|
Browse categories
Digital Music, Photography & Video
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 Customer Reviews
An Amazing Read, 18 Oct 2008
What an amazing read. If you are new to DSLR or photography in general and you have the D40/X you must own this book. Full of concise step by step easy to read instructions on getting the most out of your camera. I can't put it down. Learn how to use the basic dials on your camera and take great shots. Then when you feel more comfortable with it move on to more indepth actions on exposure, lighting, composition etc. Each chapter lets you feel your way in to the subject so you don't feel rushed. This allows you to understand everything easier and that way you feel like you are actually learning something and remembering it. You really can't do without this book. An amazing read. I love it as much as the camera itself.I would pay double for this book. Get it now!
Very clear and easily worth the money.., 04 Oct 2008
Firstly - dump the manual that came with your D40 in the drawer - it is next to useless if you are new to a dSLR.
Then open this book and find your way around the extensive features that this 'beginners' dSLR offers. The book is well written with multiple supporting illustrations. It quickly unravels some of what seem at first complicated menus and sub menus.
I quickly found out as an example how to limit the ISO rating the camera uses on ISO Auto, I won't tell you here, you'll have to buy the book!!! but it solved for me the issue of noise that had crept into some of my pictures when using ISO auto.
Again quickly found out how to switch off the graphic representation of the shooting settings and get it to a 'classic' setting more akin to what would appear on a LCD menu had the D40 had one. This is essential for any one who bemoans the loss of the LCD screen settings on the D40.
This book is certainly a must have for any d40 user - certainly any one using one for the first time.
If there is any down side it is the book size making it a tad of a challenge to use 'in the field' but if it was any smaller it probably wouldn't be as easy to read and follow as it is.
Top notch, 27 Aug 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover, takes you through all the functions (with easy to see colour pictures)), working with light, exposure, photographing different subjects, etc. It explains your Nikon D40 and all of the features, I cannot recommend this highly enough. Between this and the Ken Rockwell website I have learnt so much about the D40.
Great, 03 Jul 2008
This book tell you all you need to know when starting out with the Nikon D40 in an easy and comprehensive way unlike the original confusingly laid out manual. Additionally this book give good photo taking techniques in a variety of situations. Nice!
for newcomers, 15 May 2008
This book is brilliant if you are new to DSLR photography and the manual that comes with the camera confuses you-like it did me! I have learnt so much and have already been practising with it. Things have made sense and I have to reread it to then put it into practice, i can see me taking this book on holiday and not the manual!
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
An Amazing Read, 18 Oct 2008
What an amazing read. If you are new to DSLR or photography in general and you have the D40/X you must own this book. Full of concise step by step easy to read instructions on getting the most out of your camera. I can't put it down. Learn how to use the basic dials on your camera and take great shots. Then when you feel more comfortable with it move on to more indepth actions on exposure, lighting, composition etc. Each chapter lets you feel your way in to the subject so you don't feel rushed. This allows you to understand everything easier and that way you feel like you are actually learning something and remembering it. You really can't do without this book. An amazing read. I love it as much as the camera itself.I would pay double for this book. Get it now!
Very clear and easily worth the money.., 04 Oct 2008
Firstly - dump the manual that came with your D40 in the drawer - it is next to useless if you are new to a dSLR.
Then open this book and find your way around the extensive features that this 'beginners' dSLR offers. The book is well written with multiple supporting illustrations. It quickly unravels some of what seem at first complicated menus and sub menus.
I quickly found out as an example how to limit the ISO rating the camera uses on ISO Auto, I won't tell you here, you'll have to buy the book!!! but it solved for me the issue of noise that had crept into some of my pictures when using ISO auto.
Again quickly found out how to switch off the graphic representation of the shooting settings and get it to a 'classic' setting more akin to what would appear on a LCD menu had the D40 had one. This is essential for any one who bemoans the loss of the LCD screen settings on the D40.
This book is certainly a must have for any d40 user - certainly any one using one for the first time.
If there is any down side it is the book size making it a tad of a challenge to use 'in the field' but if it was any smaller it probably wouldn't be as easy to read and follow as it is.
Top notch, 27 Aug 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover, takes you through all the functions (with easy to see colour pictures)), working with light, exposure, photographing different subjects, etc. It explains your Nikon D40 and all of the features, I cannot recommend this highly enough. Between this and the Ken Rockwell website I have learnt so much about the D40.
Great, 03 Jul 2008
This book tell you all you need to know when starting out with the Nikon D40 in an easy and comprehensive way unlike the original confusingly laid out manual. Additionally this book give good photo taking techniques in a variety of situations. Nice!
for newcomers, 15 May 2008
This book is brilliant if you are new to DSLR photography and the manual that comes with the camera confuses you-like it did me! I have learnt so much and have already been practising with it. Things have made sense and I have to reread it to then put it into practice, i can see me taking this book on holiday and not the manual!
DSLR made easy, 25 Oct 2008
This is a book for those who do not have an idea what is aperture (Av), shutter speed (Tv) or ISO. So if you have a compact point-and-shoot camera you know what these are. But it is a book that I bought before I even bought the DSLR camera. THe photos though in colour may not be the best but it is written to be read in a weekend.
D. Busch knows his stuff. At less than 10 quids it will sparkle your imagination and get your camera to go out an experiment.
Recommended.
Book, Camera, Action!, 14 Oct 2008
The big attraction of this series of "for Dummies" books is that we who buy these products have little respect for our own knowledge and plenty of respect for those who do and are able to write books like this.
I am currently converting from film photography to digital photography and some aspects are quite daunting. I have, therefore, purchased several books and tutorial DVDs on the subject and am working my way through them all. The title of this product suggests it is the right place to start and, on reflection, is exactly where I should have started. For those of you, who like me, are converting to digital for the first time, grab your camera and a copy of this book and work your way through from cover to cover until you are conversant with the new technology. It really will give you a good grounding.
That, however, will only work very well if you are already conversant with photography. If you are new to photography altogether and a digital SLR camera is your very first camera, you may have to learn a few basic lessons of, for example, the correlation between film speeds, shutter speeds and aperture settings - which really do need to be understood, before you study this book.
David Busch clearly knows what he is talking about and is able to put that knowledge into an easy-to-follow format for us Dummies to read and, as I say, I wish I had read this book before getting into some of the more technical tomes I also purchased.
NM
A worse dummy than I thought!, 17 Feb 2008
I think I must need a 'Total Idiot's Guide' as this was not what I thought it would be.
Being a complete beginner with dSLR, I thought this book would be a step-by-step guide on 'How To....' I was a bit wide of the mark - although the book says a lot about why you should do this over that, etc it left me lost on how to actually do it. So I'm using my camera on Auto until my Nikon book arrives. Let's hope I'll have more success with that one.
excellent book, 08 Feb 2008
Bought the book on the strength of the previous two reviews as I've not really been keen on the "dummies" books previously.
This one, though, is excellent. If you've spent a chunk of money on a new digital camera (like my EOS 40d!) you really should spend another £10 and read this, and actually start to understand how it all works! (If you're already expert then you won't be needing this, but understanding even how the digital sensor works is really interesting)
It's printed on good quality glossy paper (unlike some of the dummies books) and includes some really nice images.
Well worth it
The best book I've read for DSLR beginners, 09 Jan 2008
A real creative education from a proper photographer. Easy to read, and packed full of tips and tricks. Get this one.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
An Amazing Read, 18 Oct 2008
What an amazing read. If you are new to DSLR or photography in general and you have the D40/X you must own this book. Full of concise step by step easy to read instructions on getting the most out of your camera. I can't put it down. Learn how to use the basic dials on your camera and take great shots. Then when you feel more comfortable with it move on to more indepth actions on exposure, lighting, composition etc. Each chapter lets you feel your way in to the subject so you don't feel rushed. This allows you to understand everything easier and that way you feel like you are actually learning something and remembering it. You really can't do without this book. An amazing read. I love it as much as the camera itself.I would pay double for this book. Get it now!
Very clear and easily worth the money.., 04 Oct 2008
Firstly - dump the manual that came with your D40 in the drawer - it is next to useless if you are new to a dSLR.
Then open this book and find your way around the extensive features that this 'beginners' dSLR offers. The book is well written with multiple supporting illustrations. It quickly unravels some of what seem at first complicated menus and sub menus.
I quickly found out as an example how to limit the ISO rating the camera uses on ISO Auto, I won't tell you here, you'll have to buy the book!!! but it solved for me the issue of noise that had crept into some of my pictures when using ISO auto.
Again quickly found out how to switch off the graphic representation of the shooting settings and get it to a 'classic' setting more akin to what would appear on a LCD menu had the D40 had one. This is essential for any one who bemoans the loss of the LCD screen settings on the D40.
This book is certainly a must have for any d40 user - certainly any one using one for the first time.
If there is any down side it is the book size making it a tad of a challenge to use 'in the field' but if it was any smaller it probably wouldn't be as easy to read and follow as it is.
Top notch, 27 Aug 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover, takes you through all the functions (with easy to see colour pictures)), working with light, exposure, photographing different subjects, etc. It explains your Nikon D40 and all of the features, I cannot recommend this highly enough. Between this and the Ken Rockwell website I have learnt so much about the D40.
Great, 03 Jul 2008
This book tell you all you need to know when starting out with the Nikon D40 in an easy and comprehensive way unlike the original confusingly laid out manual. Additionally this book give good photo taking techniques in a variety of situations. Nice!
for newcomers, 15 May 2008
This book is brilliant if you are new to DSLR photography and the manual that comes with the camera confuses you-like it did me! I have learnt so much and have already been practising with it. Things have made sense and I have to reread it to then put it into practice, i can see me taking this book on holiday and not the manual!
DSLR made easy, 25 Oct 2008
This is a book for those who do not have an idea what is aperture (Av), shutter speed (Tv) or ISO. So if you have a compact point-and-shoot camera you know what these are. But it is a book that I bought before I even bought the DSLR camera. THe photos though in colour may not be the best but it is written to be read in a weekend.
D. Busch knows his stuff. At less than 10 quids it will sparkle your imagination and get your camera to go out an experiment.
Recommended.
Book, Camera, Action!, 14 Oct 2008
The big attraction of this series of "for Dummies" books is that we who buy these products have little respect for our own knowledge and plenty of respect for those who do and are able to write books like this.
I am currently converting from film photography to digital photography and some aspects are quite daunting. I have, therefore, purchased several books and tutorial DVDs on the subject and am working my way through them all. The title of this product suggests it is the right place to start and, on reflection, is exactly where I should have started. For those of you, who like me, are converting to digital for the first time, grab your camera and a copy of this book and work your way through from cover to cover until you are conversant with the new technology. It really will give you a good grounding.
That, however, will only work very well if you are already conversant with photography. If you are new to photography altogether and a digital SLR camera is your very first camera, you may have to learn a few basic lessons of, for example, the correlation between film speeds, shutter speeds and aperture settings - which really do need to be understood, before you study this book.
David Busch clearly knows what he is talking about and is able to put that knowledge into an easy-to-follow format for us Dummies to read and, as I say, I wish I had read this book before getting into some of the more technical tomes I also purchased.
NM
A worse dummy than I thought!, 17 Feb 2008
I think I must need a 'Total Idiot's Guide' as this was not what I thought it would be.
Being a complete beginner with dSLR, I thought this book would be a step-by-step guide on 'How To....' I was a bit wide of the mark - although the book says a lot about why you should do this over that, etc it left me lost on how to actually do it. So I'm using my camera on Auto until my Nikon book arrives. Let's hope I'll have more success with that one.
excellent book, 08 Feb 2008
Bought the book on the strength of the previous two reviews as I've not really been keen on the "dummies" books previously.
This one, though, is excellent. If you've spent a chunk of money on a new digital camera (like my EOS 40d!) you really should spend another £10 and read this, and actually start to understand how it all works! (If you're already expert then you won't be needing this, but understanding even how the digital sensor works is really interesting)
It's printed on good quality glossy paper (unlike some of the dummies books) and includes some really nice images.
Well worth it
The best book I've read for DSLR beginners, 09 Jan 2008
A real creative education from a proper photographer. Easy to read, and packed full of tips and tricks. Get this one.
Very Comprehensive, 31 Oct 2008
Nice to find a book that strips away the jargon and really lets you get into the gut of the program. Highly recommended
The wrong approach for me, 30 Sep 2008
Having bought and enjoyed the Scott Kelby Lightroom 1 book I thought, variety being the spice of life, that for Lightroom 2 I would buy the Martin Evening book.
Having seen the Evening LR1 book in shops I was surprised to see that the pages in the LR2 book are smaller but to compensate the book is about 50% thicker. For me this has a handling disadvantage but more importantly the screen shots have to be smaller. This means that with many examples I struggle to see what the screen shot is trying to convey. Indeed the text on many of the screenshots is unreadable.
There is also a big difference in styles and approaches between the two authors. Evening tells you at length what every module, button and slider is for. Kelby tells you how to use Lightroom.
So If you want a reference book then this is the book for you. If you want a book that tells you when and how to use the controls to improve your photos then buy Kelby's books. My preference is for the latter.
Note: Although the Evening book purports to offer free online access to the electronic version you will find when you sign up to the offer that access is only free for the first 45 days. Not recommended.
The Best Book on Digital Capture Processing & Workflow, 18 Sep 2008
A fantastic book for Anyone, from serious enthusiasts to Semi-Pro's, or Old Pro's looking to finally go digital and leave the Titanic that Traditional Analogue photography has finally become.
Out of all the books I have checked out, this is the one. It's engaging, transparent, and fun, allowing the reader to dip in and out, or study in depth. It teaches seamlessly.
Buy It!
Just the job, 14 Sep 2008
After a short preamble describing the whys and wherefores of LR the book quickly down to business with importing photos into LR, then on to catloging, correcting and printing following the usual photographers workflow. There's a short (but useful) section on geotagging photos, which actually has little to do with LR2 (at the moment), but it's becoming an important part of a photographers workflow.
It's an approach that works well and Evenings style is both informative and relaxed, but he never strays too far from the business at hand and isn't 'chatty'. The book is printed on good quality paper so the sample photographs and screen prints are clear and clearly illustrate the processes being described. They are almost all there for a purpose, and not just as eye candy.
It's a book you can both use as a reference and sit and read in a spare moment. If you're new to LR and looking for something to get you up and running, then this will be just the job and will probably still be useful in 6 or 12 months time when you're experienced with the UI. If you're an experienced user of LR v1, then it's probably not as useful as it'll be covering V1 features you're familiar with, but there's a lot of new stuff in LR v2 and I doubt you'll find it better described elsewhere.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
An Amazing Read, 18 Oct 2008
What an amazing read. If you are new to DSLR or photography in general and you have the D40/X you must own this book. Full of concise step by step easy to read instructions on getting the most out of your camera. I can't put it down. Learn how to use the basic dials on your camera and take great shots. Then when you feel more comfortable with it move on to more indepth actions on exposure, lighting, composition etc. Each chapter lets you feel your way in to the subject so you don't feel rushed. This allows you to understand everything easier and that way you feel like you are actually learning something and remembering it. You really can't do without this book. An amazing read. I love it as much as the camera itself.I would pay double for this book. Get it now!
Very clear and easily worth the money.., 04 Oct 2008
Firstly - dump the manual that came with your D40 in the drawer - it is next to useless if you are new to a dSLR.
Then open this book and find your way around the extensive features that this 'beginners' dSLR offers. The book is well written with multiple supporting illustrations. It quickly unravels some of what seem at first complicated menus and sub menus.
I quickly found out as an example how to limit the ISO rating the camera uses on ISO Auto, I won't tell you here, you'll have to buy the book!!! but it solved for me the issue of noise that had crept into some of my pictures when using ISO auto.
Again quickly found out how to switch off the graphic representation of the shooting settings and get it to a 'classic' setting more akin to what would appear on a LCD menu had the D40 had one. This is essential for any one who bemoans the loss of the LCD screen settings on the D40.
This book is certainly a must have for any d40 user - certainly any one using one for the first time.
If there is any down side it is the book size making it a tad of a challenge to use 'in the field' but if it was any smaller it probably wouldn't be as easy to read and follow as it is.
Top notch, 27 Aug 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover, takes you through all the functions (with easy to see colour pictures)), working with light, exposure, photographing different subjects, etc. It explains your Nikon D40 and all of the features, I cannot recommend this highly enough. Between this and the Ken Rockwell website I have learnt so much about the D40.
Great, 03 Jul 2008
This book tell you all you need to know when starting out with the Nikon D40 in an easy and comprehensive way unlike the original confusingly laid out manual. Additionally this book give good photo taking techniques in a variety of situations. Nice!
for newcomers, 15 May 2008
This book is brilliant if you are new to DSLR photography and the manual that comes with the camera confuses you-like it did me! I have learnt so much and have already been practising with it. Things have made sense and I have to reread it to then put it into practice, i can see me taking this book on holiday and not the manual!
DSLR made easy, 25 Oct 2008
This is a book for those who do not have an idea what is aperture (Av), shutter speed (Tv) or ISO. So if you have a compact point-and-shoot camera you know what these are. But it is a book that I bought before I even bought the DSLR camera. THe photos though in colour may not be the best but it is written to be read in a weekend.
D. Busch knows his stuff. At less than 10 quids it will sparkle your imagination and get your camera to go out an experiment.
Recommended.
Book, Camera, Action!, 14 Oct 2008
The big attraction of this series of "for Dummies" books is that we who buy these products have little respect for our own knowledge and plenty of respect for those who do and are able to write books like this.
I am currently converting from film photography to digital photography and some aspects are quite daunting. I have, therefore, purchased several books and tutorial DVDs on the subject and am working my way through them all. The title of this product suggests it is the right place to start and, on reflection, is exactly where I should have started. For those of you, who like me, are converting to digital for the first time, grab your camera and a copy of this book and work your way through from cover to cover until you are conversant with the new technology. It really will give you a good grounding.
That, however, will only work very well if you are already conversant with photography. If you are new to photography altogether and a digital SLR camera is your very first camera, you may have to learn a few basic lessons of, for example, the correlation between film speeds, shutter speeds and aperture settings - which really do need to be understood, before you study this book.
David Busch clearly knows what he is talking about and is able to put that knowledge into an easy-to-follow format for us Dummies to read and, as I say, I wish I had read this book before getting into some of the more technical tomes I also purchased.
NM
A worse dummy than I thought!, 17 Feb 2008
I think I must need a 'Total Idiot's Guide' as this was not what I thought it would be.
Being a complete beginner with dSLR, I thought this book would be a step-by-step guide on 'How To....' I was a bit wide of the mark - although the book says a lot about why you should do this over that, etc it left me lost on how to actually do it. So I'm using my camera on Auto until my Nikon book arrives. Let's hope I'll have more success with that one.
excellent book, 08 Feb 2008
Bought the book on the strength of the previous two reviews as I've not really been keen on the "dummies" books previously.
This one, though, is excellent. If you've spent a chunk of money on a new digital camera (like my EOS 40d!) you really should spend another £10 and read this, and actually start to understand how it all works! (If you're already expert then you won't be needing this, but understanding even how the digital sensor works is really interesting)
It's printed on good quality glossy paper (unlike some of the dummies books) and includes some really nice images.
Well worth it
The best book I've read for DSLR beginners, 09 Jan 2008
A real creative education from a proper photographer. Easy to read, and packed full of tips and tricks. Get this one.
Very Comprehensive, 31 Oct 2008
Nice to find a book that strips away the jargon and really lets you get into the gut of the program. Highly recommended
The wrong approach for me, 30 Sep 2008
Having bought and enjoyed the Scott Kelby Lightroom 1 book I thought, variety being the spice of life, that for Lightroom 2 I would buy the Martin Evening book.
Having seen the Evening LR1 book in shops I was surprised to see that the pages in the LR2 book are smaller but to compensate the book is about 50% thicker. For me this has a handling disadvantage but more importantly the screen shots have to be smaller. This means that with many examples I struggle to see what the screen shot is trying to convey. Indeed the text on many of the screenshots is unreadable.
There is also a big difference in styles and approaches between the two authors. Evening tells you at length what every module, button and slider is for. Kelby tells you how to use Lightroom.
So If you want a reference book then this is the book for you. If you want a book that tells you when and how to use the controls to improve your photos then buy Kelby's books. My preference is for the latter.
Note: Although the Evening book purports to offer free online access to the electronic version you will find when you sign up to the offer that access is only free for the first 45 days. Not recommended.
The Best Book on Digital Capture Processing & Workflow, 18 Sep 2008
A fantastic book for Anyone, from serious enthusiasts to Semi-Pro's, or Old Pro's looking to finally go digital and leave the Titanic that Traditional Analogue photography has finally become.
Out of all the books I have checked out, this is the one. It's engaging, transparent, and fun, allowing the reader to dip in and out, or study in depth. It teaches seamlessly.
Buy It!
Just the job, 14 Sep 2008
After a short preamble describing the whys and wherefores of LR the book quickly down to business with importing photos into LR, then on to catloging, correcting and printing following the usual photographers workflow. There's a short (but useful) section on geotagging photos, which actually has little to do with LR2 (at the moment), but it's becoming an important part of a photographers workflow.
It's an approach that works well and Evenings style is both informative and relaxed, but he never strays too far from the business at hand and isn't 'chatty'. The book is printed on good quality paper so the sample photographs and screen prints are clear and clearly illustrate the processes being described. They are almost all there for a purpose, and not just as eye candy.
It's a book you can both use as a reference and sit and read in a spare moment. If you're new to LR and looking for something to get you up and running, then this will be just the job and will probably still be useful in 6 or 12 months time when you're experienced with the UI. If you're an experienced user of LR v1, then it's probably not as useful as it'll be covering V1 features you're familiar with, but there's a lot of new stuff in LR v2 and I doubt you'll find it better described elsewhere.
So-so..., 06 Sep 2008
Quality book? Very much so.
Easy to read? Well, yeah, but seems more formal than other Dummies somehow.
Cover all the right stuff? Yeah, suppose, but spends a huge amount of the book going on about the Organiser (not interesting!!!!).
Best book on Elements? No... though I don't know what is, but this isn't it.
Disappointed Dummy, 28 Aug 2008
I found Elements 6 for Dummies to be a confusing and unhelpful guide to a great software programme. It appears to have been written more to impress readers with the skills and knowledge of the authors rather than as suggested in the title as a simple vehicle to understand and use this feature rich ( is that too feature rich ?)programme. Does it really need 400 pages to explain the major features of Elements 6, I don't think so. Any number of photographic journals have shorter simpler guides to using photo enhancement software and you'll get lots of other photographic tips for your money.
User Friendly, 20 May 2008
What makes this book easy to use? Its user friendly, with clear easy to follow instructions. The colour pictures are of a good quality for each task in Elements. What you see in the book, you see on the monitor screen. Page layouts are consistent and the print clear. Getting started with Elements 6 couldn't be smoother. The book is basic and more advanced. For anyone new to Elements 6 or upgrading from older versions, this is the book to buy.
Elements 6 is no longer the cut down version of Photoshop that it once was. Adobe have included more of the best features from their new Photoshop, without compromising the enjoyment of using Elements. Photoshop Elements for Dummies, successfully addresses the changes in this new Elements version.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
An Amazing Read, 18 Oct 2008
What an amazing read. If you are new to DSLR or photography in general and you have the D40/X you must own this book. Full of concise step by step easy to read instructions on getting the most out of your camera. I can't put it down. Learn how to use the basic dials on your camera and take great shots. Then when you feel more comfortable with it move on to more indepth actions on exposure, lighting, composition etc. Each chapter lets you feel your way in to the subject so you don't feel rushed. This allows you to understand everything easier and that way you feel like you are actually learning something and remembering it. You really can't do without this book. An amazing read. I love it as much as the camera itself.I would pay double for this book. Get it now!
Very clear and easily worth the money.., 04 Oct 2008
Firstly - dump the manual that came with your D40 in the drawer - it is next to useless if you are new to a dSLR.
Then open this book and find your way around the extensive features that this 'beginners' dSLR offers. The book is well written with multiple supporting illustrations. It quickly unravels some of what seem at first complicated menus and sub menus.
I quickly found out as an example how to limit the ISO rating the camera uses on ISO Auto, I won't tell you here, you'll have to buy the book!!! but it solved for me the issue of noise that had crept into some of my pictures when using ISO auto.
Again quickly found out how to switch off the graphic representation of the shooting settings and get it to a 'classic' setting more akin to what would appear on a LCD menu had the D40 had one. This is essential for any one who bemoans the loss of the LCD screen settings on the D40.
This book is certainly a must have for any d40 user - certainly any one using one for the first time.
If there is any down side it is the book size making it a tad of a challenge to use 'in the field' but if it was any smaller it probably wouldn't be as easy to read and follow as it is.
Top notch, 27 Aug 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover, takes you through all the functions (with easy to see colour pictures)), working with light, exposure, photographing different subjects, etc. It explains your Nikon D40 and all of the features, I cannot recommend this highly enough. Between this and the Ken Rockwell website I have learnt so much about the D40.
Great, 03 Jul 2008
This book tell you all you need to know when starting out with the Nikon D40 in an easy and comprehensive way unlike the original confusingly laid out manual. Additionally this book give good photo taking techniques in a variety of situations. Nice!
for newcomers, 15 May 2008
This book is brilliant if you are new to DSLR photography and the manual that comes with the camera confuses you-like it did me! I have learnt so much and have already been practising with it. Things have made sense and I have to reread it to then put it into practice, i can see me taking this book on holiday and not the manual!
DSLR made easy, 25 Oct 2008
This is a book for those who do not have an idea what is aperture (Av), shutter speed (Tv) or ISO. So if you have a compact point-and-shoot camera you know what these are. But it is a book that I bought before I even bought the DSLR camera. THe photos though in colour may not be the best but it is written to be read in a weekend.
D. Busch knows his stuff. At less than 10 quids it will sparkle your imagination and get your camera to go out an experiment.
Recommended.
Book, Camera, Action!, 14 Oct 2008
The big attraction of this series of "for Dummies" books is that we who buy these products have little respect for our own knowledge and plenty of respect for those who do and are able to write books like this.
I am currently converting from film photography to digital photography and some aspects are quite daunting. I have, therefore, purchased several books and tutorial DVDs on the subject and am working my way through them all. The title of this product suggests it is the right place to start and, on reflection, is exactly where I should have started. For those of you, who like me, are converting to digital for the first time, grab your camera and a copy of this book and work your way through from cover to cover until you are conversant with the new technology. It really will give you a good grounding.
That, however, will only work very well if you are already conversant with photography. If you are new to photography altogether and a digital SLR camera is your very first camera, you may have to learn a few basic lessons of, for example, the correlation between film speeds, shutter speeds and aperture settings - which really do need to be understood, before you study this book.
David Busch clearly knows what he is talking about and is able to put that knowledge into an easy-to-follow format for us Dummies to read and, as I say, I wish I had read this book before getting into some of the more technical tomes I also purchased.
NM
A worse dummy than I thought!, 17 Feb 2008
I think I must need a 'Total Idiot's Guide' as this was not what I thought it would be.
Being a complete beginner with dSLR, I thought this book would be a step-by-step guide on 'How To....' I was a bit wide of the mark - although the book says a lot about why you should do this over that, etc it left me lost on how to actually do it. So I'm using my camera on Auto until my Nikon book arrives. Let's hope I'll have more success with that one.
excellent book, 08 Feb 2008
Bought the book on the strength of the previous two reviews as I've not really been keen on the "dummies" books previously.
This one, though, is excellent. If you've spent a chunk of money on a new digital camera (like my EOS 40d!) you really should spend another £10 and read this, and actually start to understand how it all works! (If you're already expert then you won't be needing this, but understanding even how the digital sensor works is really interesting)
It's printed on good quality glossy paper (unlike some of the dummies books) and includes some really nice images.
Well worth it
The best book I've read for DSLR beginners, 09 Jan 2008
A real creative education from a proper photographer. Easy to read, and packed full of tips and tricks. Get this one.
Very Comprehensive, 31 Oct 2008
Nice to find a book that strips away the jargon and really lets you get into the gut of the program. Highly recommended
The wrong approach for me, 30 Sep 2008
Having bought and enjoyed the Scott Kelby Lightroom 1 book I thought, variety being the spice of life, that for Lightroom 2 I would buy the Martin Evening book.
Having seen the Evening LR1 book in shops I was surprised to see that the pages in the LR2 book are smaller but to compensate the book is about 50% thicker. For me this has a handling disadvantage but more importantly the screen shots have to be smaller. This means that with many examples I struggle to see what the screen shot is trying to convey. Indeed the text on many of the screenshots is unreadable.
There is also a big difference in styles and approaches between the two authors. Evening tells you at length what every module, button and slider is for. Kelby tells you how to use Lightroom.
So If you want a reference book then this is the book for you. If you want a book that tells you when and how to use the controls to improve your photos then buy Kelby's books. My preference is for the latter.
Note: Although the Evening book purports to offer free online access to the electronic version you will find when you sign up to the offer that access is only free for the first 45 days. Not recommended.
The Best Book on Digital Capture Processing & Workflow, 18 Sep 2008
A fantastic book for Anyone, from serious enthusiasts to Semi-Pro's, or Old Pro's looking to finally go digital and leave the Titanic that Traditional Analogue photography has finally become.
Out of all the books I have checked out, this is the one. It's engaging, transparent, and fun, allowing the reader to dip in and out, or study in depth. It teaches seamlessly.
Buy It!
Just the job, 14 Sep 2008
After a short preamble describing the whys and wherefores of LR the book quickly down to business with importing photos into LR, then on to catloging, correcting and printing following the usual photographers workflow. There's a short (but useful) section on geotagging photos, which actually has little to do with LR2 (at the moment), but it's becoming an important part of a photographers workflow.
It's an approach that works well and Evenings style is both informative and relaxed, but he never strays too far from the business at hand and isn't 'chatty'. The book is printed on good quality paper so the sample photographs and screen prints are clear and clearly illustrate the processes being described. They are almost all there for a purpose, and not just as eye candy.
It's a book you can both use as a reference and sit and read in a spare moment. If you're new to LR and looking for something to get you up and running, then this will be just the job and will probably still be useful in 6 or 12 months time when you're experienced with the UI. If you're an experienced user of LR v1, then it's probably not as useful as it'll be covering V1 features you're familiar with, but there's a lot of new stuff in LR v2 and I doubt you'll find it better described elsewhere.
So-so..., 06 Sep 2008
Quality book? Very much so.
Easy to read? Well, yeah, but seems more formal than other Dummies somehow.
Cover all the right stuff? Yeah, suppose, but spends a huge amount of the book going on about the Organiser (not interesting!!!!).
Best book on Elements? No... though I don't know what is, but this isn't it.
Disappointed Dummy, 28 Aug 2008
I found Elements 6 for Dummies to be a confusing and unhelpful guide to a great software programme. It appears to have been written more to impress readers with the skills and knowledge of the authors rather than as suggested in the title as a simple vehicle to understand and use this feature rich ( is that too feature rich ?)programme. Does it really need 400 pages to explain the major features of Elements 6, I don't think so. Any number of photographic journals have shorter simpler guides to using photo enhancement software and you'll get lots of other photographic tips for your money.
User Friendly, 20 May 2008
What makes this book easy to use? Its user friendly, with clear easy to follow instructions. The colour pictures are of a good quality for each task in Elements. What you see in the book, you see on the monitor screen. Page layouts are consistent and the print clear. Getting started with Elements 6 couldn't be smoother. The book is basic and more advanced. For anyone new to Elements 6 or upgrading from older versions, this is the book to buy.
Elements 6 is no longer the cut down version of Photoshop that it once was. Adobe have included more of the best features from their new Photoshop, without compromising the enjoyment of using Elements. Photoshop Elements for Dummies, successfully addresses the changes in this new Elements version.
Layers. Made Easy., 03 Aug 2008
I've used Photoshop for a number of years now, and even teach it on a regular basis, but this book blew me away! It wasn't so much that all the information in it was new to me (though a lot was), but the way that Matt explains things is fantastic!
I think I managed to get as far as about page 10 before I went "wow, that's brilliant!".
Highly recommended. Thanks Matt!
A Reference Book for Serious Adobe-Addicts, 28 May 2008
I never could understand Layers in depth - now I do.
Sometimes throws you in the deep end - but always takes you back to the shore safely.
I am ready to explore the full might of Layers with confidence both in Photoshop 7 as well as CS3
Not the best, 15 May 2008
I have several "how to" photoshop books but most of them tend to be of the "now click this..then click that " type. What I needed was a book that told me "why" I clicked that, so I though that being devoted completely to the "layers" tool it would be give me a more in-depth explanation of the tool. Things start off well enough with an overview of exactly what a "layer" is, but then jumps straight into creating "gimicks". There are plenty of better books on the market for creating gimicks in photoshop ( try one of the excellent Katrin Eismann books )but that wasn't what I needed. This author is from the same stable as Scott Kelby who writes excellent books on this subject ,and it shows through as he tries to write in the same style (love it or hate it). Unfortunately he is not Kelby and the book is actually short on useful techniques that you will want to use every day. (incidentally, the useful stuff has already been covered elsewhere ) This book, after my initial flick through will no doubt end up at the bottom of my pile..while my search goes on for a real-world sugar-free explanation of this powerful tool.
Layers - for the rest of us, 21 Apr 2008
I do a fair amount of PhotoShop Image Editing, and tho' I say it myself, have become reasonably proficient at it, but one aspect I haven't really come to grips with, and which I know to be a failing, is understanding how to use Layers. Now I do know what Layers are, and I also understand that there's something quite magical about using Layers in PS, but somehow, although I do indeed understand the "Why", I've never really got to grips with the "How To". Then Amazon, as they do, mailed me about Matt Kloskowski's brand new PS Manual, strangely enough called "LAYERS"
And I have to say that it really has been an eye-opener, virtually from page one. Obviously inspired by Scott Kelby's eclectic style of writing, the book is laid out throughout as a series of step by step tutorials, including a complete on-line download of all the stock images used, which is many times easier to understand than Adobe's admittedly comprehensive User Guide's, and Classroom in a Book series, which in the main, flew right above my head. Some of the adjustment Layer Tutorials are little short of stunning, almost blindingly Damascene in their revelation of technique. If I had one criticism it would be of the sometimes facile chattiness of the writing which does begin to jar a little after the tenth or fifteenth jokey comment, but let that not distract from what is a tour de force of a book, enabling Layer novices such as myself to effortlessly move up a level, or should I say Layer, in my comprehension of an area of PhotoShop which I have been too uneducated - read nervous - to previously take on board.
Obviously, I have no connection with the Author, or the Publisher, but if you enjoy, if that's the right word, playing around with PhotoShop, then I can thoroughly recommend "Layers" as one of the best PhotoShop guides I've yet worked with.
Neil Carter
Oxford UK
Outstanding Photoshop Book, 28 Mar 2008
Anybody who has listened to Matt Kloskowski teaching about Photoshop will know that he is a natural teacher. Everything he teaches is presented in a simple and very understandable manner, even if the subject is highly complicated.
Many of the subjects covered in this book are not huge secrets which the pros have kept carefully hidden from the general public. Rather many of the early lessons are simple and slowly build to the more complicated stuff. Matt Kloskowski has arranged the lessons in his Layers book to ensure that it is easy to follow and also in a way you will remember. If you are new to Photoshop and layers you will a thorough grasp of these subjects. The easy to follow tutorials are accompanied by colour images, which lead you through each step and you can even follow along yourself with the provided downloadable lesson files.
In short this is a really outstanding Photoshop book.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
An Amazing Read, 18 Oct 2008
What an amazing read. If you are new to DSLR or photography in general and you have the D40/X you must own this book. Full of concise step by step easy to read instructions on getting the most out of your camera. I can't put it down. Learn how to use the basic dials on your camera and take great shots. Then when you feel more comfortable with it move on to more indepth actions on exposure, lighting, composition etc. Each chapter lets you feel your way in to the subject so you don't feel rushed. This allows you to understand everything easier and that way you feel like you are actually learning something and remembering it. You really can't do without this book. An amazing read. I love it as much as the camera itself.I would pay double for this book. Get it now!
Very clear and easily worth the money.., 04 Oct 2008
Firstly - dump the manual that came with your D40 in the drawer - it is next to useless if you are new to a dSLR.
Then open this book and find your way around the extensive features that this 'beginners' dSLR offers. The book is well written with multiple supporting illustrations. It quickly unravels some of what seem at first complicated menus and sub menus.
I quickly found out as an example how to limit the ISO rating the camera uses on ISO Auto, I won't tell you here, you'll have to buy the book!!! but it solved for me the issue of noise that had crept into some of my pictures when using ISO auto.
Again quickly found out how to switch off the graphic representation of the shooting settings and get it to a 'classic' setting more akin to what would appear on a LCD menu had the D40 had one. This is essential for any one who bemoans the loss of the LCD screen settings on the D40.
This book is certainly a must have for any d40 user - certainly any one using one for the first time.
If there is any down side it is the book size making it a tad of a challenge to use 'in the field' but if it was any smaller it probably wouldn't be as easy to read and follow as it is.
Top notch, 27 Aug 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover, takes you through all the functions (with easy to see colour pictures)), working with light, exposure, photographing different subjects, etc. It explains your Nikon D40 and all of the features, I cannot recommend this highly enough. Between this and the Ken Rockwell website I have learnt so much about the D40.
Great, 03 Jul 2008
This book tell you all you need to know when starting out with the Nikon D40 in an easy and comprehensive way unlike the original confusingly laid out manual. Additionally this book give good photo taking techniques in a variety of situations. Nice!
for newcomers, 15 May 2008
This book is brilliant if you are new to DSLR photography and the manual that comes with the camera confuses you-like it did me! I have learnt so much and have already been practising with it. Things have made sense and I have to reread it to then put it into practice, i can see me taking this book on holiday and not the manual!
DSLR made easy, 25 Oct 2008
This is a book for those who do not have an idea what is aperture (Av), shutter speed (Tv) or ISO. So if you have a compact point-and-shoot camera you know what these are. But it is a book that I bought before I even bought the DSLR camera. THe photos though in colour may not be the best but it is written to be read in a weekend.
D. Busch knows his stuff. At less than 10 quids it will sparkle your imagination and get your camera to go out an experiment.
Recommended.
Book, Camera, Action!, 14 Oct 2008
The big attraction of this series of "for Dummies" books is that we who buy these products have little respect for our own knowledge and plenty of respect for those who do and are able to write books like this.
I am currently converting from film photography to digital photography and some aspects are quite daunting. I have, therefore, purchased several books and tutorial DVDs on the subject and am working my way through them all. The title of this product suggests it is the right place to start and, on reflection, is exactly where I should have started. For those of you, who like me, are converting to digital for the first time, grab your camera and a copy of this book and work your way through from cover to cover until you are conversant with the new technology. It really will give you a good grounding.
That, however, will only work very well if you are already conversant with photography. If you are new to photography altogether and a digital SLR camera is your very first camera, you may have to learn a few basic lessons of, for example, the correlation between film speeds, shutter speeds and aperture settings - which really do need to be understood, before you study this book.
David Busch clearly knows what he is talking about and is able to put that knowledge into an easy-to-follow format for us Dummies to read and, as I say, I wish I had read this book before getting into some of the more technical tomes I also purchased.
NM
A worse dummy than I thought!, 17 Feb 2008
I think I must need a 'Total Idiot's Guide' as this was not what I thought it would be.
Being a complete beginner with dSLR, I thought this book would be a step-by-step guide on 'How To....' I was a bit wide of the mark - although the book says a lot about why you should do this over that, etc it left me lost on how to actually do it. So I'm using my camera on Auto until my Nikon book arrives. Let's hope I'll have more success with that one.
excellent book, 08 Feb 2008
Bought the book on the strength of the previous two reviews as I've not really been keen on the "dummies" books previously.
This one, though, is excellent. If you've spent a chunk of money on a new digital camera (like my EOS 40d!) you really should spend another £10 and read this, and actually start to understand how it all works! (If you're already expert then you won't be needing this, but understanding even how the digital sensor works is really interesting)
It's printed on good quality glossy paper (unlike some of the dummies books) and includes some really nice images.
Well worth it
The best book I've read for DSLR beginners, 09 Jan 2008
A real creative education from a proper photographer. Easy to read, and packed full of tips and tricks. Get this one.
Very Comprehensive, 31 Oct 2008
Nice to find a book that strips away the jargon and really lets you get into the gut of the program. Highly recommended
The wrong approach for me, 30 Sep 2008
Having bought and enjoyed the Scott Kelby Lightroom 1 book I thought, variety being the spice of life, that for Lightroom 2 I would buy the Martin Evening book.
Having seen the Evening LR1 book in shops I was surprised to see that the pages in the LR2 book are smaller but to compensate the book is about 50% thicker. For me this has a handling disadvantage but more importantly the screen shots have to be smaller. This means that with many examples I struggle to see what the screen shot is trying to convey. Indeed the text on many of the screenshots is unreadable.
There is also a big difference in styles and approaches between the two authors. Evening tells you at length what every module, button and slider is for. Kelby tells you how to use Lightroom.
So If you want a reference book then this is the book for you. If you want a book that tells you when and how to use the controls to improve your photos then buy Kelby's books. My preference is for the latter.
Note: Although the Evening book purports to offer free online access to the electronic version you will find when you sign up to the offer that access is only free for the first 45 days. Not recommended.
The Best Book on Digital Capture Processing & Workflow, 18 Sep 2008
A fantastic book for Anyone, from serious enthusiasts to Semi-Pro's, or Old Pro's looking to finally go digital and leave the Titanic that Traditional Analogue photography has finally become.
Out of all the books I have checked out, this is the one. It's engaging, transparent, and fun, allowing the reader to dip in and out, or study in depth. It teaches seamlessly.
Buy It!
Just the job, 14 Sep 2008
After a short preamble describing the whys and wherefores of LR the book quickly down to business with importing photos into LR, then on to catloging, correcting and printing following the usual photographers workflow. There's a short (but useful) section on geotagging photos, which actually has little to do with LR2 (at the moment), but it's becoming an important part of a photographers workflow.
It's an approach that works well and Evenings style is both informative and relaxed, but he never strays too far from the business at hand and isn't 'chatty'. The book is printed on good quality paper so the sample photographs and screen prints are clear and clearly illustrate the processes being described. They are almost all there for a purpose, and not just as eye candy.
It's a book you can both use as a reference and sit and read in a spare moment. If you're new to LR and looking for something to get you up and running, then this will be just the job and will probably still be useful in 6 or 12 months time when you're experienced with the UI. If you're an experienced user of LR v1, then it's probably not as useful as it'll be covering V1 features you're familiar with, but there's a lot of new stuff in LR v2 and I doubt you'll find it better described elsewhere.
So-so..., 06 Sep 2008
Quality book? Very much so.
Easy to read? Well, yeah, but seems more formal than other Dummies somehow.
Cover all the right stuff? Yeah, suppose, but spends a huge amount of the book going on about the Organiser (not interesting!!!!).
Best book on Elements? No... though I don't know what is, but this isn't it.
Disappointed Dummy, 28 Aug 2008
I found Elements 6 for Dummies to be a confusing and unhelpful guide to a great software programme. It appears to have been written more to impress readers with the skills and knowledge of the authors rather than as suggested in the title as a simple vehicle to understand and use this feature rich ( is that too feature rich ?)programme. Does it really need 400 pages to explain the major features of Elements 6, I don't think so. Any number of photographic journals have shorter simpler guides to using photo enhancement software and you'll get lots of other photographic tips for your money.
User Friendly, 20 May 2008
What makes this book easy to use? Its user friendly, with clear easy to follow instructions. The colour pictures are of a good quality for each task in Elements. What you see in the book, you see on the monitor screen. Page layouts are consistent and the print clear. Getting started with Elements 6 couldn't be smoother. The book is basic and more advanced. For anyone new to Elements 6 or upgrading from older versions, this is the book to buy.
Elements 6 is no longer the cut down version of Photoshop that it once was. Adobe have included more of the best features from their new Photoshop, without compromising the enjoyment of using Elements. Photoshop Elements for Dummies, successfully addresses the changes in this new Elements version.
Layers. Made Easy., 03 Aug 2008
I've used Photoshop for a number of years now, and even teach it on a regular basis, but this book blew me away! It wasn't so much that all the information in it was new to me (though a lot was), but the way that Matt explains things is fantastic!
I think I managed to get as far as about page 10 before I went "wow, that's brilliant!".
Highly recommended. Thanks Matt!
A Reference Book for Serious Adobe-Addicts, 28 May 2008
I never could understand Layers in depth - now I do.
Sometimes throws you in the deep end - but always takes you back to the shore safely.
I am ready to explore the full might of Layers with confidence both in Photoshop 7 as well as CS3
Not the best, 15 May 2008
I have several "how to" photoshop books but most of them tend to be of the "now click this..then click that " type. What I needed was a book that told me "why" I clicked that, so I though that being devoted completely to the "layers" tool it would be give me a more in-depth explanation of the tool. Things start off well enough with an overview of exactly what a "layer" is, but then jumps straight into creating "gimicks". There are plenty of better books on the market for creating gimicks in photoshop ( try one of the excellent Katrin Eismann books )but that wasn't what I needed. This author is from the same stable as Scott Kelby who writes excellent books on this subject ,and it shows through as he tries to write in the same style (love it or hate it). Unfortunately he is not Kelby and the book is actually short on useful techniques that you will want to use every day. (incidentally, the useful stuff has already been covered elsewhere ) This book, after my initial flick through will no doubt end up at the bottom of my pile..while my search goes on for a real-world sugar-free explanation of this powerful tool.
Layers - for the rest of us, 21 Apr 2008
I do a fair amount of PhotoShop Image Editing, and tho' I say it myself, have become reasonably proficient at it, but one aspect I haven't really come to grips with, and which I know to be a failing, is understanding how to use Layers. Now I do know what Layers are, and I also understand that there's something quite magical about using Layers in PS, but somehow, although I do indeed understand the "Why", I've never really got to grips with the "How To". Then Amazon, as they do, mailed me about Matt Kloskowski's brand new PS Manual, strangely enough called "LAYERS"
And I have to say that it really has been an eye-opener, virtually from page one. Obviously inspired by Scott Kelby's eclectic style of writing, the book is laid out throughout as a series of step by step tutorials, including a complete on-line download of all the stock images used, which is many times easier to understand than Adobe's admittedly comprehensive User Guide's, and Classroom in a Book series, which in the main, flew right above my head. Some of the adjustment Layer Tutorials are little short of stunning, almost blindingly Damascene in their revelation of technique. If I had one criticism it would be of the sometimes facile chattiness of the writing which does begin to jar a little after the tenth or fifteenth jokey comment, but let that not distract from what is a tour de force of a book, enabling Layer novices such as myself to effortlessly move up a level, or should I say Layer, in my comprehension of an area of PhotoShop which I have been too uneducated - read nervous - to previously take on board.
Obviously, I have no connection with the Author, or the Publisher, but if you enjoy, if that's the right word, playing around with PhotoShop, then I can thoroughly recommend "Layers" as one of the best PhotoShop guides I've yet worked with.
Neil Carter
Oxford UK
Outstanding Photoshop Book, 28 Mar 2008
Anybody who has listened to Matt Kloskowski teaching about Photoshop will know that he is a natural teacher. Everything he teaches is presented in a simple and very understandable manner, even if the subject is highly complicated.
Many of the subjects covered in this book are not huge secrets which the pros have kept carefully hidden from the general public. Rather many of the early lessons are simple and slowly build to the more complicated stuff. Matt Kloskowski has arranged the lessons in his Layers book to ensure that it is easy to follow and also in a way you will remember. If you are new to Photoshop and layers you will a thorough grasp of these subjects. The easy to follow tutorials are accompanied by colour images, which lead you through each step and you can even follow along yourself with the provided downloadable lesson files.
In short this is a really outstanding Photoshop book.
At last a manual that helps, 29 Apr 2008
I have bought a number of camera manuals over the years from Lantern guides to Hove foto books, and they have all really done little more than re-hash the camera manual. The Digital Field guide starts with the manual and simplifies it and pulls out lots of useful customisation settings on the D80. It very quickly helps you around all the key featrures of the camera, then digs deeper into some key areas of operation. It is clearly and logiclly written and with lots of clean illustrations. The latter half is made up of a lot of general photography tips and an experienced photographer may skip a lot of this section, although I have to put my hand up and admit it refreshed me on a couple of key elements around flash. If you have bought a D80 and have spent hours poring over the manual this will be a welcome aid to getting the most out of what is a very capable camera, I can highly recommend it.
Good book for a Beginning and Experienced Photographer, 08 Apr 2008
I am always weary of instruction manuals etc. I much rather go out with my new camera, take photo's and learn from my own mistakes with photograhy.
I found this book extremely useful. He wrote the book extremely well.
It is good for both beginners and experience photographers, that you were not 'idiots' nor being 'thick'.
D80 Owner (amateur!), 24 Mar 2008
Great book for anyone starting out with a D80! I'm usually the type of person who doesn't have the patience to sit down with an instruction manual or book. I'd rather just get my hands on the hardware and mess around until I've figured it all out. So David Busch's D80 digital field guide was a first.
Despite my phobia of instruction manuals and guides, I have really enjoyed studying all the useful information in this book. I would certainly recommend this book to any new D80 owner (or to a D80 owner who wants to polish up on their photography skills). It not only gets into the nitty-gritty of the D80 but also provides a great introduction to photogrpahy in general.
Worth it, 15 Jan 2008
This is a really useful book - I am very glad I got it. I found the manual that comes with the D80 to be extremely limited and hard to use, this takes everything much further and has some really useful explanations and tips. The D80 has so many functions and settings and intuition alone is not going to enable you make the most of all of them. As you've spent £500+ on the camera package, I think it's worth a few extra pounds to really know how to use the camera, even if you're experienced in photography. As it says on the label, this book explains how to use the D80's multitide of controls to achieve what you want while also being small enough to fit in your bag.
Helps to get beyond the essentials, 20 Oct 2007
I am usually rather wary of books that offer to illustrate the camera manual and make it easier to understand. Sometimes they do no more than that and don't help to widen one's knowledge. This book, however, goes well beyond the manual. Following, as one would expect, a clear presentation of the technical features of the D80 and their efficient use, there are chapters dedicated to exposure, lenses, and working with light that help to give a better understanding of the many elements the photographer will have to juggle in order to achieve his aim. I found the section on "Photo Subjects", presenting the "rules" of good composition in different settings, helpful, though perhaps a bit too similar to what so many other publications offer in this regard. All in all, this book is a good investment if you are starting to use a D80 and learning to hone your photographic skills.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
An Amazing Read, 18 Oct 2008
What an amazing read. If you are new to DSLR or photography in general and you have the D40/X you must own this book. Full of concise step by step easy to read instructions on getting the most out of your camera. I can't put it down. Learn how to use the basic dials on your camera and take great shots. Then when you feel more comfortable with it move on to more indepth actions on exposure, lighting, composition etc. Each chapter lets you feel your way in to the subject so you don't feel rushed. This allows you to understand everything easier and that way you feel like you are actually learning something and remembering it. You really can't do without this book. An amazing read. I love it as much as the camera itself.I would pay double for this book. Get it now!
Very clear and easily worth the money.., 04 Oct 2008
Firstly - dump the manual that came with your D40 in the drawer - it is next to useless if you are new to a dSLR.
Then open this book and find your way around the extensive features that this 'beginners' dSLR offers. The book is well written with multiple supporting illustrations. It quickly unravels some of what seem at first complicated menus and sub menus.
I quickly found out as an example how to limit the ISO rating the camera uses on ISO Auto, I won't tell you here, you'll have to buy the book!!! but it solved for me the issue of noise that had crept into some of my pictures when using ISO auto.
Again quickly found out how to switch off the graphic representation of the shooting settings and get it to a 'classic' setting more akin to what would appear on a LCD menu had the D40 had one. This is essential for any one who bemoans the loss of the LCD screen settings on the D40.
This book is certainly a must have for any d40 user - certainly any one using one for the first time.
If there is any down side it is the book size making it a tad of a challenge to use 'in the field' but if it was any smaller it probably wouldn't be as easy to read and follow as it is.
Top notch, 27 Aug 2008
This book does exactly what it says on the cover, takes you through all the functions (with easy to see colour pictures)), working with light, exposure, photographing different subjects, etc. It explains your Nikon D40 and all of the features, I cannot recommend this highly enough. Between this and the Ken Rockwell website I have learnt so much about the D40.
Great, 03 Jul 2008
This book tell you all you need to know when starting out with the Nikon D40 in an easy and comprehensive way unlike the original confusingly laid out manual. Additionally this book give good photo taking techniques in a variety of situations. Nice!
for newcomers, 15 May 2008
This book is brilliant if you are new to DSLR photography and the manual that comes with the camera confuses you-like it did me! I have learnt so much and have already been practising with it. Things have made sense and I have to reread it to then put it into practice, i can see me taking this book on holiday and not the manual!
DSLR made easy, 25 Oct 2008
This is a book for those who do not have an idea what is aperture (Av), shutter speed (Tv) or ISO. So if you have a compact point-and-shoot camera you know what these are. But it is a book that I bought before I even bought the DSLR camera. THe photos though in colour may not be the best but it is written to be read in a weekend.
D. Busch knows his stuff. At less than 10 quids it will sparkle your imagination and get your camera to go out an experiment.
Recommended.
Book, Camera, Action!, 14 Oct 2008
The big attraction of this series of "for Dummies" books is that we who buy these products have little respect for our own knowledge and plenty of respect for those who do and are able to write books like this.
I am currently converting from film photography to digital photography and some aspects are quite daunting. I have, therefore, purchased several books and tutorial DVDs on the subject and am working my way through them all. The title of this product suggests it is the right place to start and, on reflection, is exactly where I should have started. For those of you, who like me, are converting to digital for the first time, grab your camera and a copy of this book and work your way through from cover to cover until you are conversant with the new technology. It really will give you a good grounding.
That, however, will only work very well if you are already conversant with photography. If you are new to photography altogether and a digital SLR camera is your very first camera, you may have to learn a few basic lessons of, for example, the correlation between film speeds, shutter speeds and aperture settings - which really do need to be understood, before you study this book.
David Busch clearly knows what he is talking about and is able to put that knowledge into an easy-to-follow format for us Dummies to read and, as I say, I wish I had read this book before getting into some of the more technical tomes I also purchased.
NM
A worse dummy than I thought!, 17 Feb 2008
I think I must need a 'Total Idiot's Guide' as this was not what I thought it would be.
Being a complete beginner with dSLR, I thought this book would be a step-by-step guide on 'How To....' I was a bit wide of the mark - although the book says a lot about why you should do this over that, etc it left me lost on how to actually do it. So I'm using my camera on Auto until my Nikon book arrives. Let's hope I'll have more success with that one.
excellent book, 08 Feb 2008
Bought the book on the strength of the previous two reviews as I've not really been keen on the "dummies" books previously.
This one, though, is excellent. If you've spent a chunk of money on a new digital camera (like my EOS 40d!) you really should spend another £10 and read this, and actually start to understand how it all works! (If you're already expert then you won't be needing this, but understanding even how the digital sensor works is really interesting)
It's printed on good quality glossy paper (unlike some of the dummies books) and includes some really nice images.
Well worth it
The best book I've read for DSLR beginners, 09 Jan 2008
A real creative education from a proper photographer. Easy to read, and packed full of tips and tricks. Get this one.
Very Comprehensive, 31 Oct 2008
Nice to find a book that strips away the jargon and really lets you get into the gut of the program. Highly recommended
The wrong approach for me, 30 Sep 2008
Having bought and enjoyed the Scott Kelby Lightroom 1 book I thought, variety being the spice of life, that for Lightroom 2 I would buy the Martin Evening book.
Having seen the Evening LR1 book in shops I was surprised to see that the pages in the LR2 book are smaller but to compensate the book is about 50% thicker. For me this has a handling disadvantage but more importantly the screen shots have to be smaller. This means that with many examples I struggle to see what the screen shot is trying to convey. Indeed the text on many of the screenshots is unreadable.
There is also a big difference in styles and approaches between the two authors. Evening tells you at length what every module, button and slider is for. Kelby tells you how to use Lightroom.
So If you want a reference book then this is the book for you. If you want a book that tells you when and how to use the controls to improve your photos then buy Kelby's books. My preference is for the latter.
Note: Although the Evening book purports to offer free online access to the electronic version you will find when you sign up to the offer that access is only free for the first 45 days. Not recommended.
The Best Book on Digital Capture Processing & Workflow, 18 Sep 2008
A fantastic book for Anyone, from serious enthusiasts to Semi-Pro's, or Old Pro's looking to finally go digital and leave the Titanic that Traditional Analogue photography has finally become.
Out of all the books I have checked out, this is the one. It's engaging, transparent, and fun, allowing the reader to dip in and out, or study in depth. It teaches seamlessly.
Buy It!
Just the job, 14 Sep 2008
After a short preamble describing the whys and wherefores of LR the book quickly down to business with importing photos into LR, then on to catloging, correcting and printing following the usual photographers workflow. There's a short (but useful) section on geotagging photos, which actually has little to do with LR2 (at the moment), but it's becoming an important part of a photographers workflow.
It's an approach that works well and Evenings style is both informative and relaxed, but he never strays too far from the business at hand and isn't 'chatty'. The book is printed on good quality paper so the sample photographs and screen prints are clear and clearly illustrate the processes being described. They are almost all there for a purpose, and not just as eye candy.
It's a book you can both use as a reference and sit and read in a spare moment. If you're new to LR and looking for something to get you up and running, then this will be just the job and will probably still be useful in 6 or 12 months time when you're experienced with the UI. If you're an experienced user of LR v1, then it's probably not as useful as it'll be covering V1 features you're familiar with, but there's a lot of new stuff in LR v2 and I doubt you'll find it better described elsewhere.
So-so..., 06 Sep 2008
Quality book? Very much so.
Easy to read? Well, yeah, but seems more formal than other Dummies somehow.
Cover all the right stuff? Yeah, suppose, but spends a huge amount of the book going on about the Organiser (not interesting!!!!).
Best book on Elements? No... though I don't know what is, but this isn't it.
Disappointed Dummy, 28 Aug 2008
I found Elements 6 for Dummies to be a confusing and unhelpful guide to a great software programme. It appears to have been written more to impress readers with the skills and knowledge of the authors rather than as suggested in the title as a simple vehicle to understand and use this feature rich ( is that too feature rich ?)programme. Does it really need 400 pages to explain the major features of Elements 6, I don't think so. Any number of photographic journals have shorter simpler guides to using photo enhancement software and you'll get lots of other photographic tips for your money.
User Friendly, 20 May 2008
What makes this book easy to use? Its user friendly, with clear easy to follow instructions. The colour pictures are of a good quality for each task in Elements. What you see in the book, you see on the monitor screen. Page layouts are consistent and the print clear. Getting started with Elements 6 couldn't be smoother. The book is basic and more advanced. For anyone new to Elements 6 or upgrading from older versions, this is the book to buy.
Elements 6 is no longer the cut down version of Photoshop that it once was. Adobe have included more of the best features from their new Photoshop, without compromising the enjoyment of using Elements. Photoshop Elements for Dummies, successfully addresses the changes in this new Elements version.
Layers. Made Easy., 03 Aug 2008
I've used Photoshop for a number of years now, and even teach it on a regular basis, but this book blew me away! It wasn't so much that all the information in it was new to me (though a lot was), but the way that Matt explains things is fantastic!
I think I managed to get as far as about page 10 before I went "wow, that's brilliant!".
Highly recommended. Thanks Matt!
A Reference Book for Serious Adobe-Addicts, 28 May 2008
I never could understand Layers in depth - now I do.
Sometimes throws you in the deep end - but always takes you back to the shore safely.
I am ready to explore the full might of Layers with confidence both in Photoshop 7 as well as CS3
Not the best, 15 May 2008
I have several "how to" photoshop books but most of them tend to be of the "now click this..then click that " type. What I needed was a book that told me "why" I clicked that, so I though that being devoted completely to the "layers" tool it would be give me a more in-depth explanation of the tool. Things start off well enough with an overview of exactly what a "layer" is, but then jumps straight into creating "gimicks". There are plenty of better books on the market for creating gimicks in photoshop ( try one of the excellent Katrin Eismann books )but that wasn't what I needed. This author is from the same stable as Scott Kelby who writes excellent books on this subject ,and it shows through as he tries to write in the same style (love it or hate it). Unfortunately he is not Kelby and the book is actually short on useful techniques that you will want to use every day. (incidentally, the useful stuff has already been covered elsewhere ) This book, after my initial flick through will no doubt end up at the bottom of my pile..while my search goes on for a real-world sugar-free explanation of this powerful tool.
Layers - for the rest of us, 21 Apr 2008
I do a fair amount of PhotoShop Image Editing, and tho' I say it myself, have become reasonably proficient at it, but one aspect I haven't really come to grips with, and which I know to be a failing, is understanding how to use Layers. Now I do know what Layers are, and I also understand that there's something quite magical about using Layers in PS, but somehow, although I do indeed understand the "Why", I've never really got to grips with the "How To". Then Amazon, as they do, mailed me about Matt Kloskowski's brand new PS Manual, strangely enough called "LAYERS"
And I have to say that it really has been an eye-opener, virtually from page one. Obviously inspired by Scott Kelby's eclectic style of writing, the book is laid out throughout as a series of step by step tutorials, including a complete on-line download of all the stock images used, which is many times easier to understand than Adobe's admittedly comprehensive User Guide's, and Classroom in a Book series, which in the main, flew right above my head. Some of the adjustment Layer Tutorials are little short of stunning, almost blindingly Damascene in their revelation of technique. If I had one criticism it would be of the sometimes facile chattiness of the writing which does begin to jar a little after the tenth or fifteenth jokey comment, but let that not distract from what is a tour de force of a book, enabling Layer novices such as myself to effortlessly move up a level, or should I say Layer, in my comprehension of an area of PhotoShop which I have been too uneducated - read nervous - to previously take on board.
Obviously, I have no connection with the Author, or the Publisher, but if you enjoy, if that's the right word, playing around with PhotoShop, then I can thoroughly recommend "Layers" as one of the best PhotoShop guides I've yet worked with.
Neil Carter
Oxford UK
Outstanding Photoshop Book, 28 Mar 2008
Anybody who has listened to Matt Kloskowski teaching about Photoshop will know that he is a natural teacher. Everything he teaches is presented in a simple and very understandable manner, even if the subject is highly complicated.
Many of the subjects covered in this book are not huge secrets which the pros have kept carefully hidden from the general public. Rather many of the early lessons are simple and slowly build to the more complicated stuff. Matt Kloskowski has arranged the lessons in his Layers book to ensure that it is easy to follow and also in a way you will remember. If you are new to Photoshop and layers you will a thorough grasp of these subjects. The easy to follow tutorials are accompanied by colour images, which lead you through each step and you can even follow along yourself with the provided downloadable lesson files.
In short this is a really outstanding Photoshop book.
At last a manual that helps, 29 Apr 2008
I have bought a number of camera manuals over the years from Lantern guides to Hove foto books, and they have all really done little more than re-hash the camera manual. The Digital Field guide starts with the manual and simplifies it and pulls out lots of useful customisation settings on the D80. It very quickly helps you around all the key featrures of the camera, then digs deeper into some key areas of operation. It is clearly and logiclly written and with lots of clean illustrations. The latter half is made up of a lot of general photography tips and an experienced photographer may skip a lot of this section, although I have to put my hand up and admit it refreshed me on a couple of key elements around flash. If you have bought a D80 and have spent hours poring over the manual this will be a welcome aid to getting the most out of what is a very capable camera, I can highly recommend it.
Good book for a Beginning and Experienced Photographer, 08 Apr 2008
I am always weary of instruction manuals etc. I much rather go out with my new camera, take photo's and learn from my own mistakes with photograhy.
I found this book extremely useful. He wrote the book extremely well.
It is good for both beginners and experience photographers, that you were not 'idiots' nor being 'thick'.
D80 Owner (amateur!), 24 Mar 2008
Great book for anyone starting out with a D80! I'm usually the type of person who doesn't have the patience to sit down with an instruction manual or book. I'd rather just get my hands on the hardware and mess around until I've figured it all out. So David Busch's D80 digital field guide was a first.
Despite my phobia of instruction manuals and guides, I have really enjoyed studying all the useful information in this book. I would certainly recommend this book to any new D80 owner (or to a D80 owner who wants to polish up on their photography skills). It not only gets into the nitty-gritty of the D80 but also provides a great introduction to photogrpahy in general.
Worth it, 15 Jan 2008
This is a really useful book - I am very glad I got it. I found the manual that comes with the D80 to be extremely limited and hard to use, this takes everything much further and has some really useful explanations and tips. The D80 has so many functions and settings and intuition alone is not going to enable you make the most of all of them. As you've spent £500+ on the camera package, I think it's worth a few extra pounds to really know how to use the camera, even if you're experienced in photography. As it says on the label, this book explains how to use the D80's multitide of controls to achieve what you want while also being small enough to fit in your bag.
Helps to get beyond the essentials, 20 Oct 2007
I am usually rather wary of books that offer to illustrate the camera manual and make it easier to understand. Sometimes they do no more than that and don't help to widen one's knowledge. This book, however, goes well beyond the manual. Following, as one would expect, a clear presentation of the technical features of the D80 and their efficient use, there are chapters dedicated to exposure, lenses, and working with light that help to give a better understanding of the many elements the photographer will have to juggle in order to achieve his aim. I found the section on "Photo Subjects", presenting the "rules" of good composition in different settings, helpful, though perhaps a bit too similar to what so many other publications offer in this regard. All in all, this book is a good investment if you are starting to use a D80 and learning to hone your photographic skills.
Not exactly for Dummies, 13 Nov 2008
I bought this as I have little or no knowedge of post processing. I have fiddled with photoshop before and was looking for a book that would tell me how I could do what I wanted. This does not do that at all.
For example - I was looking at how to open a layer - I would like a book, with screen shots saying press here and open this. This book does not operate in this way.
There is lots of info, but no step by step guides on how to undertake the most basic post processing before you step up to the more difficult tasks.
If you want a real guide, then don't waste your money. I am sure that this book has a purpose, but it certainly isn't aimed at total newbies to CS3 unlike the title, which would suggest it is.
All in all, a total disappointment that for me does not do what the title suggests. Wish I'd never wasted my monet to be honest.
A nonstarter, 18 Oct 2008
After I bought this book I thought that at least I would make some progress in the the use of photoshop but this book is certainly not for dummies and assumes the reader to have quite a lot of knowhow about photoshop all ready. I am now searching again online for real help to master photoshop. This book is not even close.
An easy passport to the complex land of Photoshop, 27 Jun 2008
As a person who is an author first, a self-publisher second and a computer expert (a very poor) third, I found this book a gentle introduction to the process of creating covers for my 'Virtual Trilogy' series of books and for the accompanying website.
As usual, the simple to read language and humorous cartoon interludes between chapters give the deceptive impression that this manual is lightweight - which it most certainly is not. Photoshop is (at least in my humble opinion)a very advanced computer graphics programme and the manual accompanying it has a bewildering array of information that is (again in my humble opinion) not as accessible as it might be.
This 'For Dummies' version however,is easy to read, detailed enough to be useful and (unlike many other 'For Dummies' volumes) has many pages in colour, which are essential for a programme like Photoshop.
Once again, 'For Dummies' has given this computer Luddite enough confidence to make the most out of his investment in computer software, at least enough to approach the full manual without anxiety.
Get creative., 13 Apr 2008
Is this the most comprehensive book to guide you through Photoshop CS3? Probably not. But it does give you a description of the menus and gently guides you through most of the common functions.
I've played around with many photo-editing applications over the last few years but not actually Photoshop (which many consider bizarre considering that Photoshop is generally viewed as the ultimate in photo editing software), so I'm quite comfortable with many procedures, but was a bit phased at the vast array of options open to me in Photoshop.
This book has helped me to familiarise myself with the programme, and to edit my photos with the book as a trusty guide.
I have learnt a lot about Photoshop from this book. It covers the basic stuff through to some advanced editing techniques. It isn't a an encyclopaedia of all the functions, but it makes what can often be a daunting application very accessible - particularly for those who are new to it.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
| |