Canon EOS Rebel XSi/450D Digital Field Guide [Paperback]

Charlotte K. Lowrie (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 047038087X | ISBN-13: 978-0470380871 | Publication Date: July 28, 2008 | Edition: 1

Your Digital Rebel XSi/450D, with its 12.2 megapixel resolution, 3-inch view screen, and the option for "Live View" shooting, is designed for simplicity without sacrificing creative freedom. This guide is ideal for helping you use that creative control and get great shots anywhere, anytime. If you’re new to dSLRs, it makes the transition easy. If you’re already comfortable with the various modes and settings, the book helps you make the most of every one.

• Set up your camera and learn when to choose automatic, semi-automatic, and manual modes
• Understand the camera's controls, menus, and when to use different metering and autofocus modes
• Explore Canon Picture Styles and custom functions
• Learn to manipulate ISO, exposure, depth of field, and shutter speed
• Create intriguing night and low-light images, capture sports action, portraits, and get tips for better macro photography

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Take control – as much or as little as you want

Your Rebel XSi/450D, with its 12.2 megapixel resolution, 3-inch view screen, and the option for "Live View" shooting, is designed for simplicity without sacrificing creative freedom. This guide is ideal for helping you use that creative control and get great shots anywhere, anytime. If you're new to dSLRs, it makes the transition easy. If you're already comfortable with the various modes and settings, this book helps you make the most of every one.

• Set up your camera and learn when to choose automatic, semi-automatic, and manual modes

• Understand the camera's controls and menus, and when to use different metering and autofocus modes

• Explore Canon Picture Styles and Custom Functions

• Learn to manipulate ISO, exposure, depth of field, and shutter speed

• Create intriguing night and low-light images, capture sports action, and get tips for better macro photography

About the Author

Charlotte K. Lowrie is a freelance stock, editorial, and portrait photographer, and she is an award-winning writer. Her images have been featured on the Canon Digital Learning Center, in Microsoft publications, and in national magazines. Charlotte teaches photography classes at BetterPhoto.com, and she is the author of nine books including the bestselling Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Digital Field Guide and four other Canon Digital Field Guides. Visit her Web site at wordsandphotos.org.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (July 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047038087X
• ISBN-13: 978-0470380871
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charlotte Lowrie is a professional photographer and an award-winning writer based in the Seattle, WA area. Beginning her career as a newspaper writer and photographer, she later moved from newspapers to corporate writing, and then to magazines. She became the founding editor and photographer of two trade magazines based in Dallas, TX.

In the mid-80s, Charlotte moved to the Seattle area and spent the 16 years as an award-winning writer and editor, and as an editorial manager for a large software company. She wrote documentation for a variety of popular consumer software programs, as well as writing software manuals. She also contributed to the ongoing redesign of instructional models for various learning systems.

During her last four years with Microsoft, she was the editor, writer, and a photographer for the MSN Photos Web site (now discontinued).

Today, Charlotte divides her time among writing books and photography magazine articles, shooting stock images, shooting editorial assignments and weddings, and making portraits for various private clients. She also teaches three monthly photography courses at BetterPhoto.com (http://www.betterphoto.com/courseOverview.asp?cspID=79).

Charlotte shoots with a variety of Canon 35mm cameras and lenses.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for the amateur photographer, August 2, 2008

By 

Jennifer Fernandez (San Antonio, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canon EOS Rebel XSi/450D Digital Field Guide (Paperback)

I recently upgraded to the Canon Rebel Xsi (previously using a point and shoot) and wanted a book to help explain the many features on the Xsi and how to use them in different shooting situations. This book is exactly what I was looking for. It offers a good explanation of concepts and as well as showing me how to use the different features my camera offers.

The first half of the book details the different features and settings of the Xsi with step by step instructions on how to access the settings along with explanation for when and why you would use the different settings. For me there is just enough detail to help my understanding without being overwhelming.

The second half of the book focuses on more general photography fundamentals (light and exposure, using flash); discussion of canon lenses; and discussion of different subjects with tips for shooting each (action/sports; children; nature/landscape; night/low-light; portrait; travel; etc.)

There are color pictures throughout the book that illustrate most of the concepts being explained which I found to be very helpful. The chapters discussing the fundamentals of light and exposure are excellent, especially for the beginner without an understanding of aperture, shutter speed, ISO and how they work together to create exposure.

Here's the table on contents (at a glance) since Amazon does not yet have a preview of the book available:

PART I: USING THE REBEL XSI/450D
Ch. 1: Exploring and Setting Up the Rebel Xsi
Ch. 2: Using the Rebel Xsi
Ch. 3: Using the White Balance and Picture Styles
Ch. 4: Using Live View
Ch. 5: Customizing the Rebel Xsi

PART II: CREATING GREAT PHOTOS WITH THE XSI
Ch. 6: The Fundamentals of Light and Exposure
Ch. 7: Using Flash
Ch. 8: Exploring Canon Lenses
Ch. 9: In the Field with the Xsi

PART III: APPENDIXES
Appendix A: Downloading Images and Updating Firmware
Appendix B: Exploring RAW Capture
Glossary

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the cost for a new SLR user!, September 8, 2008

By 

Thomas N. Gilmore (Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Canon EOS Rebel XSi/450D Digital Field Guide (Paperback)

I went from a point and shoot to a Canon Rebel XSI SLR. It has been somewhat of an intimadating experience, but with the field guide book explaining so many features and settings, I can breath a sigh of relief.

It is well layed out and easy to read. The index covers all the necessary cross reference pages so a user can quickly find what he or she needs to operate the camera.

After reading the first couple of chapters, I am now ready to get off the Basic mode settings with confidence.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Guide, August 13, 2008

By 

R. Child (West Haven, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Canon EOS Rebel XSi/450D Digital Field Guide (Paperback)

Well written, excellent guide for the Canon Rebel XSi. Many of the features that were unclear in the user manual are clearly explained in this guide. After reading this book, I have a much better understanding of my XSi than before, even though I read the user's manual from cover to cover. This book is easy to understand and will put you in touch with all the features the XSi has to offer.