Digital Camera Techniques [Paperback]

Jon Tarrant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 14, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0240516877 | ISBN-13: 978-0240516875 | Edition: 1

The best photographs start with proper attention behind the camera before you take them. Jon Tarrant shows you how to achieve this by fully explaining how digital cameras work so you too can achieve professional-looking results without having to resort to image manipulation on a computer.


Jon explains all the basics of digital cameras: their anatomy; an outline of broad classes, indicated by price bands and features offered; a comparison with existing families of film cameras as a useful guide to newcomers. He also provides an invaluable buyer's guide pointing out features to look for on a digital camera before you make your purchase.

Coverage includes detail on lenses, exposure basics, 'correct' exposure, using flash, the chip and the implications of this 'restriction', image quality and retaining this quality, as well as discussion of the difficulties of digital cameras and sections on specific types of photography with digital cameras. Complete coverage is ensured with information on printing, storage and filing, the Internet as a medium of images, picture software and digital enhancement, always keeping the emphasis on the fact that the most important consideration is how you take the photographs and the vision you had then and knowing when to stop tinkering with your image!

This inspirational, full colour guide is what all digital camera owners have been waiting for. Jon Tarrant shows all keen digital photographers how to improve their photography and make the most of the latest technology.


·Learn from a professional how to make the most of your digital camera

·Improve the creativity of your pictures without having to use a computer

·See how you can overcome potential difficulties with this medium

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Digital Camera Techniques lives up to Focal Press's solid reputation of quality photography books."
www.photocrack.com

"Tarrant digs into pure digital photography which happens inside the camera. This approach makes a lot of sense, because it reveals the real possibilities that never existed in analog photography. And it uncovers serious drawbacks of pure digital photography. Tarrant puts these problems into a realistic perspective, and presents partial or complete solutions."
www.photocrack.com

"Overall this book would appeal to those people relatively new to photography and thinking of turning to digital media. It includes jargon free text and covers all the basics, enabling the reader to absorb and appreciate what I still consider to be, the exciting world of digital photography."
John Shaw, Timeless Digital Imaging

Book Description

The book to show you how to get to grips with your digital camera.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (January 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240516877
• ISBN-13: 978-0240516875
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,531,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Digital Camera Techniques - Jon Tarrant, April 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Digital Camera Techniques (Paperback)

Digital Camera Techniques
[ISBN 0-240-51687-7]

Jon Tarrant
Focal Press

Review by John Shaw, Timeless Digital Imaging

My preconceived ideas led me to believe this was for those converting from film to digital photography, people who understood the basics of photography but wanted to get the best from their digital purchase.

However, I found the opening chapters, covering subjects such as camera setting and exposure etc, pitched at beginners to photography. Among the information relating purely to digital equipment exists a fair amount of general photographic information and technique e.g. the causes of `Red Eye' and how to counter it, Lighting techniques for indoor and outdoor etc. Beginners would no doubt find this information useful but it wouldn't have the same appeal to the more advanced photographer.

The heart of the book contains chapters from file formats to colour management, vital to all aspiring digital enthusiasts. Here the intricacies of using digital media is explained and there is a very useful chapter on camera problems, where the author depicts some areas to be aware of when working with digital cameras, especially compact ones e.g. the time lag between pressing the shutter release and the camera writing the image onto the storage medium. This can ruin a picture especially at sporting events, where it's important to record a picture at a critical point!

Other important topics covered include printing systems and printing problems, for example a simple explanation is given as to the differences between the various ink cartridges and papers used. Also problems encountered in `home printing' are explored, which to the uninitiated can yield unexpected results. I particularly like the paragraph, which seeks to demystify and explain the difference between the terms, ppi [pixels per inch] and dpi [dots per inch], something that confused me for a long time!

The author makes a good job of trying to address the subject matter and cater for the vast range of digital equipment now available, from simple compact to Digital SLR. As he mentions in his epilogue, the book took 15 months to complete, in which time further advancements have been made. Because of this you cannot realistically expect both extremes to be adequately covered. Therefore the book tends to target middle ground and concentrate on the functionability that would be included in mid range equipment.

Overall this book would appeal to those people relatively new to photography and thinking of turning to digital media. It includes jargon free text and covers all the basics, enabling the reader to absorb and appreciate what I still consider to be, the exciting world of digital photography.