Ten Tips to Make Your Shooting More Productive Right Out of the Box

What is your first feeling when you get a new camera? For me it is excitement. As I start to open the box, my mind begins to race with all of the things I want to do with my new tool. Often I will even put the battery in the camera just to see if there is any charge so that I can experiment. I mean, who actually reads the manual they include in the box? I know where the shutter release button is—that’s enough, right?

The reality is that today is a very exciting time to be interested in photography. Cameras and lenses are getting more and more affordable, and the technology included in today’s cameras would have photographers from the ‘80s falling out of their chairs. It seems that every year more features are included not only in top-of-the-line professional cameras, but in semi-pro and starter DSLRs as well. While manuals are great at dry, step-by-step instructions for these features, they fail to walk you through the significance of using them in the field.

To help you get started with your 6D, Chapter 1 lists the top ten things you should know before beginning your photo adventures.