Customer Reviews

Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K100D / K110D

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I agree with other reviews that suggest this book is better then the manufacturer's manual, but I think it depends on who is reading it. It is written with the assumption that you know how to use an SLR and you understand all of the features and lingo of the SLR world. All of the sample pictures in it are almost worthless as they are in black and white. I suppose color pictures would have added cost, but I think it would have been worth it. That said, I think it is an excellent choice for a film SLR user making the transition to DSLR. For those of us making the transition from a P&S to the SLR, well it really isn't all that much better then the manual that comes with the camera. I sure wish it was.

I read this book expecting something special and beyond the User's Guide or Manual that comes with the camera. I found very light (not deept) cover in each aspect that is included - most of the information that comes in this book you can find in the web (free) and in some cases with better presentation and coverage. Sorry but it's not a Guide but just a booklet.

Much more interesting to read than manufacturer user guide. Very good coverage of basic use of an DSLR camera. Well complemented by author's hints. I would have appreciated to deepen some digital-specific matters like histogram use. Worth its price.

If you have the manual that accompanies the K1*D cameras, there's not much reason to spring for this (as I did) -- as far as I have been able to tell, they're largely equivalent in content to the manufacturer's product manual, at least for my shipment of the K100D (~Sept 2007). Sure, there are differences wrt index & presentation, but had I been able to peruse each document prior to purchase, I would have selected only one of them, rather than the both I ended up paying for/receving.

Excellent guide for the Pentax K100D series cameras. The book thoroughly covers all the information in the manual AND explains why you would use certain settings. I owned my camera for two years before I bought this book. I learned a lot and am enjoying my camera much more after having read the guide.

This little guide is volumes easier to use than the original manual. Good buy.

This is one of those books that go into detail about how to use the camera to its physical potential. It helps decipher some of the cryptic owner's manual info, but at the same time leaves some questions unanswered.

This book will certainly help you understand what your camera is capable of, and help you navigate the menus and find out what settings are for what.

What it won't do is replace the owner's manual, or teach you anything about the art of photography itself. I would recommend this to people new to DSLR's in general, but people who have been using one for some time outside of "auto mode", and actually understand what aperture and shutter means to a photo will probably benefit less.

There are of course some hidden gems for even the DSLR savvy. Each camera may have it's own perks, or shortcomings and these guides tend to point them out for you.