Customer Reviews

Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I previously purchased Charlotte's 40D Field Guide and found it to be an excellent adjunct to the Canon owners manual. I have often wondered why manufactures can not write lucid, easy to understand directions. Charlotte has remedied this by turning out another fine guide in the 7D edition. I received it from Amazon Dec. 12th and quickly read thru it, and now I am going back and studying it in depth, particularly the sections pertaining to the autofocus system. Charlotte not only tells you what the various 7D features are, but where they are useful, using real life illustrations from her professional work, and then how to implement them step by easy step.

The 7D autofocus system has to be one of the best available, if not indeed the best. But it is full featured and to use it to maximum advantage one should have a complete understanding of it's capabilities and functionality. Charlotte does a fine job explaining both. The 7D was unfairly maligned on the web forums by early adopters because they did not study the autofocus system before attempting to capture images and be the first to get them online. I have not had one problem with the 7D, and the 18-135 kit lens is one of the best I have used, and I have some fine lenses including Canon "L".

Charlotte's 7D book will probably be best appreciated by those who have a basic understanding of the interplay between ISO setting, F stop, and shutter speed for obtaining proper exposures. I am not looking "down my nose" at those who are learning, but the 7D is very fully featured and I do not think of it as an "entry" level camera. I have a lot of experience, being trained by the U.S. Army over fifty years ago as a Still Picture Photographer, but I find much useful information in my Charlotte Lowrie Field Guides and I highly recommend them. In closing, I have frequently utilized the Picture Style recommendation by Charlotte for the 40D, and I used her 7D Style recently for a "Santa Claus" event I did for a local Children's Specialty Shop. I shot in large raw and medium jpg and the jpg results were so outstanding, I did not have to do any raw processing, only cropping and then uploading to Mpix for printing. The workflow time savings from her Style recommendation alone was worth the price of the book.

I've been reading through the Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide by Charlotte Lowrie and have to say that I'm impressed with the book. I've never bought a book like this before having always relied on the manual that came with the camera and other online guides. While I still like the camera manual and love scouring the interwebs for new information, this book provides a great deal of value to a photographer with a Canon 7D...especially when you're out in the field shooting.

When you pick up a book like this, you know what you're in for...a walk-through of all the settings of the camera and how to use those settings. But more than that, the author provides a great deal of insight into how she users her camera in different situations...which is extremely interesting for me. These types of personal touches allow me to see how other photographers think and use their gear.

The book is split into twelve chapters with a ton of information in each chapter. The chapters are:

* Ch 1 - Roadmap to the 7D
* Ch 2 - Camera Setup and Image Playback
* Ch 3 - Controlling Exposure and Focus
* Ch 4 - Getting Great Color
* Ch 5 - Customizing the 7D
* Ch 6 - Shooting Live View and Tethered
* Ch 7 - Using Movie Mode
* Ch 8 - Working with Flash and Studio Lights
* Ch 9 - Lenses and Accessories
* Ch 10 - Event and Action Photography
* Ch 11 - Nature and Landscape Photography
* Ch 12 - People Photography

The titles of the chapters are pretty self-explanatory.

Chapter's 1 through 7 provided the most value for me as they explored camera functionality and usage. I spent the majority of my time with this book in these first seven chapters. Chapters 8 through 12 provide general information about photographing in particular situations and how to setup the Canon 7D for those situations...good chapters but not as 'meaty' as the first seven.

The real strength of this book is the ability to communicate camera settings and functions clearly and quickly. The manual that comes with the 7D is good, but is a technical manual...this book provides a bit more for the reader to soak in.

If you have a Canon 7D and can't (or don't want) to decipher the camera manual, this book is for you.

I have not been able to put this book down since I got it. It's the best camera-specific book I have read an is very detailed. It's like having a conversation with another experienced user; one who gives you the inside scoop on all those little features you don't know how to use...

If you are consdiering this book or the Magic Lantern series, I would suggest this: If you are a newbie, use auto mode and want to move the dial over to those strange AV/TV modes; then maybe get both, the Magic Lantern books are great for beginers; I loved them. However, their book is NOT 7D specific. However, if you know how to use AV/TV modes pretty well, but want the inside scoop on all the custom settings, best settings for certain shots, you must get this book. You will not regret it.

So why the three stars? Well, the ink on the book smudges like an old inkjet printer from 1994. I'm not going to return it, I like it that much, but I'm very disatasfied with the ink and find that unacceptable. Halfway through chapter one I had to wash my hands because my fingers were turning black.

I knew I needed to get something better than the owner's manual to figure out the complex array of settings for my new 7D. The list of books ready to ship was rather short and I decided to take a chance on this book. Good decision.

The book is logically formatted and easy to follow. You don't have to jump around from chapter to chapter to learn about one topic. The fonts, type size and white space make for reading that's easy on the eyes.

Camera settings and functions are presented in a clear and understandable manner with added discussion as to what it all means in the real world.

Many of books of this type are repeats of matherial from previous books by the author that don't specifically apply to the the topic at hand. I was pleasantly surprised to find much of the author's advice for camera settings was relevant to the 7D. In this case, the author tells how she would set the controls on the 7D for specific applications. The photograhs included in the book are relevant to the discussion and not just a expo of previous photos by the author.

I have purchased books on the Rebel XT and Rebel XSi written by other authors. While they were useful, I have to rate this book as the best of the group.

Charlotte has written a number of books in this series on different Canon EOS digital models, but after reading the 7D Field Guide, I think she's taken it a step beyond the others with excellent content that any 7D user, new or experienced will find helpful.
The first two chapters are nice overviews of camera features and basic setup, getting the newcomer up to speed in a straight forward way that far surpasses the manual included with the camera.

Chapter 3 is where Charlotte really starts to dive into how to get the most from your camera with the the topics covering exposure and the focus system the best I've read anywhere. The next chapters, on color, and live shooting are similarly well done, but chapter 5 opened some new ideas up to me that I hadn't considered for customizing the camera controls - this chapter alone was worth the price of the book.

Although I don't use movie mode when I shoot, it was an interesting read and gave me some ideas to consider when I do decide to venture into video.

The next two chapters on flash and lenses should be considered must read - many users struggle with which lens to get, and how to shoot flash. Charlotte breaks it all down in a clear style that gives you the info you need without talking down or getting too technical - kudos to Charlotte for this approach.

The final three chapters include a wealth of info on shooting various types of subjects and how to get the most from your 7D when doing this work.

I don't typically comment on other works, but when I compare this book to others available, Charlotte has done an outstanding job - good writing style, excellent information (and, unlike another book on the 7D, accurate information), and information on not just the basics, but how to take your camera and photography to a new level of skill.

If you have, or are considering the 7D, you owe it to yourself to get this book.

I've been in photography for 30 years, and the EOS 7d is one of the most sophisticated camera bodies I've ever seen. I thought the Nikon f5 was special, but it couldn't have held a candle to the 7d. A camera like this can either be a great aide in photography, or a giant paper weight. The EOS 7d manual is like stereo instructions - dry and boring.

What I was looking for is something that would not only tell me "About" each function and option of the camera, but also show me how It could help me take a better photgraph. So, in order to get the most out of my new camera, I ordered the field guide, and even signed up for a online class at [...]. Guess what the guide and the class were both from Charlotte.

Canon really made a great camera. But for me there are so many functions, and custom functions that I just got "lost". Online, there are a lot of people who just don't get the advanced auto focus system. I was one of them, so I just used the same old settings. But the guide, and Charlotte's class, really make it easier to understand - and apply. It's that way through out the entire guide. As I started to read the guide, with the camera in hand. It all began to make sence. Charlotte shows how to use some of these new and complicated settings, not just in words, but also with examples. I was surprised at how quickly I "picked things up", and began to take better photos.

I've owned other "guides", and frankly they were basically just larger manuals. You know the "This does this" approach. I prefer a guide that explains not only what a function, or option does, but also explains how to use it in a way that will help me become a better photographer. Simply put, that's what Charlotte's book, and class does. All I can say is - I hghly recommend it

Perfect Guide to a Breathrough Camera. After having spent 20 plus years in film video and television my last camera I sold (Panasonic HVX-200) and bought BOTH the Canon T2i and the 7D, outfitted for shooting HD Video and recording sound. I teach Documentary and Narrative Filmmaking, and as a person holding a DSLR for the first time, Charlotte Lowrie's Digital Field Guides are the best books I've found for both cameras.

I've been shooting stills and video all summer with both the T2i and 7D, and where the stock manual stumbles - this guide shines.

First off the layout is CLEAN, and the images and diagrams are very clear. Charlotte walks through set up of a very complex camera with just the right amount of information and images. She manages to get through all the technical information of the camera, weaving into the writing the wide spectrum of techniques related to photography - which is what good teachers do, and most manuals don't. Her chapter on Lenses is perfect for newbies or pros getting into 35mm DSLRs.
Students have found the glossary invaluable as they move from Video to DSLRs.

Includes GREY card & Color Checker card.

Book holding up in the camera bag well.

Highly recommend. - Dave

Dr. Dave Reiss, Assistant Professor
Towson University, Electronic Media & Film.
[...]

This is the best guide book in my opinion for the eos 7d, there are other publications that are well written and have good information, this guide has been written with easy to understand
procedure's and detailed hands on application's. I would recommend this guide for the best
insight and handling of the eos 7d and it's function's.

Love this book. It Has given me a lot of insight to my new camera, even before I had the camera. It is well worth the investment.

This is a good book for people who start using 7D and less experienced photographer like me.
I find this book provides practical and good example on 7D features and other basic shooting techniques.