Canon 40D write-up

[troglodiet]

Let's be honest, when I get my grubby mits on mine, the manual will probably only leave the box after a day or three ANYWAY, so no manual is not going to kill me.

To be brutally honest, I've never managed to get past page 10 of my D80's manual, I'm figuring the rest out as I go along, so it was probably a waste of paper in any case

[Kobus B]

I am studying my manual on my pc. Offloaded it, and now I am sufferring from some lumbago. But that could also be from my age. Yes, my camera is safely at hom. Thanx Hedrus and staff. ( My wife hasnt seen my bank statement, especially after I also invested in a good new lowepro also at Hedrus, so please don't advertise!!!!!)

[NightOwl - Chris Fourie]

I don't understand some of you people... Complaining that the camera arrived without a manual...
It's our own faults!!! We're always on Canons case: When is the new ???D being released... Latest Speculation/leaks on Camera Specs etc.
Now Canon gave us the 40D in an amazingly short time after release anouncement and some of you are still not happy, just because the manual's aren't ready yet.
If you are buying a camera of the 40D's camera, I'm sure you know how to use it on 'M' and if you don't, you shouldn't be buying a 40D.
And if you already have the thing and you really don't know how to use it, turn it to the little 'GREEN SQUARE' and whola. It does everything for you, now you have a SUPER-DUPER VERY-EXPENSIVE POINT&SHOOT.

Be Gratefull that you have the thing in your grubby paws and just show some patience, or stop bugging Canon in future to try and speed things up.

[Daryn Varney]

Nightowl, that still won't make them come to the Eastern Cape

[Kenny]

Well put NightOwl.

[C.J.]

I don't understand some of you people... Complaining that the camera arrived without a manual...
It's our own faults!!! We're always on Canons case: When is the new ???D being released... Latest Speculation/leaks on Camera Specs etc.
Now Canon gave us the 40D in an amazingly short time after release anouncement and some of you are still not happy, just because the manual's aren't ready yet.

I completely disagree with your sentiment. It's pure & simple sloppiness on Canon's part not to have the manuals ready & packaged with the camera. The rush to get the 40D on the market, IMO, has nothing to do with people putting pressure on Canon. Nikon has announced the D300, which beats the 40D (in terms of specs) and Canon, IMO, wanted to get the 40D to market way before Nikon did, as the D300 was going to take sales away from the 40D, especially for people who have not yet invested in either brand.

Think about it, Nikon announces the D300 just days after the 40D and the specs make the 40D look obsolete. Canon, IMO, has been rattled, and needs to maximise on 40D sales before the first D300 hits the shelves.

Canon is my brand and I'll never switch to Nikon, or any other brand, irrespective of how much better their offering is compared to Canon. However, as one of their biggest and loyal fans/users, I shall not stand by and listen to people accepting sloppiness and massaging it with all kinds of excuses like: "I normally don't read the manual anyway".

Being a Canon user does not mean being a lapdog. Canon stuffed up and it's time we started to accept that.

[Kenny]

I shall not stand by and listen to people accepting sloppiness and massaging it with all kinds of excuses like: "I normally don't read the manual anyway".

Well, in this instance it looks pretty much like you're gonna have to . As I mentioned in an earlier thread, wait for a few more days and get the whole box. That said, each is entitled to their sentiments, opinions, perceptions etc. Surely it's not worth getting hit-up about .

[HiltonP]

It's a trivial thing, but I can't help but notice that whereas the 20D had 5 control buttons on the back (excluding the power switch, joystick and wheel), that the new 40D now has 10 buttons. Coupled with the larger LCD it means things are getting pretty crowded back there! . . .

[Pine]

I counted 7 on my 20D, 4 down the side, delete, AE lock and AF point/enlarge. An extra 3 does not seem to bad

[HiltonP]

Oops! . . . 7 it is.