Canon EOS 40D Guide to Digital Photography (Paperback)

by David D. Busch (Author)
Key Phrases: digital photography, custom function, creative zone, Compact Flash, Quick Control Dial, Setting Up Your Canon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
As the new owner of Canon's most advanced intermediate digital SLR, you want to get started taking professional-looking photographs using all of the exciting features at your fingertips. "Canon EOS 40D Guide to Digital SLR Photography" is a concise introduction and guide to your camera's essential controls and functions, such as Live View, built-in dust reduction, and the blistering 6.5-frames-per-second continuous shooting mode that is an action photographer’s dream. The book provides detailed instructions showing you how, when, and why to make optimized settings with the Canon EOS 40D’s enhanced menus, which include a half-dozen versatile new custom functions. You'll learn about the camera's improved automatic focus, flash synchronization tricks, how to choose lenses that will provide the perspective and effects you want, and which exposure modes are ideal for each picture-taking opportunity. Packed with full-color images and examples that illustrate the recommended techniques and settings for your Canon EOS 40D, this book helps photographers of any skill level begin maximizing their equipment as soon as you open the cover!

About the Author
With more than a million books in print, David D. Busch is a best-selling author of books on digital photography and imaging technology, and the originator of popular series like "David Busch's Pro Secrets" and "David Busch's Quick Snap Guides." He has written six hugely successful guidebooks for Nikon digital SLR models, and the most comprehensive manuals for dSLRs from Canon, Sony, and other vendors. His many other books devoted to digital photography include "David Busch's Digital Infrared Pro Secrets" and "Mastering Digital SLR Photography." As a roving photojournalist for more than 20 years, he has illustrated his books, magazine articles, and newspaper reports with award-winning images. Busch has operated his own commercial studio, suffocated in formal dress while shooting weddings-for-hire, and shot sports for a daily newspaper and upstate New York college. His photographs and articles have been published in magazines as diverse as "PhotoGraphic," "Popular Photograph & Imaging," "The Rangefinder," and hundreds of other publications. He's also reviewed digital cameras for CNet Networks and Computer Shopper.

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 1 edition (November 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598635107
• ISBN-13: 978-1598635102
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,968 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fails to Reveal the Secrets of the 40D, June 2, 2008

By	Jacques49 (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

The Canon EOS 40 D Guide by David Busch is a very readable book, but it fails to reveal the secrets to shooting the Canon 40 D at the highest and most efficient levels. Four months ago I took a big leap and went from a Kodak point and shoot camera to a Canon 40 D with four very good (and expensive) lenses. I was initially very disappointed with my images compared to ones I had shot with my Kodak camera; they weren't very sharp and the colors seemed washed out. So what did I do: I bought three books on the 40D, a DVD guide to the 40D, and took an on-line course with a professional instructor on the 40D. The Busch's book was the first one I purchased ,and after reading it in detail, my picture taking did not improve.

Half-way through my on-line course, I bought my third book, the Digital Field Guide by Charlotte Lowrie, and only then did I really learn the secrets of the 40D.Here is what the Digital Field Guide revealed to me: 1. The importance of Picture Styles and how/why each owner of a 40 D should explore modifying the default style settings. 2. A detailed review of the 40 D's Custom Functions with suggestions from an experienced 40 D user. 3. How to set up Camera User Settings (C1, C2, and C3 on the Mode dial). 4. Some real practical insights to using the 40 D in the field and some further insights to the 40 D and Canon lenses by listing the lenses and settings for the photos contained in the book.

Busch's book is much easier read than Lowrie's, but it does not get into customized Picture Styles in enough detail and failed to discuss entering Camera User Settings at all. Maybe if I had been an experienced user of the Canon 30D moving up to the 40D the Busch book might have worked for me, but I needed the more specific guidance on set-up and use in the field that I got from the Lowrie book. If you are buying just one book on the 40 D get Lowrie's, but I am glad that I have both.

61 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent detailed explaination of Canon 40D, December 27, 2007

By	Mark (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

The book is about 300 pages dedicated to the 40D. The book is extremely detailed. Basically, everything you will need to know including the included software that came with the 40D. It's written in a very personal way from David Busch and its kinda like having him actually there. Highly recommended.

73 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you have a Canon 40D you need this book, December 24, 2007

By	aputerlady "aputerlady" (Myrtle Beach, SC United States) - See all my reviews

If you have a Canon 40D you need this book. It has great pictures and illustrations and explains each setting on the Canon 40D and why you care. It's the equivalent of a "missing manual". Do yourself a favor, read this book and skip the unreadable manual.