Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K100D / K110D [Paperback]

Joe Farace (Author)

Book Description

Series: Magic Lantern Guides | Publication Date: November 28, 2006

Two entrees in the digital SLR market from Pentax, in one Magic Lantern Guide. Both of these easy-to-use, budget-friendly cameras are packed with loads of features, including: a 6.1 megapixel sensor, large 2.5” LCD monitor, Auto Picture modes, Shake Reduction image stabilization (K100D only), and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books; 1ST edition (November 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600590861
• ISBN-13: 978-1600590863
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,004,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ideal for noobs, far better than the manual ..., July 1, 2007

By 

Bryan J. Smith (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K100D / K110D (Paperback)

Pentax, who caters to amateur photographers unlike most other dSLR vendors who cater far more to professionals *COUGH*Canon*COUGH*Nikon*COUGH*, actually includes a very detailed manual with all of its K series of dSLR products. Unfortunately, while the manual suffices for amateur photographers, it is very difficult for the beginning SLR user. The terminology poorly defined in the Pentax manual is a major barrier to using their dSLR products effectively. That's where the Magic Lantern Guides come in.

This book takes you through not only the K100D (and K110D), but covers the much needed terminology for beginners of photography, all while using the K100D. That right there is gold -- using the actual buttons, menus and other settings in the K100D to setup common photo scenes and settings. The author effectively covers many aspects beginners, novices and even not-so-seasoned amateurs will want to cover (or recover). The author also does a good job of covering select Pentax lenses for various scenes, including some of the newer DA lenses, or at least introducing them as and when they are appropriate.

The only reason I give this a book four (4) stars instead of five (5) is because the author could have done better job of layout and organization. Although some aspects and depth of photography are unavoidable microcosms in themselves, the fact that you have to (and I mean have to) read the entire book to get down the basics is not the "ultimate" beginners' guide. I felt the author could have done a better job of pointing new users to bracketing and exposure compensation first, which are great for initial experimentation, and then rolled back into more in-depth concepts. But otherwise, it is an "ideal" beginners' guide, so it does get four (4) stars.

But if you do read it from cover-to-cover, you will know how to use your K100D (or K110D) to its full effectiveness without being an experienced photographer. Everything else is a combination of practices and non-camera specific implementation, like metering and other exposure considerations (that you can pick up from other sources). I came from Point'n Shoot cameras, being utterly ignorant of photography fundamentals. This book, combined with Pentax's award winning ergonomics and "built for amateurs" mentality in its products, will make you an amateur almost overnight -- or at least by your first half-dozen scenes and hundred-plus shots.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Much-Needed Supplement to the User's Manual, December 13, 2007

By 

David Smith "doctorjn" (Richmond, VA. USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K100D / K110D (Paperback)

This book is excellent in the regard that it reiterates all of the information in the user's manual - but in a more organized, less-"jargony", and easier-to-follow way. While it's true that it has some very basic concepts in there that most people who have ever used a digital camera of any kind would know, that doesn't mean that this entire book contains only elementary concepts. I think this book tries to meet the needs of the average user - and throws-in a little basic concept here and there for those who really are brand new to digital photography.
The real reason you'll want this book is not because it has ground-breaking insights or secret tips, but because it tells you how to fully use and maximize your new Pentax k110d/k100d DSLR, and frankly, the Pentax manual, while thorough, is a little less-easy to understand and written a little too technically. I personally preferred the Magic Lantern Guide over the orginal manual for this reason.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K110D, March 21, 2007

By 

John T. McLaughlin (Aiken, SC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K100D / K110D (Paperback)

If you buy this camera theis book is a must. The camera is a bit complicated and I found the book great for learning all its features. I am carrying the book in my camera bag. The book that came with the camera is cryptic and leaves too many unanswered questions.