Do You Complain About Digital Camera Menus? You Might Want To Blame Yourself!

Nikon Z7 with the Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 S lens. (press image)

We all seem to complain (me included) about how extensive, complicated and poorly designed menus are in today's digital cameras.  Is this the fault of the camera manufacturers or should we take the blame?  I think we should blame ourselves as it is us who are asking for the extensive features, controls, ability to extensively customize all camera settings, determine the functions for the buttons and knobs, connect to the internet to upload files as well as update firmware.  As far as how the menus are laid out, there are only so many ways to do so with hundreds of options.

Here is something that we rarely think about.  Here is a visual representation of all of the first and second level menu choices for a Nikon Z6/Z7.  There are additional choices, of course, as you drill down through the menus.

I counted 472 menu choices for the Nikon Z6/Z7.  These only represent the top two levels.  More
choices are available as you drill down through the menus! (click to enlarge)

Do you now see what I mean?  We, as the photographic community, especially those "influencers" who pontificate on You Tube and the web, are critical of companies because a camera they are reviewing doesn't have this feature or that setting or the other ability they personally deem imperative.  So, the camera companies add them, with the choices we demand, only to have us later complain about how extensive and unusable the menus have become.  We're our own worst enemy!

Here is my old man, "get off my lawn" assessment.  Back in the day—the film days, choices were few.  I thought that was a good thing then as "you" had to figure out how to make the photograph "you" wanted to make and couldn't rely on automation.

a) We chose what film we wanted to use.  We chose color or black and white, the appropriate ASA rating (film speed standard back then) and whether it was negative or transparency film.  Of course, you had to buy and stock up on various films so you had this choice.

b) We loaded the film into the camera then set the camera's ASA dial for the film's rated speed, a higher speed (if we wanted to "push" the film), a lower speed (if we wanted to "pull" the film) depending upon the subject matter and its contrast.

c) We chose a focal length.

d) We chose a shutter speed.

e) We chose an aperture.

f) Finally, we chose where to stand, where to focus  and when to push the shutter.

That was about it for decision-making.  There weren't any other settings on the cameras.

Next time you get frustrated with the menus in your camera you can do one of two things.  Be thankful that you have all of those choices or sell the camera and get something much simpler with fewer choices, fewer abilities, fewer features and less versatility.  That's your choice! 

Personally, I now like the idea of having all of those options and features.  I've committed to spend whatever time is necessary to fully understand all of my cameras features and menu settings by thoroughly studying the manual and experimenting.  That takes commitment and time which is worthwhile as I see it.

Next time you want to complain, just be thankful you have such wonderful tools available to you.

Join me over at Instagram @dennisamook or my website, www.dennismook.com. 

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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