this old dog, and I mean OLD, all of this new stuff.

You're going to love that camera. Yes, the cameras are so similar, one can easily go from a DSLR to mirrorless, but definitely read the manual (and Steve's book) as well to discover wonderful new features in the new weapon. Looking forward to seeing your pics

 

[Woody Meristem]

I've found the YouTubers who use my brand and models to be far more helpful with the settings than the user manuals -- much like Steve has done for you Nikon shooters.

 

[Tom Reynolds]

Woody-
Correct. I watched a video on the Canon R5ii. The evaluator, Jan Wegener, figured out that always shooting in pre-capture was indicated because of the buffer size, CRAW and that pre=capture is in RAW. This is something that OM-1 shooters learned when the mk 2 version came out with a much larger buffer. For the Z6iii, Steve demonstrated that the camera has a basically unlimited buffer so you can essentially accomplish what pre-capture does by simply holding the shutter down when you think the bird may take off.

You need to spend time with a camera to understand these non-standard shooting styles and a camera evaluation that is very short on the camera manual won't get it.

 

[fulltimewanderer]

I just purchased a Nikon Z6lll, which will be used exclusively for wildlife photography. After years with film and digital cameras, I decided to bite the bullet and try mirrorless. My question is this. Do you guys actually read the Operator Manual in detail before attempting to photograph? I'm relying, at present, on instructions from Steve in each of his publications including the Wildlife Setup Guide. I'm sure that there will be times when I need to REFER to the Operators Manual without reading, in detail, the 76 pages available on the internet. My reluctance to hop on the mirrorless train is the teaching this old dog, and I mean OLD, all of this new stuff.

Wapiti, Suggest checking out and reading Steve’s books and Thom Hogan’s books. Definitely recommend reading them not necessarily cover to cover but read them. Also download Nikon’s manual become familiar with it is a good reference. I keep a copy on my phone to help solve problems while out shooting. Enjoy your new camera.

 

[Woody Meristem]

a basically unlimited buffer so you can essentially accomplish what pre-capture does by simply holding the shutter down when you think the bird may take off.

While that's essentially true, those photos will be saved to the card whether the bird does what you want/expect or not. The advantage of the Olympus pro-capture, and perhaps other brands as well, is that unless the shutter button is fully depressed the images are deleted from the camera's internal memory so the photographer doesn't have to sort through hundreds of images looking for just the right photo.

 

[DaddySS]

I just purchased a Nikon Z6lll, which will be used exclusively for wildlife photography. After years with film and digital cameras, I decided to bite the bullet and try mirrorless. My question is this. Do you guys actually read the Operator Manual in detail before attempting to photograph? I'm relying, at present, on instructions from Steve in each of his publications including the Wildlife Setup Guide. I'm sure that there will be times when I need to REFER to the Operators Manual without reading, in detail, the 76 pages available on the internet. My reluctance to hop on the mirrorless train is the teaching this old dog, and I mean OLD, all of this new stuff.

Probably in the minority but I read the manual front to back either before or shortly after I begin using the camera.
Two main reasons; To refresh my memory on the functions I thought I knew, and learn about the new functions and options.
And to familiarize myself with where certain hard to find items are located in the manual for future reference. The Z9 at at some 900+ pages was the toughest.

 

[ButlerKid]

FWIW - I had photographed for decades.....before finally getting a Z9, then a Z8. There is a LOT that is different from DSLRs. Focus modes and how they work and when to use them, options, customizing more buttons with more features, nuanced changes from DSLRs, etc. I found the adjustment definitely took time spent with the camera - and with Steve's eBook! I scanned the manual, but I read Steve's eBook! And I now use it as a reference.

YMMV - Everytime I got a new DSLR I just charged the battery and checked out the new features and off I went. Going to mirrorless, I had to study the differences and learn how to use them.

 

[EricBowles]

Moving from a DSLR to a Z camera is a major step - similar to moving from film to digital. I think you should go ahead and use your camera, but take the time to learn from others and read resources like guides, manuals, and the reference guide.

I'm usually an early buyer of Nikon cameras, so I do read or scan parts of the manual. Often I've got a camera before many of the good YouTube guides are produced. But I also find that I refer to the manual regularly after getting the camera when I am trying to learn new functions, evaluate settings and customization, or solve a problem.

In the case of the Z cameras, most of them have a Reference Guide that is a lot more useful than the basic camera manual. The Reference Guide gets into more about how settings work and how to use the setting or feature. The guide is updated for major firmware updates.

Don't rely solely on the perspective of YouTube guides and recommendations. In many cases what you shoot and your experience level is not the same as the content creator. It's a point of reference or suggestion for a particular subject that might be good 90% of the time, but might not be good for other genres or even other subjects.

Also pay attention to the release date for videos or guides. For example, early releases may not reflect the most recent firmware or experience of the creator. With the Z6iii everything is relatively new, but you may have changes a year from now. That's true for the manual as well - the manual is created at a point in time and subsequent firmware updates, new features, and new memory cards are not reflected or updated in the manual.

 

[Larry S.]

As others stated, Steve Perry’s guides, not just model specific, but shooting tutorials are the best I’ve seen. If you find yourself getting lost in the technical weeds back out a bit. Don’t try to learn it all at once. I’ve learned more from mistakes than successes. My best friend with the mirrorless cameras has been the ”i” menu. That one feature enables you see your setting on the rear screen and quickly make changes. Steve has suggestions for this feature in his set up guides. In one sense the “i” menu is like the table of contents in a book… Every photographer has different shooting disciplines that work for them. You will find yours and help is always availabe in this forum. Enjoy your Z6iii! ….and no, I don’t read the enclosed “micro-print” instructions.

 

[Mal Paso]

The trouble with the Nikon manuals is you don't know what you don't know. You first have to figure out what you are looking for. Steve's manuals get you up and running after which the Nikon manuals make more sense.

 

[Rohinton Mehta]

I just purchased a Nikon Z6lll, which will be used exclusively for wildlife photography. After years with film and digital cameras, I decided to bite the bullet and try mirrorless. My question is this. Do you guys actually read the Operator Manual in detail before attempting to photograph? I'm relying, at present, on instructions from Steve in each of his publications including the Wildlife Setup Guide. I'm sure that there will be times when I need to REFER to the Operators Manual without reading, in detail, the 76 pages available on the internet. My reluctance to hop on the mirrorless train is the teaching this old dog, and I mean OLD, all of this new stuff.

Before using any camera, be it a DSLR or a Mirrorless, I ALWAYS download the Reference Manual (not the User Manual) from the Net and study it -- repeat, study it - and not read it like a novel. Modern cameras are tricky to operate due to the hundreds of features.

 

[Brett B]

I not only read the manual, but also Steve's book front to back. It is hopeless for me to try and use the camera before it os setup to my expectations. Once setup as needed I can practice with those settings (essentially U1, 2 and 3).

 

[CTaylor]

I just purchased a Nikon Z6lll, which will be used exclusively for wildlife photography. After years with film and digital cameras, I decided to bite the bullet and try mirrorless. My question is this. Do you guys actually read the Operator Manual in detail before attempting to photograph? I'm relying, at present, on instructions from Steve in each of his publications including the Wildlife Setup Guide. I'm sure that there will be times when I need to REFER to the Operators Manual without reading, in detail, the 76 pages available on the internet. My reluctance to hop on the mirrorless train is the teaching this old dog, and I mean OLD, all of this new stuff.

I always read/skim the full manual. I read carefully those sections that seem to be important to get the results I want. Sections that seem unrelated to my type of photography get skimmed. My thinking is that I want to "know what I don't know" so I can find that information later if needed. Then I get at least one guide book written by a source I trust, such as Steve's books (I can't say enough good about them and recommend them to all photographers I know)

 

[Wildlife_follower]

To read or not to read the manual... that is the question ! I got into Mirrorless with the first Z6 edition, and still enjoy it today, even if I have a Z8 for my most important work. Any manual for a camera, all brands considered, are better read when you can't fall asleep. Many mentioned the intuitive angle of using a mirrorless, and I fully agree. Steve's book and youtube posts will be your go to solution in case of difficulties. One reco though, try to get familiar as early as possible with the autofocus features as they, at least for me, were the initial challenges. Again, Steve's book are brilliant and easy to apply. Good luck with your photographic ventures, you'll love you Z6 III very soon.

 

[Patty15]

Congrats on your purchase, great camera. I do not read the manuals. As questions pop up along the way, I Google may way through.

Me too. I have always found the manual very techie, dry and limited. I've always gotten more help from @Steve 's books and videos. And for a quick emergency question Uncle Google always helps.

I have the Z8 and Z9 and love them both after shooting DSLR since 2008. In fact, I prefer them.

 

[Jadiehl]

The manual is useful for reference if you can find it. Steve’s guides are very well writtnen and helpful. Using the camera and figuring out what you need help with is the best way I’ve found in using the mirrorless system.

 

[SHC]

I do read the manuals, though I find Steve’s and Thom Hogan’s materials complement each other well. My first reading is to master settings and customization for the photography I do the most, and I gain awareness of features I may use occasionally (which will require a second reading when I actually use a particular feature). Keeping the manuals on my phone is helpful.

 

[Jason Ponfil]

I just purchased a Nikon Z6lll, which will be used exclusively for wildlife photography. After years with film and digital cameras, I decided to bite the bullet and try mirrorless. My question is this. Do you guys actually read the Operator Manual in detail before attempting to photograph? I'm relying, at present, on instructions from Steve in each of his publications including the Wildlife Setup Guide. I'm sure that there will be times when I need to REFER to the Operators Manual without reading, in detail, the 76 pages available on the internet. My reluctance to hop on the mirrorless train is the teaching this old dog, and I mean OLD, all of this new stuff.

I am in the same boat, albeit with Canon. As others have said, I would watch videos to learn the capabilities and which features you may want to change. My biggest problem was customizing the buttons.....I initially used someone else's suggestions, but found I couldn't remember them, so I made a cheat sheet and re-customized the buttons to adapt to my style of shooting, i.e. one set for landscapes and one set for wildlife. The manual is kept as a reference guide, but with YouTube, not really necessary!

 

[SCP]

I just purchased a Nikon Z6lll, which will be used exclusively for wildlife photography. After years with film and digital cameras, I decided to bite the bullet and try mirrorless. My question is this. Do you guys actually read the Operator Manual in detail before attempting to photograph? I'm relying, at present, on instructions from Steve in each of his publications including the Wildlife Setup Guide. I'm sure that there will be times when I need to REFER to the Operators Manual without reading, in detail, the 76 pages available on the internet. My reluctance to hop on the mirrorless train is the teaching this old dog, and I mean OLD, all of this new stuff.

Fist thing, you will love mirrorless, I do. Regarding reading manuals, I read them all the time. There's always some little something that I need explicit directions for, and the manual usually gives me what I need and that could be years after I purchase a camera. Also, there may be a function that I rarely use, and I need to refresh my memory, so I get out the manual for that. Second, I just love Steve's setup videos. I always go through them camera in hand. Between the manual and Steve mastering one of these cameras just takes a little time.

 

[MikeInMI]

I usually spend HOURS configuring my camera before I take my first picture. With my Sony A1 I purchased Tom Freidman's book and went through each setting. Then when Steve's book came out I bought that and spent quite a bit of time going through his book and changing a few things. Then I got Mark Galer's book and watched Mark Smith's YouTube video. and of course, I did a lot of fine tuning based on my own experience.

 

[tomcat]

I just purchased a Nikon Z6lll, which will be used exclusively for wildlife photography. After years with film and digital cameras, I decided to bite the bullet and try mirrorless. My question is this. Do you guys actually read the Operator Manual in detail before attempting to photograph? I'm relying, at present, on instructions from Steve in each of his publications including the Wildlife Setup Guide. I'm sure that there will be times when I need to REFER to the Operators Manual without reading, in detail, the 76 pages available on the internet. My reluctance to hop on the mirrorless train is the teaching this old dog, and I mean OLD, all of this new stuff.

Steve's Guides are the best by far! I actually printed out the entire guide and put the pages into a 3-ring binder. This printed copy made it a lot easier for me to learn to use the focus system because I have a mental handicap about reading off a monitor and trying to recall the paragraph where I read the info. With a printed copy, I can use post-it notes to mark my notes. I have only used the Nikon manual on-line, maybe 3 times in my life!

 

[Ken Miracle]

I have not seen one of the best tools for learning any new camera that has this feature mentioned ... the help button on the back of the Z6III (and other cameras) and the subsequent ? that can access the same in camera on screen information from the touch screen. Information can be found on page 73 of the Z6III reference guide. I stand up with the camera with a z lens mounted sitting on my stand up desk and go through the camera starting at the first menu and by checking the information that pops up anytime the ? is available I can quickly become familiar with the camera menus and controls.

For me at 76 and having been in photography for about 15 years this in camera help/info had been my favorite tool for some time now.

I also have my computer up and running with quick access to the nikon reference guide (in my apple books) and @Steve set up video and (would have his Z6III book now that it is available) and any other of his books are there also.

As @EricBowles I frequently get new gear early and have downloaded from Nikon USA the PDF Reference guide before I get the camera. As firmware updates come along I down load the addendums.

I have found @Steve set up and other books invaluable and download the updates from him as soon as they are available.

When I got the Z6III @Steve had just sent out his set up videos and I had the downloaded the Nikon reference guide already had a fully charged battery since the spares and charger had arrived before the camera so I got things up and running quite quickly.

It also helped that I had already set up 2 Z9's. My first Z a Z6II was traded in for my wife's Z7II and had set those up had used the in camera Nikon help button learning method mentioned above since my DSLR days.

 

[John Barclay]

Steve's books are much easier to follow and deal with any problems. I have a Z9 and his books were great in helping set up the camera for wildlife photos. I also agree with the above comment about the "I" menu which is easy to access on the go.

 

[2Lab]

I just purchased a Nikon Z6lll, which will be used exclusively for wildlife photography. After years with film and digital cameras, I decided to bite the bullet and try mirrorless. My question is this. Do you guys actually read the Operator Manual in detail before attempting to photograph? I'm relying, at present, on instructions from Steve in each of his publications including the Wildlife Setup Guide. I'm sure that there will be times when I need to REFER to the Operators Manual without reading, in detail, the 76 pages available on the internet. My reluctance to hop on the mirrorless train is the teaching this old dog, and I mean OLD, all of this new stuff.

I don't read the Nikon manual unless I need further information. I have always learned more with a 3rd party book than the manual i.e. David Bushes camera specific books. I also put his book and the Nikon manual on my iPad for quick reference in the field.

 

[gKhan]

I just get the camera out of the box, make sure it's got a memory card loaded and install a charged battery and "off to the races I go."

However, by the time I purchase a camera, I've already looked into its operation online. I also purchase Steve's camera guides for my specific cameras, as well as watch his videos on essential settings for a camera type and a specific model I'm going to use.

I may use it later as a reference, but, read the official owner's manual from front to back...? Never!

Thanks for posting. You saved me the time to post the exact same thing.!