Well, It seems I wrote a Book!
Flynn Marr 3 October 2024
Back in January I was writing a post about an “F” Series camera and I started thinking about a book on the “F” Series. I had created other books using the services of Blurb (Check out their Website – they are really good) and I had their software already on my computer. So I began assembling material for this book and before I knew it I was knee deep in a new project. It has been an interesting journey.
This is the only copy of my book. Printed by Blurb it is a hard cover do-it-yourself book but to have them print a copy is very expensive. Too expensive for large sales.
I had never actually written a technical book before and there was a great deal to learn. I learned how not to do it. I tried to write the book at the same time I was designing the layout and that resulted in a great deal of extra work, work I did not have to do.
I also realized that the web pages I had written were not very good and did not give enough information. So now I have to back and rewrite half of my website. But that is not right now.
To talk about the cameras in this work I had to get into the Instruction Manuals for each one and learn how they worked. I got my copies of these cameras and worked through the Manuals with the camera in hand and describe it. It was a good exercise and I came away with a much deeper understanding of the “F” Series.
Not only did I want to describe the cameras but I got into all of the accessories available for each of the cameras and how they were used. And I wrote about how the automatic exposure worked, what the little gold stickers on the cameras and lenses were and what they meant, and even the relationship with Bell & Howell who’s name appears on many early Canon SLR’s.
This is the first page of the Table of Contents to the Fabulous “F” Series.
By the time I was finished, which was in the middle of this past summer, I had 338 pages which consisted of 234 photographs, 40 charts and diagrams, 27 Canon advertisements, and references to 65 Manuals and Brochures.
This is the most comprehensive review of these cameras that I know of. In addition to the text in the book, the book refers to a web page where all of the Manuals and Brochures referenced can be read or downloaded. That is an additional 1500 pages of information and instructions.
Now the problem is how to get it published. I have absolutely no idea how to do that but I am sending out letters and trying to learn. I have a couple of rejection letters that point out that the market for a technical book of this type is too limited. If that is true why do I get a third of a million page views per month on this web site?
These are the second and third pages of the Table of Contents to the book.
These are the last two pages of the Table of Contents to the Fabulous “F” Series.
I have been reading everything I can find on the internet about the publishing business and how to submit manuscripts. It seems most people don’t actually complete their book, do their own proof reading, lay it out, and get a copy printed before they begin looking for a publisher. I have lists of publishers and I am trying to pick those that print this type of work. Most of the publishers of the books I have in my Bibliography do not appear to be in business any longer. That is a somewhat ominous sign!
This short PDF file contains the Table of Contents, a sample chapter and the Index for the Fabulous “F” Series book.
Obviously throughout this book there is material on which Canon has the copyright. I have always tried to disclaim any rights to this material but it has been a concern to me. So I wrote to Canon headquaters in Toronto telling them what I am doing and asking if they have any objections. So far I have had no response, it has been several months since that letter, but I assume that, from their point of view, any response would be harmful to their rights. I would certainly prefer to have their permission. However, since what I am doing is actually a promotion of the Canon brand, I am assuming they would have no objection.
If you would like to see more of what this book looks like the PDF file available to the left (click on the image of the cover) contains the opening pages, the Table of Contents, a sample chapter and the Index to the book. This will give you a good idea of what I have done.
I will keep looking for a publisher so that this can be made available at a reasonable cost to any who want it. I have begun work on the next volume which will cover the “A” and the “T” Series of cameras in the same manner. I am targeting next summer to have it finished.
In the meantime, I will keep you posted on my efforts to make this volume available at a reasonable price. If I do there will an order form posted here on thecanoncollector.com website. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know.
This website is the work of R. Flynn Marr who is solely responsible for its contents which are subject to his claim of copyright. User Manuals, Brochures and Advertising Materials of Canon and other manufacturers available on this site are subject to the copyright claims and are the property of Canon and other manufacturers and they are offered here for personal use only.
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