Photography frustration

So I just picked up my first full frame digital camera (5D Mark III)
I started with the 20D and had several others, but all crop cameras.

My frustration is, I feel like I spend more time reading and watching videos on how to use these cameras than I do getting to take pictures. Is it just me or do others have the same frustration?

Whats the problem? go out and shoot!

Well, I'll read up on new features and, if something seems important to grasp "in depth", sure, I'll study up, watch videos, whatever, but I think you can get started shooting pretty quickly if you are just upgrading an EOS camera!

maverick75 wrote in post #16399313
Whats the problem? go out and shoot!

This.

Aperture + shutter speed + ISO + focus. That's literally all you need to know.

Go shoot.

And exposure that's my main issue!

edge100 wrote in post #16399486
This.

Aperture + shutter speed + ISO + focus. That's literally all you need to know.

Go shoot.

Heheheh...no way. A 3k camera should do more than that!!!!

britt777 wrote in post #16399297
My frustration is, I feel like I spend more time reading and watching videos on how to use these cameras than I do getting to take pictures. Is it just me or do others have the same frustration?

You're choosing to read and watch videos over going out and taking pictures... make a different choice. Alternatively don't buy a camera you can't understand... buy one you do understand and take pictures. Either way you are making all the choices in your predicament.

edge100 wrote in post #16399486
This.

Aperture + shutter speed + ISO + focus. That's literally all you need to know.

Go shoot.

Lol...people crack me up....guess that's the difference between amateur and professional. I like to know what every single setting on my camera is for and can do. Whether it's a $50 camera or $50,000 camera. Nothing wrong with that. Should have known better than to post.

britt777 wrote in post #16399617
Lol...people crack me up....guess that's the difference between amateur and professional.

Rubbish. I don't know what half the stuff on my camera does. To be quite frank I don't care either. So long as I get the pictures I want that is all that matters... unless of course you were saying amateurs need to know every setting on the camera and pros are the ones who don't?

Put it in "p" mode, go take some photos

I don't feel the need to know every single setting or menu, but I do need to understand how to get the adjustments and controls quickly and correctly. I've never even tried to learn live view or video because I do not use it. I have read the entire manual a few times and when I go out to photograph I use the same functionality as I've been doing for over 30 years.

Talk about an inexpensive camera verses an expensive one, I do not look at menu's or fancy functions. I pay more for quality and photographic capabilities. I want my camera to withstand rain, cold, heat and perhaps hopefully survive a bit of a knock if it drops.

I hate menu driven controls for simple functionality such as shutter, aperture, ISO and other things that actually create the photo. I need these functions simple and straight forward.

With computers driving everything from our cars to our toasters, too many menu based functions add complications that you have no time for out in the field when working quickly with your camera.

britt777 wrote in post #16399617
Lol...people crack me up....guess that's the difference between amateur and professional. I like to know what every single setting on my camera is for and can do.

I understand what you mean. I've read my entire manual several times, & know exactly how I want to set up my camera. But I don't feel that I have to remember everything, as long as I remember where to find in the manual other info I need to know for a particular situation.
So lighten up & take a few deep breaths. Learning doesn't have to be an instantaneous experience. When you need to try something different, you know where to find the info.

britt777 wrote in post #16399617
Lol...people crack me up....guess that's the difference between amateur and professional. I like to know what every single setting on my camera is for and can do. Whether it's a $50 camera or $50,000 camera. Nothing wrong with that. Should have known better than to post.

Its actually pretty sound advice.

britt777 wrote in post #16399617
Lol...people crack me up....guess that's the difference between amateur and professional. I like to know what every single setting on my camera is for and can do. Whether it's a $50 camera or $50,000 camera.

My camera has too many things you can twiddle with, including functions I'll never use, and the manual isn't on paper, it's a PDF, which I can't take with me. I get on better by concentrating on learning one function at a time and practicing that for a while. Just my learning style. Yours may vary.

cameras have manuals?