The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D Companion [Paperback]

Ben Long (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2008

Through a series of easy-to-follow lessons, The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/D450 Companion gives you a complete class on digital photography, tailored specifically for people who use this camera. This is not a typical camera guide: rather than just showing you what all the buttons do, this unique book teaches you how to use various Digital Rebel features to make great photographs.

With The Canon Digital Rebel XSi Companion in your camera bag, you have the perfect field reference for taking stunning pictures of any occasion or place, any time. You get valuable creative tips and technical advice for capturing professional-looking images of people, landscapes, action shots, close-ups, night shots, and more.

• Get to know the Digital Rebel XSi and how it works
• Take creative control and go beyond automatic settings
• Learn the basic rules of composition
• Know when to let the camera work for you
• Photograph fast-moving objects, and learn to capture decisive moments
• Discover ways to use a flash indoors and outdoors
• Learn the advantages of different lenses, and the best time to use them
• Understand the options for shooting RAW, and whether it's right for you

There are plenty of photography books, but only this companion guide teaches you how to take high-quality digital photos using the camera model you own. Professional photographer Ben Long includes plenty of full-color examples to show you what's possible once you graduate from snapshots and focus on the pictures you've always wanted to take.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ben Long is a freelance writer, photographer, and videographer based in San Francisco. A long-time computer journalist, he has written hundreds of features, reviews, and how-to's for magazines such as Macworld, MacWeek, Macworld UK, MacUser, Computer Graphics World, Maximum PC, and eMediaWeekly. He is currently a Senior Editor for CreativePro.com, where he writes a regular digital photography column. His most recent books include Apple's Pro Training guide for Aperture, Real World Aperture, Getting Started with Camera Raw, and Complete Digital Photography, 3rd edition.

As a photographer and videographer, his clients have included Blue Note Records, 20th Century Fox, the Pickle Circus, Global Business Network, Head Start, the Oklahoma Arts Institute, and the National Endowment for the Arts. You can learn more about him and his work at www.completedigitalphotography.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (September 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596520867
• ISBN-13: 978-0596520861
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ben Long is a San Francisco-based photographer and writer. The author of over a dozen books on digital photography and digital video, he has been a longtime contributor or contributing editor to many magazines including MacWeek, MacUser, Macworld UK, and others. He currently writes for Photoshop Elements magazine, is a Senior Contributor at Macworld Magazine and, and a senior editor at CreativePro.com. His photography clients have included 20th Century Fox, Blue Note Records, Global Business Network, the San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Pickle Family Circus, and Grammy-nominated jazz musicians Don Byron and Dafnis Prieto. He has taught and lectured on photography around the world. A sometime dabbler in computer programming, he has written a Mac-based image editing utility that is used by the British Museum, the White House, and others. You can learn more about what he's up to at www.completedigitalphotography.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 81 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ben Long Makes it Easy October 20, 2008

By Charles Flum

Format:Paperback

I recently bought a Canon SXI camera. I read through the manual. The manual is well written, but I felt I needed more information. I found that information in The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSI/450D Companion by Ben Long.
Long takes the approach that you are brand new to photography and have recently bought this great camera. Now, how do you use it? He takes you step by step through using the camera. The first chapter gets you acquainted with the very basic functions of using the camera in full auto mode. By the time I finished the book, I had a very good idea what the camera will and won't do. I also know how to use it in different situations.
Long's chapter on composition is one of the best synopses I have read. I have used a film SLR for many years and have read several photography books, so I hope I know what I am talking about.
Canon would do well to bundle this book with the XSI as well as their own very good manual.

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb November 12, 2008

By Eric Winegar

Format:Paperback

I have been using point and shoot cameras for some time now but decided to make the leap to an SLR. I bought the XSi without knowing anything about SLR cameras. I just knew I wanted to learn how to take better pictures and had read reviews that stated the XSi was a great entry level camera. When I picked up this book, I was looking for something that would be pretty basic, but also get into some of the more complex functions of the camera and give a basic overview of them.

If what I described above sounds like you, this book is an absolute must buy. I am literally shocked at how easy it is to ready. The author has a sense of humor throughout and everything he describes is very clear and concise. If this is your first SLR purchase and you don't buy the book, I think you are making a big mistake as I learned things about taking care of the camera I would not have otherwise known or thought about.

The author also gets into basic entry level information regarding ISO, shutter speed, etc etc. This was a perfect beginner spot for someone who didn't know much about those items. The book begins bye telling you how to work with/care for your camera, talks about using the automatic function built in, and then closes with more detailed instruction for manual use and also has a section on the different lenses, ad-ons. A-Z guide.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful October 4, 2008

By W. Brown

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

There are lots of camera books that regurgitate the product manual. This book, however, offers explanation of the various options and settings on the camera. It also explains how the camera should be set up for different kinds of photography. It is well illustrated and the figures and photos in the book are first quality. If you own a Canon Rebel Xsi, this is the only book you will need.