GS-DC: Reading the Manual then Shifting into Automatic

1. Welcome and Introductions:
1.  Introduce yourself and your camera
2. What do you typically photograph?
3. What do you want to photograph?
4. Do you edit your photos at home/work?
5. How comfortable are you with your camera?
6. What do you want out of this course
2. The Camera as an Object:
1. Temperature/Moisture - condensation too!
   
2. Physical abuse - dropping, wrist straps, neck straps, tripods
3. Left hand/Right hand
4. Thumb - navigator
5. Index Finger - decider
6. Lens cover - our friend
7. Lens Cleaning Cloth
8. Digital Lens Cleaning Fluid
9. Compressed air
3. Manuals:
1. Read 'em - and then read 'em again
2. Download them - updates, product recalls, new programs to go with the camera
3. A downloaded manual is searchable 
4. The Basics:
1. The first time you use the camera, or if the batteries have been removed or dead for an extended period, you should enter the date and time. The date and time will help you organize, locate, and identify your images later.
2. Always check camera settings on the control panel and in the viewfinder. Notice how many pictures you can take at the current settings and the status of the battery charge. Also, learn what the icons mean because it's not at all unusual to change a setting, then forget you have done so.
3. If an image is being stored when you turn the camera off, the image will be completely stored before the camera powers down.