Digital SLR Cameras and Photography For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...simple to understand" (Which Digital Camera, October 2008) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Description

The ideal guide for beginning DSLR camera users, with full-color examples of what you can achieve

Make the most of your Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, or Olympus digital SLR camera! This guide explains the different lenses, the many settings and how to use them, the results you can get from using different controls, how to use lighting and exposure, and much more.

If you haven't purchased your camera yet, you'll also find tips on choosing a camera and accessories. And you'll find out how to make your pictures even better with Photoshop.

• Updated for all the newest camera models
• Introduces you to all the features common to DSLR cameras
• Illustrated with more than 300 full-color photos and screen shots
• Shares tips on composition, lighting and exposure controls, and file formats
• Explains Adobe Photoshop and how to create fine prints from your photos
• Offers advice on improving your photos and where to find help

If you're new to digital SLR photography, here's just what you need to have fun and success with your camera!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 3 edition (September 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470466065
• ISBN-13: 978-0470466063
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,019 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

273 of 279 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, but..., September 9, 2006

By	I. Wan (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Digital SLR Cameras & Photography For Dummies (Paperback)

Having recently decided to move to the DSLR world, I needed to learn how to shoot pictures in mode other than Full Auto.

So I purchased this book as well as
"Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition)"

While this book is good, for my specific case (I'm fairly comfortable with the digital world), the "Understanding Exposure" was a far better book for me.

I appreciate the fact that the author is trying to explain about image formats, memory cards, etc... But what I was really looking, was for a book to explain how to shoot great pictures.

I had to learn about exposures, apertures, shutter speed, ISO, etc, and this book covers it slightly, but wasn't enough for me to have a good grasp.

If you're new to the digital photography world, then yeah... go for it and buy this book, but if you've already owned a Digital Camera (and knew what you were doing) but only shot pictures in Auto Mode, then I'd suggest the "Understanding Exposure" book. Not only it explains basic and advanced concepts, but it's full of pictures so you can visually understand how each parameter affects the exposure.

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An instant classic for digital SLR owners, November 5, 2005

By	Dandy Randy (Santa Fe, New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Digital SLR Cameras & Photography For Dummies (Paperback)

The Dummies people have finally recognized that books about digital photography deserve to be published in full color, and this one amply demonstrates the reason why. It's written by the leading author of DSLR books (I also own his Nikon D70 guide), and is filled from cover to cover with wonderful full color photos and shrewd advice for getting the most from your camera.

If anything, this book is even clearer than the usual Dummies book, taking you through every step in choosing, using, and accessorizing your digital SLR. It's perfect for new DSLR owners who are puzzled by the many options, features, and settings found in these cameras. It's also a good guide for those seeking to improve their skills. I now fully understand things like continuous autofocus and single autofocus, how to select lenses, when to use aperture and shutter priority, and why I should not ever use my D70's full "automatic" mode.

Unlike some other DSLR books I've seen, this one covers both cameras and photography thoroughly, so you'll learn how to use your camera as well as how to take better images.

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - Explains Digital SLRS Fully and Clearly, December 10, 2005

By	Brion (Salt Lake City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Digital SLR Cameras & Photography For Dummies (Paperback)

Like many snapshooting amateurs, I upgraded from an ordinary point/shoot digital camera to a digital SLR because I wanted to take advantage of the features these new cameras offer. Plus, a camera like my Olympus E-500 doesn't really cost much more than the high-end non-SLR cameras. However, once I got my camera, I didn't know what to do with it.

This book cleared everything up for me. It provided a clear explanation of the advantages of digital SLR cameras, plus it listed some of the drawbacks I was not aware of at first, such as the inability to shoot movies. Then it told me about all the different controls and how to use them. There were great sections in this book on how to take specific kinds of pictures and how to choose an image editor. The editing portion got me started and inspired me to buy a Dummies book on Photoshop Elements so I can learn more.

As I said, this book really told me what I could do with my new camera. There was even a section in the Parts of Tens that listed things you'd never thought of doing with a digital SLR and I certainly hadn't. Thank you for a great introduction to my new camera.