As my colleagues and I have said previously, there are good reasons why printed manuals are not provided any longer:
- They are quickly superseded by new versions as firmware is applied to the devices to which they refer. That means there is a lot of out of date, or misinformation in old documents. A link to a web page containing a current copy is far better from an accuracy point of view.
- With a soft copy, one can search for specific words of phrases if seeking a specific reference.
- Hardcopy manuals are expensive to produce, and since research has shown that most people don't read the manual, and just bin it, it is not only a waste of money, but a source of waste. You don't get charged for what is not supplied.
To quote Charles Darwin: “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” or the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus who famously said “The only constant is change”.
The world has changed, as my respected colleague Rick says. Within that changing world, we live our lives in comfort zones: areas of behaviour within which we function with minimal stress. When we are young that comfort zone has very flexible boundaries and our job is to push those comfort zones outward, resulting in skinned knees and bangs, but also experience and a new sense of mastery. We go to school and that provides us with constant change in a structured fashion. When we stop challenging ourselves, our comfort zone hardens around us a like a shell and becomes more painful to break through in order to react to external issues that force change upon us. It also shrinks without exercise, and that diminishes our control of the world we live in, and we fear that. That is the challenge of aging and I, probably like you, have to deal with that. I embrace it as much as possible, and it's not always easy - but there is no alternative except to live in a smaller and more isolating space.
Devices are updated frequently because they contain more circuits that can be reconfigured for new features or to fix bugs. That is the nature of change - you can't stop it. I have been using cameras since 1980, along with other different devices that have passed through my hands. I can assure you that this digitization of documentation is common to all other brands, plus computers, washing machines - pretty well any modern appliance has an on-line manual. For those devices they often provide a quick refence, but if you need to go into a deep dive for some reason you scan a QR code, or follow (or type) a link to get the on-line version.
Common practice is to get a tablet and use that - not only will it allow you to conveniently access the reference materials via the web, but you can download all sorts of books to enjoy, without the cost of buying the hard copy. If you can us a smartphone or a modern PC, you can use a tablet. I assume you can since you are on this site. Those soft copy versions of documentation are free to access for reference and you can even keep download PDF versions of them onto a tablet without having to fill up bookcases, and they can travel with you.
As regards the new layout of the R7. I am surprised that you were not aware of the difference in configuration as part of your due diligence to consider the pro's and con's of the camera before you purchased. For me, that is just a normal way to avoid unwanted surprises, and to look at the new features and how relevant they may be to benefit me. It is not uncommon for cameras to change their layout as new features are added - otherwise there would be no room on the body for the extra controls. This is not unique to the R7, or Canon - many makers are doing precisely the same thing because they all face the same challenges to support the demands of the market for new features. Canon cameras have been amazingly consistent in their layout for many years, but that had to change, just as the design changed from the 1960's to 1970's etc. Change happen, and painful as they might seem as we get older, we have to live with it or embrace it and reap the benefits.
If you decide to keep the R7, despite your reservations about the body layout then, as the Moderator Stephen wrote earlier:
"If you want a printed copy, you can contact the Canon Print Factory. They will let you know the cost of the printed manual prior to purchase. They're available Monday through Friday from 8am to 7pm ET at 631-330-4255. You will need to let them know you want the EOS R7 Advanced User Guide" : CT2-D181-B. You could get a much more extensive and often more user-friendly 3rd-party book as recommended by John.
Alternatively, if you find the layout too disorienting, consider a classic layout DSLR body, like the 90D, or in the R series: the R10 which is a great camera and does not have that different control wheel configuration. If you would consider going Full Frame, then the R6 has a similar layout to the DSLRs you may be more used to. There are choices out there, but you will need to do your research.
cheers, TREVOR
The mark of good photographer is less what they hold in their hand, it's more what they hold in their head;
"All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow", Leo Tolstoy;
"Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase" Percy W. Harris
