Customer Reviews

Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon F5

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

 

 

This book was quite disappointing, in that it was written just after the Nikon F5 came out and has little information that cannot be found in the user's manual. It does attempt to be as sycophantic as possible to pro photographers ("Since the reader is undoubtedly a pro, I won't bother telling you how this part works..."). It does not cover the PC software, since it was not available when written. It desperately needs an overhaul, it is basically worthless in the present form.

I agree with the general opinion of those commenting on this book...I just purchased a new F5 and picked up this book at the register (it was shrink wrapped for obvious reasons). It is nothing more then a rewrite of the user manual, pure and simple. However, my wife has been showing a growing interest in photography and read this book cover to cover (where she never would have read the users manual) and benefited from it. It has a non-manual style and as such did have value to someone who traditionally won't or doesn't read manuals, but should. No value (or none I found) personally, but my wife did, by default, actually read a manual end to end ;-)

I've purchased other Magic Lantern Guides in the past have been satisfied with their content. The Nikon F5 guide falls short of the mark - I would guess the author was pushed to get it written quickly and didn't have time to go into any great detail about the controls. The book needs a rewrite to cover in IN DETAIL all of the controls and the reasons why you might choose one over the other. The book should also expand it's coverage of the Nikon Photo Secretary Software. Considering the cost of my F5 I would GLADLY pay 3 times as much money for an F5 guide with the kind of detail I've suggested.

For a book that supposedly covers the F5 it spends too much time, (approx 50% of the book), talking about other Nikon equipment. If you buy an F5 I assume that you know there are bellows units and data backs etc. available for the camera. Can't help but feel that here large chunks of the previous Nikon F4/F4s manual were used. More impressed with Mr Peterson's web site than I am with this version of his book.

If you have owned Nikon professional cameras before, you will agree that the manuals which come with them are usually iinadequate to explain all of the features of the camera. In the case of the F5 which represents a quantum leap in camera technology for Nikon, this book is indespensable. It contains details of exposure controls, metering and focus in all of the camera's program, automatic and manual modes. It also provides details of lens compatibility as well as the F5's place within the Nikon system. It presents a easily readable reference source for just about every application that the camera might face. The F5 is not a camera for novices, but this book will make it more user friendly for the professional and serious amateur alike.

General opinion and not really an review. I think this book is nothing more than a well packaged manual. In fact, I don't see anything more than what I can get from the provided manual.

If your looking for in depth coverage on the F5 give this book a miss. The users manual covers all that is in it, and even that which it covers in not clear. I bought the book looking for deeper answers and descriptions of this great camera and was sorely disappointed in what I found. It seemed more of a general description of the camera and Nikon products, almost a sales book for Nikon!! I wish someone would write something worthy of this greatest of cameras.

You'll know what a rip-off really means once you've bought this book and read it. A revised edition is imperative, probably written by somebody like Moose Peterson. The guide book on the F90X written by him was excellent. I hope the revised edition will be made available at a highly discounted rate to those who bought the original edition.

This book is nothing but a cut and paste of the Nikon F5 Manual. Don't waste your money. If you did not have the manual, you can order it from NIKON for must less.

author is pushy to write this book and no new news compared with the old F4 series. it is better to read the manufacturer's manual (cost only 10 u.s. bucks) than spend time on this appears F5 manual, lot of new F5 features are not covered. Also peterson's web site is very helpful.