Customer Reviews

Canon PowerShot G12: From Snapshots to Great Shots

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought and returned this guidebook for the Canon G12 in favor of the David Busch G12 book. While the Carlson book has its merits, it's not as specifically tied to the G12 as the Busch volume. In other words, while the Carlson book offers a very helpful overview of taking pictures using an advanced digital compact, covering the expected bases including, for example, picture mode; the Busch book covers similar terrain while simultaneously explaining in specific detail G12 operations, including menu organization. Chapters on exposure, movie making, and auto focus examine how the G12 specifically tackles these areas. A chapter on the zoom lens explains the operations and limitations of the G12 zoom as well as the Canon G12 lens add on. Publication of the Busch book was subsequent to the Carlson, and it seems to me that the delay was worthwhile. In summary, the (less expensive) Carlson book is ideal for the more casual or more experienced G12 user (the user who is less interested in specifics or has no need for specifics explained), while the (more expensive) Busch book is ideal for the gear-head who wants to squeeze every last bit out of his or her G12.

If you already know how to take great shots with the G12 and are looking for a book to give you a few tips on how to get even better shots, then this book isn't for you. If you are the type of person who bought the G12, but always uses the auto setting because you think ISO means "in search of", then this book is for you. If you don't have a clue what the purpose of AF Frame, white balance or anything else that the G12 is capable of doing, then this book is also for you.

The G12 was my first advanced point and shoot camera and I didn't want to use just the auto settings. I wanted to not only learn and understand the features of my new camera, but I wanted a book that taught me how to take full advantage of my G12. I had a lot of questions like when should I should use this, why I should use that and how do I use it with the G12? Those questions and more were answered in this book. The things explained are the basic things you would learn if you took a beginners class in photography, but you learn it using the G12. This was exactly what I needed. I needed to know where each setting was, what was the purpose of each setting and when should I use them.

What I also liked were the little photography assignments in the book that helped you along the way. I found the book easy to read, follow and understand. My only problem was that I didn't realize the author was in "P mode" when going through the top 10 list of things to do first. Other than that, this book turned me from a beginner to an intermediate photographer.

Note: You will still need to read the manual to get a basic idea of your new camera, however I did skim through it and went back to it from time to time if I felt the book was missing something. At least read a few pages of the manual because well, everyone should read it.

I recently upgraded my camera from a P&S Nikon to the Canon G12. I looked for a book (like this one) when I bought the camera, but it was a new model and the guides hadn't caught up yet. Searching Amazon, it seems several others will follow in the coming months, but this one is great for me.

"From Snapshots to Great Shots," is a fitting subtitle for the book. The author mixes teaching aspects of photography with detailed instruction on how to achieve those results on this specific camera. I learn new technology be it cell phone, ipod, laptop, or camera by playing with it. That works great but the book provides experience to shorten the learning curve and get the most from the digital camera.

I haven't had a digital camera before. My previous camera was a 1970 Pentax Spotmatic, bought new with extra lenses, so I know a bit about the principles of photography.

Jeff Carlson's writing and organization of information are so well done that I read the manual like it was a best-selling novel.

I started learning from the first page, and couldn't put it down! The photos he selected, from other G12 users, were extremely useful in making the information clear. Jeff is a great teacher; I will get his books for any camera I buy.

I upgrade from G10/G11 version of this book to G12 version. All in all, this book is well written. Very clear and concise. I learn a lot from it. The best part is the author shares his own opinion in how to use the G12 camera to accomplish the shoot effect desired. For some features of the G12 camera not necessary useful, but are available, the author explains why we should forget about those and focus on the core features. Good stuff !!

Having only used an Olympus point and shoot up until now, I wanted to be able to shoot better photos with my new Canon G12. I have just finished chapter four as the author suggests reading the first four chapters before skipping to other areas that interest you. I have learned more about the camera from this book than the literature that came with it (although I do admit that I haven't looked at the CD yet). I am a newbie to camera settings other than "auto" so it has been interesting learning how the different settings affect the image that you want and there are several sample images in the book that show comparisons between the settings. The book is easy to follow and the writing is actually interesting, not dry as you would expect from a technical manual. Oh, and I can't wait to try the setting that makes things look miniaturized!

Very good book. I'm going through it slow. Enjoy the assignments with each chapter. The language is not too technical for a beginner. Love the camera.

The manual that comes with the camera is not very helpful, so I started looking for an alternative. This was it. Jeff explains all of the features of this great camera, and how to use them. Color photos on almost every page give examples of how to take great shots. I'm glad I bought it.

The Canon G12 is the perfect companion for your DSLR, or better still, use it alone and leave your DSLR at home. And, the perfect companion to your G12 is Jeff Carlson's

"From Snapshots to Great Shots". Written in very readable English and in a style that makes it ALL understandable, this book begins with all the easy stuff and carries you through the most difficult assignments. It's a "must have" for every Canon G12 owner!

not all the way through the book. It covers the basic fundamentals well. Even though I have had my camera for months, I am learning how to use the manual controls now.