David Busch's Olympus PEN EP-2 Guide to Digital Photography [Paperback]

David D. Busch (Author), Dan Simon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1435457404 | ISBN-13: 978-1435457409 | Publication Date: April 26, 2010 | Edition: 1

The PEN EP-2 is the most compact interchangeable lens digital camera that Olympus has ever introduced. It boasts 12 megapixels of resolution, an array of tiny, virtually pocket-sized lenses, and enough sophisticated features and customization options to please the most avid amateur photographer. As the new owner of a PEN EP-2 you want to quickly and easily learn how to use your camera to take outstanding photos. David Busch's Olympus PEN EP-2 Guide to Digital Photography shows you how, when, and why to use all the cool features, controls, and functions of the new Olympus PEN EP-2 camera to take great photographs of anything. Introductory chapters will help you get comfortable with the basics of your camera before you dive right into exploring creative ways to apply the PEN EP-2's file formats, resolution, aperture/priority exposure, automatic exposure features, and additional lenses. Beautiful, full-color images illustrate where the essential buttons and dials are, so you'll quickly learn how to use your PEN EP-2, and use it like a pro!

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 1 edition (April 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1435457404
• ISBN-13: 978-1435457409
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #339,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and clear., August 17, 2010

By 

Donald Burke - See all my reviews

This review is from: David Busch's Olympus PEN EP-2 Guide to Digital Photography (Paperback)

By far the best camera guide I've ever seen. Whereas most competing books do a quick overview of the options and then launch into generic how to take pictures advice (which is likely too simplistic and therefore not useful to someone who shells out for an advanced camera like the E-P2), Busch's book concentrates almost exclusively on the various sundry options for this Olympus camera. The book is clear and absolutely essential for those who have bought (or want to buy) a Pen E-P2.

The owner's manual that Olympus provides with the Pen E-P2 is clear but doesn't help decide when the various options might be useful. Unless you're already an advanced photographer you'll find yourself asking the question, "Sure I now know how to change that setting, but why would I want to?" This is where David Busch's book comes in. It is a comprehensive guide to the E-P2 and explains clearly in large color pictures and text how to get better photos from what is already a fantastic camera. I found it to be a superb book, well laid out and, at the price, excellent value for money. I highly recommend it and suggest that, along with your tripod, alternative lenses and flashgun, it forms an essential component of every Pen photographer's kit.

Because I own this camera, I was already aware that it doesn't have a built-in flash, and chalked the reference to such as a typo, rather than some humongous technical error. (The introduction of the book lists a URL for an errata page where reader-submitted corrections will be posted.) I also own one of Busch's previous books, and think it makes sense to share descriptions of basic concepts like shutter speeds and f-stops, rather than reinvent the wheel each time. When a new version of Photoshop comes out, I don't expect different descriptions of how to use the Selection tools. Beyond the basics, everything in this book relates directly to the Olympus camera and its use. I thank the author for taking the time to come out with the first, and so far only book written specifically for Pen E-P2 owners.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Even for Experienced Photographers, April 4, 2011

By 

Busy Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: David Busch's Olympus PEN EP-2 Guide to Digital Photography (Paperback)

This is a very helpful book. It is much clearer than the Olympus manual, which contains a lot of information but is marred by tiny type and imperfect English grammar. Rather than simply repeat what the manual says -- and there are several long tables in the manual that are quite reasonably referred to by cross reference -- the authors try to explain how and when various camera features are most useful. Some of this explanation occurs in the chapters on general photographic technique in the second half of the book. More experienced readers may be tempted to skip over these chapters, but I'd advise reading or at least skimming the entire book. An avid amateur, I've owned a variety of Olympus cameras before the PEN E-P2, starting with my beloved OM-1 some 35 years ago as well as several compacts and two Olympus DSLRs, and I still learned more than expected from this book. Yes, novice and intermediate users will gain the most, but IMHO this book is a worthwhile read for all but the more seasoned pro. Recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Olympus PEN EP-2 Guide to Digital Photography, March 16, 2011

By 

Alan Briggs - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: David Busch's Olympus PEN EP-2 Guide to Digital Photography (Paperback)

This book is essential for any EP-2 owner and generally excellent.

There is so much to the EP-2 that it is almost impossible to fully grasp all the camera can do without reading this book first.

I would seriously recommend this book to those contemplating buying into this camera system. I would have bought the camera as soon as it came out if I had seen this book.

The photos in there help you grasp what the options can do; many options are near impossible to grasp without this photo visualization.

The flash section is particularly informative.

This book resolved practically every question I had.

Olympus should put the book on the CD that came with camera.