User guide for Canon EOS R5 Mark II

[Photoguy1840]

I recently purchased a new R5 MKII and after spending nearly $4,000 find it hard to believe that there was no user guide included. I realize that I can scan and get all of the information on line but I photograph wildlife quite often in remote locations with no cell phone service. I've purchased several Canon cameras and Lenses in the past and have always received a user guide with the camera. One would think that Canon could at least furnish a user guide with a camera of this caliber.

[kvbarkley]

Not any more. As the older questions on this site suggests, people didn't read the manual even if it was included in the box!

I suggest you download the pdf of the manual and put it on your phone.

Would you really want to take a 1200 page book along with you birding?

[shadowsports]

Hi Photoguy1840,

Think about it this way. How useful would your manual be if Canon updated the firmware on your device and introduced new features?

Suddenly your manual would be out of date and inaccurate.  

Canon is very good about updating its digital documentation when new features or changes are implemented.  Electronic copies are also searchable on your phone, iPad, computer, etc., and you don't need to have an internet connection.  😉

So having a printed copy of manual is obsolete by the time your camera makes it into your hands.

The same goes for software.  Would you like to install an old version of a utility from a CD included with your camera that sat in someone's warehouse for 6 months, or would you want to get the latest version from the support portal for your device?

These decisions are made with the customer's best interest in mind, and of course it saves Canon a little money too.  🙂

[Waddizzle]

In a word, cost.  The full manual would be larger than the camera, and would likely nearly double the size of the box.  It would significantly add to the list price: printing, packaging, shipping, inventory space, etc.  All for something that too many people don’t seem interested in reading.

The electronic copy can be easier and more convenient to use without taking up space in your bag or getting damaged. 

[Waddizzle]

If you wanted to print the e-copy of the manual, you can figure on a one time cost of 20-30 cents per page.  

 

[Cantrell]

I have gone to eBay and put in the search listing "Manual For Canon EOS R6MII" and it will give you a vendor that prints the manual in 8.5X11 and it is bound. The entire manual is divided into 4 volumes and each volume is bound. I did this for my R10 and R6M2. Cost is approximately $100.00.

[Photoguy1840]

A normal size manual always seemed to work well as a quick reference or for trouble shooting if something malfunctions. The additional space that a user guide takes up in my pack hardly poses an issue compared to two camera bodies, a super telephoto and wide angle lens along with extenders etc. No I don't want a 1200 page book nor would I want to download and use up a lot of space on my phone but I feel that Canon could have come up with something similar to the user guide for my R3.

[jrhoffman75]

[robert42]

I Keep all of my up to date manuals on my phone and a Galaxy tab A8. All of them take up less than a Meg of storage. R5 MkII, R5, both = 45k.

[shadowsports]

@robwet42 👍 Exactly my point. Nothing extra to carry. Barely consumes any resources, searchable, easy to use, convenient and its always up to date.