10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Focal Point XS/1000D Digital Camera Guide - Best "Picture Guide" and Reference For The XS, Second Best Photography Primer, February 18, 2009
This review is from: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS/1000D: Focal Digital Camera Guides (Paperback)
The
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS/1000D: Focal Digital Camera Guides is one of two photography guides I recently read for the
Canon Rebel XS Digital SLR Camera, also known as the 1000D. The other guide, the O'Reilly
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS/1000D Companion, is a similarly comprehensive camera guide that also includes a smattering of photography basics. Each book has its strengths. In some ways they can complement each other, but some may have to decide which of the two is better for their needs and choose one.
The XS comes with it's own manual, which covers many of the basics. But there are two audiences for these books. The first audience is the beginner to the DSLR who wants a little more guidance and context to the controls and instructions laid out in the manual. The second audience is the more experienced "pro-sumer" or amateur photographer who wants a primer in the specific controls of the XS because he / she is either moving over to Canon's from a Nikon or Sony background or has to pick up the XS every once in a while when handed somebody else's camera. Indeed, both books will also apply to the big brother
Canon Digital Rebel XSi Digital SLR Camera as well, which shares many similar controls, as well as other DSLRs since both books contain so much general photography information.
It's difficult to verify a technical book without at least some experience. You also have to keep in mind whether the book is designed to meet your needs. Both books are geared towards beginner to intermediate DSLR amateur photographers who need some reinforcement of the basics as well as additional info on the controls and menus of the Canon XS. This book is perhaps better used as a quick guide and subsequent reference that you can read in sections as needed. The O'Reilly book is more of a "crash course" photography primer and there the XS overview is spread throughout.
AN OVERVIEW
After a ten page quick-start picture guide to setting up the XS, there is a run-down of photography basics. Part 1 then jumps into the camera, briefly explaining each dial mode and when to use it. There's a short section on how to view the images and a longer picture guide of all the key menus within the camera. Part 1 ends with a brief description of memory cards and batteries. Both books cover memory cards lightly, so you'll need to research them more with either book.
Part 2 covers the software used to load and organize images, and here once again there are additional pictures and a more explicit treatment of software options and the EOS utility than the O'Reilly book.
But then Part 3 begins with a strangely theoretical treatment of light (flash, setups) that seems like it would have made more sense had it been incorporated with the photography basics section in the beginning. Similarly, Part 5 covers "Subjects" and just seems to slightly break up the flow of the book.
Part 6 has a very light treatment of flash accessories, including multi-stroboscopic flash, speed-lights and macro twin-lights. This is more than what is in the O'Reilly book, but will probably be more a reference for beginners. When they get some experience they may decide to invest in that equipment. Finally there are some related links to websites.
LENSES
Part 4 returns to the no-nonsense style of Parts 1 and 2 with a lengthy coverage of lenses. 15 lenses are covered here, where the O'Reilly book focuses on six. Lenses are extremely important for beginners, but the context of the discussion here seems less geared to beginners with a limited budget. It doesn't really communicate which lenses are must-own and which should be purchased down the road. In that sense, the O'Reilly book's six lens recommendations are actually more useful than the larger coverage of lenses here. The lenses that both books mention are:
1. The
Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye, which is probably more a luxury than a must own
2. The EF 50 mm f 2.5 compact macro, though not every beginner will do macro photography
3. The
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, which is a good quality value wide-angle lens
4. The EF-S 18-55mm f 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM, which is the standard included kit lens
Out of those 3, the third is the one which is most likely to have the widest appeal as an add-on purchase, particularly those who want to do landscapes. Most users will be getting the standard kit lens with their purchase of the XS.
They seem to differ in which telephoto lens to get, with the O'Reilly book recommending the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS and the
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM and the Focus book recommending the
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM. The O'Reilly book also recommends the
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II as a prime lens.
CONCLUSION
The Focus book is organized much better to get beginners off the ground a little faster. Conversely, the O'Reilly book will give beginners a stronger foundation in theory, and act as a good refresher for intermediate amateurs. So the book that is best for your needs will depend. You will not do any harm in buying both books, but intermediate photographers may want to lean more in the direction of the O'Reilly book.
Enjoy.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Try to put too many things in one place, July 23, 2009
This review is from: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS/1000D: Focal Digital Camera Guides (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I have owned Canon XS for more than half year. This book does have the advantage of having everything you need to know in one place. But by trying to have everything you need to know in one place, it actually leaves out a lot of things you want to know after owning the camera for a while.
Pros:
It has all the basic information you need to know to get started. It also touches the basics of photography in general.
Cons:
1. Lack of instructions for more advanced functions: I assume that even DSLR beginners have basic understanding of how a digital camera works. The "Part I" (about 100 pages) is pretty much useless. You know all these if you have ever used a point-and-shoot camera.
2. Lack of depth in photography basics: Again this is the problem of trying to have everything in one tiny book.
3. Lens review: I am very surprised that it does not cover two of the most popular lenses for Canon Rebel series: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II and Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS . Most people who have Canon XS instead of more advanced models are DSLR beginners. They will appreciate the reviews of basic and popular entry level lenses like those.
4. Print Quality: They should find a better printing company. The print quality is not good. In several places, I cannot see the differences in comparison photos with different settings.
As a DSLR beginner and a person going through the learning process, I will suggest you read the Canon manuals multiple times and keep it with you all the time. For photographing basics and techniques, go get a look like "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson (one of the most popular photography books of all time. Check Amazon for that). You will be much better off that way.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
This book is only OK, August 27, 2009
This review is from: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS/1000D: Focal Digital Camera Guides (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I got this book for my wife. I bought her the Canon XS for our anniversary earlier this year. I was looking for a book that was canon specific that would show her how to use her camera to do some more advanced things.
While this book teaches some photography fundamentals, it does not give enough examples, or lead you through step by step (do this, now do this, now do this).
The book assumes you have read the manual and know the camera fairly well, so don't buy this as a book to become aquainted with your camera.
I don't know what else to say. I don't think the book is worth $15. Maybe look for it used?
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