Anyone ever buy a book on "How do I work this camera?"

Specifically, did it help you?


I was looking for one to help me understand more of the Olympus E-1 Mark II and found one by Darrell Young ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/16819 … &psc=1 ), but it is over 620 pages and 2.5 pounds of paper (And weighs more than the camera too!).  I know the Olympus operation menu is deep, but really does it take 620+ pages to get through all of it?  Some of the reviewers say it took him 14 months to write it and get it out so the menu depth must be a lot more than what I know of.  Fwiw, the online Olympus one is a mere 196 pages (ahem!).

Don't know about the Kindle version which is $10 less as it would probably need a lot of battery recharging to get through it.  Plus, I like to mark stuff up with notes and fold corners as markers.

My Nikon D810 came with a 499 page (including index) manual in tiny print. It has enough information to keep me busy for months. But when I need something, it covers it nicely. I have no need for another weighty tome to burden my weak mind. 
Rather than more pages, I do like and use YouTube for some things. And they are free and weigh nothing!

I think my first Nikon F's manual was 12 pages in readable print.

Long ago, when I was shooting film, I bought a couple of Magic Lantern books. Two of them on bodies and one on lenses I still have.

The books that come with new cameras are very detailed so I don't see the need for an additional reference. I see they are still in business.

Soon after I got my first digital, a Nikon D80, I bought an aftermarket book on the camera. I don't recall the publisher, but the aftermarket book was well organized and was a lot more helpful in troubleshooting problems and in exploring certain features of the camera. I often referred to both the original manual and the aftermarket.

Haven't done that since I graduated to a D610.

Those type of books are much larger because they go into detail and show examples of the way the features can be used.  You're buying a user manual and a photography lesson in one.  Magic Lantern and Hove - Fountain had a book on every camera at one time.  Usually written by a photographer.  Back then they were worth buying.  Now you can just watch Youtube videos.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ … -1+Mark+II