How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

[Autumn]

My new camera's (Panasonic TZ20) manual is on CD which I have downloaded to my PC. It uses Adobe Reader to open it. (Although I have recently had problems with with program and had just uninstalled Adobe 10.1.1 and reinstalled it and it now works again!)

I thought I could save the manual to an SD card and if I needed to know anything I could try to read it through my camera or plug it into a TV in the hotel bedroom.

I now don't think that would be possible because it uses Adobe Reader.

Has anyone any ideas how I could take this manual on holiday with me. I don't have an Ipad.

[Pops]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

If you will have access to a computer you could copy it onto a usb memory stick.

Bit of a job but you could always pick out the bits which are most relevant for you and print it out. A bit of copying and pasting will enable you to pick and chose the important bit.

[Autumn]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

I think that is my only answer. The trouble is there are over 100 pages and I bet the bit I don't copy will be the bit I need.

[Barr1e]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

I find the problem with a camera manual its says go to page 49 and when there it says page 77 has the real answer.

Enjoy your hols.

Regards. Barr1e

[Pops]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

Have looked up your manual online and found it Here
There are 17 pages on line and a glance through tells me that you don't need the first 6 pages or the last 3 pages.
That leaves just eight pages of the nitty gritty stuff to print off ....

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

There are lots of pdf to dvd converter programs available...

Not a lot of good if your hotel has not got a DVD in the room

However there are also pdf to jpg converters, so it could be put onto a USB memory stick

Not a lot of good if your hotel has not got a USB TV in the room

You could put the jpgs onto a memory card and play it on the TV from your camera

Not a lot of good if your hotel has not got a yellow AV skt on the TV in the room

OR:

As you are on holiday, put it on Auto and have loads more drinks than normal

Whatever you do - Enjoy it

[JSR]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

It may sound daft but every time I buy a new gadget, I load the PDF manual on my Kindle. I may never read the manual, but it's nice to know I have it if I ever need it!

And it sure saves wondering where I left the paper version (if there was one).

[Autumn]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

Actually Pops there are 149 pages in the manual!

Yes I think my camera will be on intelligent auto most of the time to get round the problem.

Thanks all for your input.

[Pol]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

Actually Pops there are 149 pages in the manual!

Yes I think my camera will be on intelligent auto most of the time to get round the problem.

Thanks all for your input.

Audrey,

I imagine the TZ20 is near enough tot he TZ10 and I almost always use the TZ10 on intelligent auto or landscape mode. Most of the time I also have the exposure set at -1/3 unless it's a very dull day (or I was getting a bit of burnout on some shots)

TBH I find landscape mode is usually better than intelligent auto for most things.

The other thing I've found is that I can't zoom to 300mm if I'm using manual, Av or Tv. I can only zoom to 300mm if I'm using one of the presets or scene modes. So check that out on your TZ20 before you go away.

Otherwise it's an intuitive little camera - sits in a pocket, pull out, point/shoot and that's it.

I never bothered d/l the manual as I only use the TZ10 for quick snapshots - but I grab loads of them no bother using just the settings as mentioned above. I don't use the video mode so I'm sorry I can't comment on that.

Hope that helps.

Pol

[Pops]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

Actually Pops there are 149 pages in the manual!

Yes I think my camera will be on intelligent auto most of the time to get round the problem.

Thanks all for your input.

I agree Audrey that manuals can be massive. I thought the online one cut out all the waffle and left you with the basic engine room stuff that would be enough to keep you going. You will be on holiday and having 149 pages of manual to keep sifting through wouldn't half eat up your fun time.

[Autumn]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

Audrey,

I imagine the TZ20 is near enough tot he TZ10 and I almost always use the TZ10 on intelligent auto or landscape mode. Most of the time I also have the exposure set at -1/3 unless it's a very dull day (or I was getting a bit of burnout on some shots)

TBH I find landscape mode is usually better than intelligent auto for most things.

The other thing I've found is that I can't zoom to 300mm if I'm using manual, Av or Tv. I can only zoom to 300mm if I'm using one of the presets or scene modes. So check that out on your TZ20 before you go away.

Otherwise it's an intuitive little camera - sits in a pocket, pull out, point/shoot and that's it.

I never bothered d/l the manual as I only use the TZ10 for quick snapshots - but I grab loads of them no bother using just the settings as mentioned above. I don't use the video mode so I'm sorry I can't comment on that.

Hope that helps.

Pol

Hi Pol,

I can full zoom with A and TV settings. I also generally have the exposure compensation at -1/3. Things seem pretty straight forward, but it was an icon that I did not recognise. Looked a bit like Rule Britannia! I found out that it was an icon showing that I had stopped the wind sound when using the video setting. I'd never have guessed. Just tried a pic through the window. It's a bit dark here. The iA settings were ISO250, F5.4, 1/100, whilst the landscape settings were ISO160, F5.4, 1/100.

The iA was lighter and better on this occasion. Of course it should be with the ISO being higher. I need to do a more technical test using a tripod and not through the window.

The camera is very intuitive with little crib notes on every setting, so I am not going to worry. I'm sure it's just what I want as I am not yet up to carrying a heavy camera around, but these little beauties, usually do the business.

Thanks for that info Pol.

[Autumn]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

I agree Audrey that manuals can be massive. I thought the online one cut out all the waffle and left you with the basic engine room stuff that would be enough to keep you going. You will be on holiday and having 149 pages of manual to keep sifting through wouldn't half eat up your fun time.

A little hard copy manual came with the camera with only 28 pages in English (and 28 in Japanese). Unfortunately, it does not show what the icons mean. I am going to cut out the Japanese because of the extra weight.

I was unable to follow the link that you gave me on your previous post, it just said page not found.

Thanks anyway for your help Pops.

[Pol]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

Hi Pol,

I can full zoom with A and TV settings.

Doh, Audrey ... I suppose I should d/l the full manual and plod through it.

I've just discovered I have the digital zoom on, which means it has a x16 zoom when it's on iA or a scene setting (but much less when it's on P,Av,TV etc).

I hate it when a camera comes without a full, printed, hard copy manual. I'd just left things as they were when it came, apart from altering the exposure to -1/3.

FWIW - I've had loads of standard prints from pix taken with that digital zoom at x16 full stretch and they're great.

Pol

[Pops]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

Can't explain the duff link Audrey.
I just clicked it and it took me to the online manual.

[Kurt]

Re: How can I take my camera manual on holiday?

Load PDF onto Kindle or Phone. Lots of phones can read PDF files. Its a good excuse for getting a Kindle and taking a few books on holiday too.