EOS-1D Mark II a Major Disappointment (Humor)

[Belmondo]

I've had my Mk II for a few months now, and generally I've been very satisfied with it in every regard until today. After 3 1/2 months (the time it takes to properly condition the battery) I finally built up courage enough to actually turn the camera on this morning; I figured I'd best read the instruction manual to learn how to properly do that. Imagine my horror when I went to the box, opened it, and couldn't find a manual. After emptying the contents on the floor and rifling through everything that was there, I found a TEENY, TINY little book, not much larger than the pocket calorie-counters they sell at supermarkets. Devastation. I was crushed.

This camera should have a manly book as its manual. The instructions for this beast should weigh at least several pounds and should be large-ish. They should at least be as big as the 10D manual. Alas, Canon has chosen to give us this pathetic little scrap of paper with print on it so fine, it cannot be read with anything less than 7X magnification. I'm thinking seriously of packing the whole thing up and shipping it off to one of my poor relatives who, because of their wretched station in life might be willing to put up with such inadequate instructions.

I would suggest all you who have purchased Mk IIs do the same. We cannot tolerate this kind of abuse at the hands of the tyrants from Canon.

http://www.onlinephotographers.com/gallery/albums/Hot-August-Nights/Manuals.sized.jpg

[Tom W]

I've had my Mk II for a few months now, and generally I've been very satisfied with it in every regard until today. After 3 1/2 months (the time it takes to properly condition the battery) I finally built up courage enough to actually turn the camera on this morning; I figured I'd best read the instruction manual to learn how to properly do that. Imagine my horror when I went to the box, opened it, and couldn't find a manual. After emptying the contents on the floor and rifling through everything that was there, I found a TEENY, TINY little book, not much larger than the pocket calorie-counters they sell at supermarkets. Devastation. I was crushed.

This camera should have a manly book as its manual. The instructions for this beast should weigh at least several pounds and should be large-ish. They should at least be as big as the 10D manual. Alas, Canon has chosen to give us this pathetic little scrap of paper with print on it so fine, it cannot be read with anything less than 7X magnification. I'm thinking seriously of packing the whole thing up and shipping it off to one of my poor relatives who, because of their wretched station in life might be willing to put up with such inadequate instructions.

I would suggest all you who have purchased Mk IIs do the same. We cannot tolerate this kind of abuse at the hands of the tyrants from Canon.



I'm poor and I'm your relative. Honest! I'll even send you my 10D manual in trade for your 1D Mk II. MMmmmmmmm - BIG manual!!

[ssim]

I've seen alot people post their disappointment on this camera in the last few days.

I too was surprised at the size of the manual. So dang small I've actually left it behind a couple of places and had to have it mailed to me. (My sister has gotten over the snake thing obviously 8) )

So what do we do about this dilema. We could start an online petition and force the evil forces at Canon to make it bigger. Perhaps we could get someone to develop a hack to make the book as big as the 10D's.

I do know a short older fellow that lives not too far from me that would take it off your hands for a song (please though don't ask him to sing).

BTW, nice coffee stain on the left side of the image.

[Belmondo]

BTW, nice coffee stain on the left side of the image. Yes, but very expensive coffee....worthy of a 1D Mk II owner. At least I used to feel that way.

[Cadenza]

I'm sure the 20D will have a much nicer manual.

[Morden]

I'm sure the 20D will have a much nicer manual.

:lol:

[JZaun]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'll take it off your hands sight unseen for the price of a 20D...


Tom you are B A D :lol: :lol: :lol:

JZ

[Mitch]

Belmondo,

I empathize with you. For $4,500, Canon should be more professional than that. Documentation is extremely important. No programmer worth his salt would create a program without proper documentation. No one should buy a program that does not come well documented. Adequate documentation for a camera of this cost and stature should be provided as a standard practice. Documentation serves as an authoritative source for answering many live or die questionsThere is no good excuse for this.

I do not own a Mk II yet and have penciled in my budget for purchasing the Mk II early next year, but knowing that the documentation is substandard only serves as a significant dis-incentive to me.

Mitch

[Belmondo]

The documentation is adequate. It's just small. :lol:

Bigger is better.

[jaypie77]

Maybe the instructions are more concise and thus Canon is saving your precious time. They don't want you reading and being all confused all day, they want you out shooting!

[timmyquest]

:lol:

This is how all my canon stuff is, right down to my AE-1 manual.

Anyways, i have to ask...you seriously didnt just turn the thing on today did you?!?!?!

[Morden]

Maybe the instructions are more concise and thus Canon is saving your precious time. They don't want you reading and being all confused all day, they want you out shooting!

:lol:

[Belmondo]

:lol:
...you seriously didnt just turn the thing on today did you?!?!?!

Well, most certainly not!!! I think I'll condition the battery again. That will give me another 3 1/2 months to think this thing through. :?

[robertwgross]

...
BTW, nice coffee stain on the left side of the image.

It's probably a coffee stain on the sensor.

---Bob Gross---

[SWPhotoImaging]

You can always go here:

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=DownloadDetailAct&fcategoryid=314&m odelid=9808#New%20Window

and download the manual, which you can then print on 13x19 paper and bind with one of those spring thingys, so you have a right proper manual.

[Morden]

:lol:
...you seriously didnt just turn the thing on today did you?!?!?!

Well, most certainly not!!! I think I'll condition the battery again. That will give me another 3 1/2 months to think this thing through. :?

HAHAHAHA :lol:

Good come-back :lol:

[CyberDyneSystems]

The 1D MkII Manual will be fixed in the upcoming Firmware Update.









:wink:

[IndyJeff]

The documentation is adequate. It's just small. :lol:

Bigger is better.

Buy a pair of glasses at the drug store you old fart!!!!

[Belmondo]

Buy a pair of glasses at the drug store you old fart!!!!

I can't do anything about getting old, but the other problem is just a passing thing.

[Aylwin]

The documentation is adequate. It's just small. :lol:

Bigger is better.
Well, I've heard that size doesn't matter as long as you know how to use what you've got. :wink: wink, wink, nudge, nudge :wink:

[SnJPhoto]

I want my MkII manual to have all the same pages, images and functions that my 1Ds manual does. Do you think that Canon will offer an upgrade to make them equal. At no cost of course!!... Perhaps if we start a petition..... :)

flashback....flashback......flashback

[Belmondo]

I want my MkII manual to have all the same pages, images and functions that my 1Ds manual does. Do you think that Canon will offer an upgrade to make them equal. At no cost of course!!... Perhaps if we start a petition..... :)

flashback....flashback......flashback

Actually, the 1Ds manual has directions for installing the hand strap. To the best of my knowledge, that's the only place you can find that information. I'll sign your petition. :evil: :wink:

[CyberDyneSystems]

Update: The New Firmware from Canon will NOT address the shortcomings of the manual.

HOWEVER,... there is a site in Russia where a "hacked" firmware can be downloaded. This hacked firmware will make the MkII Manual perform almost exactly like the 1Ds manual.



The only trouble is there actual physical limitations. The MkII manual does not have enough pages.....

[Belmondo]

Update: The New Firmware from Canon will NOT address the shortcomings of the manual.

HOWEVER,... there is a site in Russia where a "hacked" firmware can be downloaded. This hacked firmware will make the MkII Manual perform almost exactly like the 1Ds manual.



The only trouble is there actual physical limitations. The MkII manual does not have enough pages.....

Darn. Another false start. Another hope dashed.

[roanjohn]

.................to think that I lusted for this camera.

Thanks for this belmondo, you just saved me 4500 USD>

Ro1

[Lunatique]

The smaller size means it's much easier to carry around in a bag or with you on shoots--for those moments when you can't remember how to access a certain setting.

As far as the content, it could be better written though. But then again, most manual are written by technical writers that have no idea what they're doing.

[neil_r]

The documentation is adequate. It's just small. :lol:

Bigger is better.

But it does fit in my camera bag (not that i ever read it)

[SnJPhoto]

Also, why doesn't the manual come in an all white cover. Its only fitting to be similar to the L lenses.

Also, if someone could tell me the best light, position and set of glasses to be wearing in order to read this that would be great. Is there a proper lens for photographing this manual, if so what one is the best overall, under $100 of course?


Get the feeling some folks are still believing this was a serious thread? Ah.....such wit....

[tommykjensen]

Also, why doesn't the manual come in an all white cover. Its only fitting to be similar to the L lenses.


Oh no You are absolutely wrong. The cover of the manual should definately be silver otherwise I will have big issues upgrading from a 300D to 1D MK II. If the body has to be black then something else must be silver. Oh well guess I have to wait until a silver MK III is released.

[George]

I don't understand your disappointment. The Mark II manual is actually a few pages more than the IDs manual. I carry my manual with me for ready reference and would appreciate it if it was smaller. I sure hope the 20D manual is the smaller size.

[Roy NN7DX]

It's not like Canon didn't tell you about it...
The 1DS manual looks about 1.3X larger in the photos...
Man, things just don't look good for the size of the 20D manual...
Like there aren't enough things to ruin your eyesight...
Maybe this is the crap factor we heard about?

Edit: I must have "banish this chump to page two" hidden in my profile somewhere but I can't find the checkoff box to change it... Well, I'm at the top of the page...

[IanD]

I do know a short older fellow that lives not too far from me that would take it off your hands for a song (please though don't ask him to sing)
What is with this old and short s*%!? Hell I'm 5'10", not even in the prime of my life and sing life Tony Bennett!
:lol: :lol: :lol:

[IanD]

Geez guys, don't tell me that some of you actually read the manual? Here I thought that it was supposed to remain sealed in its plastic until you handed it over to the next buyer. I think I read that in the warrenty section.
Here it is:
Page 16
Paragraph 6
Line 14
Subsection2b "Warrenty void if manual removed from protective plastic covering."
8) :lol:

[xuxu1]

Canon did this on purpose. :roll:

Since the 1D MKII is a camera for beginners, :lol: the small size of the manual should animate you to go out and practise the use of the camera instead of reading a large manual that you won´t understand anyway. :lol:

The method is called "LEARNING BY DOING".

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Regards
Ed

[Mark Kemp]

I think its something to do with the 1.3X sensor instead of a 1.6X, it makes the manual look smaller.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I think its something to do with the 1.3X sensor instead of a 1.6X, it makes the manual look smaller.

Good point.. He was so used to the "X-Factor" of the 10D that he is now missing the added apperent focal length the 1.6 offered. Tom.. if you staple the manual for the 1.4X T-con to the back of it things will return to very near your preferred manual size (slighlty larger in fact)....

...though there may be a hardly noticeable degradation of the print quality.

[Belmondo]

Geez guys, don't tell me that some of you actually read the manual? Here I thought that it was supposed to remain sealed in its plastic until you handed it over to the next buyer. I think I read that in the warrenty section.
Here it is:
Page 16
Paragraph 6
Line 14
Subsection2b "Warrenty void if manual removed from protective plastic covering."
8) :lol:

Now I am really frosted. :evil: You got a plastic covering for your 10D instruction manual? That means not only is your manual larger, but very likely your plastic covering is also bigger than the one that came with my Mk II.

This is just getting worse by the minute. :cry: :evil: :lol:

[morenoar]

You people are going to get me FIRED. I read these type of threads and BURST out Laughing. My co-workers think I am NUTS, and my Boss just shakes his head. I guess I should stop reading these threads,,,,,,,,



NOT

[tommykjensen]

You people are going to get me FIRED. I read these type of threads and BURST out Laughing. My co-workers think I am NUTS, and my Boss just shakes his head. I guess I should stop reading these threads,,,,,,,,



NOT

Fortunately I am on holiday right now but I think I might constrain myself when I get back so I won't read these threads at work. I share office with about 20-30 other people :lol:

[Radtech1]

I saw something on a Warez page that addressed the hack MkII Manual hack. It is a trickey procedure that involved soaking the Manual in warm water with a 5% stop bath overnight. I am not sure what happens next, but, the poster was emphatic that you would not have a problem anymore.

R

[danphoto1]

Gee I thought that you used the camerqa to take pictures not the manual. :roll:

[CyberDyneSystems]

Oh .. you want to take pictures?

How silly? :P

How can you use your Camera to take pictures if you haven't RTFM yet? :?:

[mdude85]

3.5 months...the time it takes to properly condition the battery. please explain?

[cmM]

3.5 months...the time it takes to properly condition the battery. please explain?
ROFLMAO !!! :lol:

You won't squeeze that one out of Tom. It;s his own secret patent pending procedure he uses to "condition" the battery :P

[Belmondo]

3.5 months...the time it takes to properly condition the battery. please explain?

Tongue was firmly planted in cheek.

It is recommended that new batteries be 'conditioned' the first three times they're charged. It takes several hours to do that for each charge. Some of us erroneously interpreted that instruction to mean that the battery had to be charged/discharged three times before using it in the camera. That turned out to be wrong. The battery can be used after the first charge.

"3 1/2 months" was an exaggeration done for the purposes of satire.

I guess it isn't funny if you don't know what we're talking about. Sorry.

[ArtierSquare]

3.5 months...the time it takes to properly condition the battery. please explain?

...

I guess it isn't funny if you don't know what we're talking about. Sorry.

I thought it was funny, and I didn't have a clue what you were talking about!

The RepRT is excellent though and gives us all cause to come back time and again! Woo Hoo!

[Rayz]

Well, I'm reluctant to introduce a serious note into this hilarious thread, but I have to say I think Canon have thought deeply and seriously about the size of the manual. It's well known that the 1D Mark ll is designed for critically fast shooting where there's little time to think and generally stuff around. Photographers who are covering sporting events and the like where there are large crowds and possible obstructions to a clear view, might have to leave their heavy gear behind and scale fences and walls, climb on roof tops and even climb up trees, in order to gain that competitive edge :D .

Now I seriously suggest that anyone who's precariously balanced on the branch of a tree, who's forgotten how to change the ISO or whatever, will be thankful they can just pull the manual out of their shirt pocket :D :lol:

[jgbeam]

You're kidding! There's a manual? :shock: Now where did I put that box... :?

[jgbeam]

You can always go here:

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=DownloadDetailAct&fcategoryid=314&m odelid=9808#New%20Window

and download the manual, which you can then print on 13x19 paper and bind with one of those spring thingys, so you have a right proper manual.

I did the download prior to buying the camera. Now I have a big ring binder full of 8 1/2 x 11 pages with 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 images of the manual centered on each page. :lol:

At least it lays flat when I read it. :wink:

Jim

[Belmondo]

You can always go here:

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=DownloadDetailAct&fcategoryid=314&m odelid=9808#New%20Window

and download the manual, which you can then print on 13x19 paper and bind with one of those spring thingys, so you have a right proper manual.

I did the download prior to buying the camera. Now I have a big ring binder full of 8 1/2 x 11 pages with 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 images of the manual centered on each page. :lol:

At least it lays flat when I read it. :wink:


Jim
Yeah, I did that too. It's an impressive stack of paper. Looks like about two trees worth to me.

[LittleG.]

Well, I've heard that size doesn't matter as long as you know how to use what you've got. :wink: wink, wink, nudge, nudge :wink:
Who told you that Aylwin?? That's just something they say to small thing owners to make them feel better!!! :roll:

[CyberDyneSystems]

Small camera owners you mean?

We are talikng about small cameras?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[roanjohn]

Small camera owners you mean?

We are talikng about small cameras?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

NO!!! Manuals...............small "MAN"uals.

...............concentrate CDS...................

Ro1

[Jon]

I did the download prior to buying the camera. Now I have a big ring binder full of 8 1/2 x 11 pages with 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 images of the manual centered on each page. :lol:

At least it lays flat when I read it. :wink:

Jim

If you print it to a PostScript printer, you can tell it to "fit to page" - big enough to read without putting on the reading glasses! And a size commensurate with the camera it describes!

[CyberDyneSystems]

NO!!! Manuals...............small "MAN"uals.

...............concentrate CDS...................

Ro1

:shock:

I've just been told my MANual is not big enough! :cry: :cry:

All this depsite a very long lens! :wink:

I can't win! :cry:

[Morden]

NO!!! Manuals...............small "MAN"uals.

...............concentrate CDS...................

Ro1

:shock:

I've just been told my MANual is not big enough! :cry: :cry:

All this depsite a very long lens! :wink:

I can't win! :cry:

Ah, but it's not the length - it's the girth. :P

[Belmondo]

Ah, but it's not the length - it's the girth. :P

It's neither. It's the red ring around the end.

Now, will someone please pull this serious discussion back up to a higher plane, please.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Ah, but it's not the length - it's the girth. :P

It IS 123mm in diameter......
But it has a gold ring :(

[Scottes]

It IS 123mm in diameter......

Wrong abbreviation CDS. Micro-meters is abbreviated "um"

[jgbeam]

If you print it to a PostScript printer, you can tell it to "fit to page" - big enough to read without putting on the reading glasses! And a size commensurate with the camera it describes!

NOW you tell me! :oops:

Jim

[Jon]

If you print it to a PostScript printer, you can tell it to "fit to page" - big enough to read without putting on the reading glasses! And a size commensurate with the camera it describes!

NOW you tell me! :oops:

Jim

You never asked before . . .

[IanD]

Anyone for a game of badmington :?: :lol:

[roanjohn]

Anyone for a game of badmington :?: :lol:

LETS PLAY!!!

:twisted:

Ro1

[timmyquest]

Since this is the humor thread...

Knock Knock!

[roanjohn]

who's there??

EDITED!!!

Thanks Tom!!!

[tommykjensen]

The UPS guy with the new 20 D :lol:

[Belmondo]

You mean, "Who's there?" :wink:

[roanjohn]

The UPS guy with the new 20 D :lol:

OOhhhh!!! Can't wait to examine the manual.

Ro1

[timmyquest]

who's there??

EDITED!!!

Thanks Tom!!!

Canon 1DMK

[roanjohn]

who's there??

EDITED!!!

Thanks Tom!!!

Canon 1DMK

I or II ????

.........dont tell me you bought it...........

Ro1

[BDM]

The documentation is adequate. It's just small. :lol:

Bigger is better.

Well perhaps as compression technology improves one can expect smaller and small documentation - - or perhaps as cameras improve they become more intuitive and need no further instruction! (Lord, I should have gone into marketing)

Bruce

[theflyingkiwi]

Well I hate to tell you this, but I hurd on th rumour mill that the 20D manual is a fold out poster with flow diagrams.

This is so while you are out in the field, trying to figure something out, (or sitting on a tree) can you use the easy flow diagrams :)

:shock: :lol: :lol:

Just don't try and fold it up tho, cause it will be just like a map, you can never do it :)

Mark

[SnJPhoto]

I hear rumour it was going to be made into an ebook and stored in the camera, and you could read it 2 lines at a time in the viewfinder.....

[IanD]

Well I hate to tell you this, but I hurd on th rumour mill that the 20D manual is a fold out poster with flow diagrams.

This is so while you are out in the field, trying to figure something out, (or sitting on a tree) can you use the easy flow diagrams :)

:shock: :lol: :lol:

Just don't try and fold it up tho, cause it will be just like a map, you can never do it :)

Mark
Make sure you are wearing a safetly belt if yer sittin in a tree or else ya could end up flowing out of it. :lol: :lol:

[cmM]

I hear rumour it was going to be made into an ebook and stored in the camera, and you could read it 2 lines at a time in the viewfinder.....
LMAO !!! :lol:
Now that would be something !

[Morden]

I hear rumour it was going to be made into an ebook and stored in the camera, and you could read it 2 lines at a time in the viewfinder.....

How odd; I was about to post almost excatly the same thing! Wierd. :shock:

[timmyquest]

who's there??

EDITED!!!

Thanks Tom!!!

Canon 1DMK

I or II ????

.........dont tell me you bought it...........

Ro1

Your not very good at this game

You were supose to say "Canon 1DMK who?"

And then i was gonna say "No Canon 1dMK two

I wish i bought it.

In my ever changing desire for my next camera, today i am leaning towards the MK1. I just need some cash.

[Jon]

I hear rumour it was going to be made into an ebook and stored in the camera, and you could read it 2 lines at a time in the viewfinder.....

Now we have to kiill you . . .

Actually, you're close. The Reference menu selection opens a section of ROM with the entire manual stored in 8 MP images, which you can chimp and zoom in on at will. We recommend you turn off "Info" before doing so. The histograms aren't much help and make the fine print hard to read.