Customer Reviews

Canon EOS Rebel XSi/450D Digital Field Guide

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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.

This book is a very good reference to use to learn the functions available for the XSi/450D camera. Much more user friendly than the instruction manual included by Canon with the camera.

Still full of lingo that the average user may not be familiar with. If there would be any improvements to this book, I would like to see a little more space devoted to describing and defining some of the more obscure photographic terms that the average user may not come across.

I found this book to be quite gimmicky and just average after reading Ben Long's excellent book called the "Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D Companion." Save your money and buy Ben Long's book.

I bought this after a recommendation from a friend. It came before I received my XSI so i had some time to review it and learn how to use the camera ahead of time. There's a lot of info and it's written sort of like a text book from school so its a real easy read. I recommend it if you're completely new to DSLRs in particular the canon models because it goes into enough detail to teach you how to use your camera properly.

I recently upgraded from the original Canon Digital Rebel to the new XSi. The Digital Rebel XSi/450D Digital Field Guide is definitely more informative than the owners manual that came with the camera. I especially like the full color illustrations. I'm not one to read owners manuals of any kind and this book made learning my new camera fun and enjoyable. On a recent trip to Las Vegas by following the authors suggestions for night shots I came home with some fantastic night shots of the neon lights in Vegas.

The XSI is my first SLR camera. I've browsed through 3 XSI books and this was definitely the easiest to understand. I'm only in the first 1/3 of the book, but I've already learned alot because of the author's writing structure. If you want to know the basics of DSLR -and- how to use your XSI, buy this book! Forget getting tips from hundreds of users, get them all here with a little background to help you understand the functions. If this is your first camera, read this book before buying anything else!

I bought this book based on the reviews of the author's "field guide" on the XTi, which were quite positive, with only a few critics. Usually, that's enough to steer me away if there's another choice, but I thought since there were so many positive reviews, the book must be pretty good. I was very disappointed, however, and I agree with the analysis of those critics of the XTi book.

If you're looking for a version of the owner's manual that's larger and in full color, you might be happy with this "field guide", but if you're looking for something to help you take advantage of what the XSi can do (i.e. tips and techniques), you'll be disappointed too. It was actually less helpful to me than the owner's manual was. For example, I'm new to SLRs (as most of the audience for this book should be), and I didn't know very much about the 4 metering modes that this camera offers. Both the owner's manual and this book describe what they do, but only the owner's manual gives a recommendation (spot metering and center-weighted average are labeled "for advanced users"). Perhaps Lowrie wouldn't agree with that, but at least it's something besides the nuts & bolts.

I can't imagine how Lowrie went about taking up so much space without saying something valuable, or even subjective, about this camera. Perhaps it was all the "full color photos". I also can't imagine ever bringing this "field guide" into "the field". I'd much sooner stick the owner's guide in my back pocket. I found Lowrie's blog much more informative and useful than this book.

I recieved this item in record time, and I love the quality of it!! Thank you