Nikon D3000 Digital Field Guide (Digital Field Guides) [Paperback]

Thomas (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470582073 | ISBN-13: 978-0470582077 | Publication Date: December 2, 2009 | Edition: 1

A beautifully illustrated guide to the Nikon D3000 camera

What do you need to take amazing photographs with your new Nikon D3000? This Nikon D3000 Digital Field Guide has all the answers. This full-color guide, perfectly sized to fit in your camera bag, not only explains all essential controls, features, and functions, it also goes well beyond the basics to give you a photography refresher on lighting, composition, exposure, and more. You'll find step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions and full-color images of menu screens. Even better, it also offers tips and tricks to help you take your best shots, whether you're shooting portraits, candid shots, sports or travel photos, or macro photography.

• Shows you how to get the very most out of your new Nikon D3000 digital camera
• Discusses in detail all the essential controls, features, and functions of the Nikon D3000
• Provides step-by-step instructions and full-color images of each menu screen
• Explains not only how to adjust white balance, autofocus, exposure, and other settings, it explains when and why you should adjust these settings
• Gives you a thorough digital photography refresher on lighting and composition
• Shares valuable tips and tricks to help you capture amazing shots
• Shows you topic-specific secrets to capturing portraits, candid shots, sports or travel photos, macro photography, and others

Now that you have a Nikon D3000, make sure you have a copy of the Nikon D3000 Digital Field Guide!

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What do you need to take amazing photographs with your new Nikon D3000? This Nikon D3000 Digital Field Guide has all the answers. This full-color guide, perfectly sized to fit in your camera bag, not only explains all essential controls, features, and functions, it also goes well beyond the basics to give you a photography refresher on lighting, composition, exposure, and more. You'll find step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions and full-color images of menu screens. Even better, it also offers tips and tricks to help you take your best shots, whether you're shooting portraits, candid shots, sports or travel photos, or macro photography.

• Shows you how to get the very most out of your new Nikon D3000 digital camera
• Discusses in detail all the essential controls, features, and functions of the Nikon D3000
• Provides step-by-step instructions and full-color images of each menu screen
• Explains not only how to adjust white balance, autofocus, exposure, and other settings, it explains when and why you should adjust these settings
• Gives you a thorough digital photography refresher on lighting and composition
• Shares valuable tips and tricks to help you capture amazing shots
• Shows you topic-specific secrets to capturing portraits, candid shots, sports or travel photos, macro photography, and others

Nikon D3000 Photography Tips from Author J. Dennis Thomas

Perfect Portraits For this shot of my Boston Terrier Maddie I used a couple of different techniques to get a nice soft portrait effect. First of all to get good soft light I had Maddie sit next to an open window. Window lighting is one of the best ways to easily get soft diffused light which is great for portraits. Next, I set the camera to Aperture priority and using the 35mm f/1.8 lens I set the aperture to f/1.8. This setting allowed me to blur the background to draw attention to the subject. Keep in mind that these techniques work for people as well as pet portraits. (Click on image to enlarge) Specs: ISO 800 / 1/60 @ f/1.8

Artistic Angles For this architectural photo I used an ultra-wide angle lens, the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 set to 10mm to give the shot a dynamic look. Tilting the camera back a little added some perspective distortion and also allowed me to fit more sky into the shot. I used Aperture priority to select a fairly small aperture of f/8 to ensure that the scene was nice and sharp. I also dialed in some exposure compensation, underexposing just a bit to capture the rich detail in the clouds, which gives the shot an almost ominous look. (Click on image to enlarge) Specs: ISO 100 / 1/400 @ f/8 –1 EV exposure compensation

Macro Magic For this macro shot I used one of Nikon’s sharpest lenses, the 105mm f/2.8G VR. For anyone who’s serious about getting the best macro shots this is a must have lens. I used Aperture priority to select a small aperture to increase the depth of field, which gets shallower as you get closer to your subject. I also turned the VR function on to combat the blur than can be caused from camera shake, which is magnified a close focus distances. Often times when doing macro photography it’s advisable to use a tripod, but with moving subjects such as insects this is often impractical so the VR can be a great help in these situations. (Click on image to enlarge) Specs: ISO 400 / 1/125 @ f/11

From the Back Cover

Maximize your skills and your camera's capabilities

If this is your first digital SLR, here's the perfect go-anywhere guide to help you master its many modes and menus. If you're already experienced with dSLRs, this book will take you deeper into photographic excellence. Learn to take full advantage of Nikon's Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module and 3D tracking focus, how to enhance images right in the camera with the Retouch menu, and how to capture lifelike landscapes, perfect portraits, and everything in between.

• Explore all the options available with the full range of Nikon lenses

• Learn to use the scene modes for more automated shooting

• Take control with semiautomatic and manual modes and learn the best ways to use them

• Work with natural light, various flash combinations, and Speedlights

• Get professional shooting tips for every subject, including portraits, landscapes, concerts, and many others

Inside – your free gray card and color checker card to help you achieve accurate white balance and color

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (December 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470582073
• ISBN-13: 978-0470582077
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

J. Dennis Thomas is a freelance photographer and author based out of Austin, Texas. He has nearly 25 years of experience behind the lenses of Nikon cameras. His work has been published in many regional and national publications including Rolling Stone, SPIN, Elle, Ebony, W magazine, Country Weekly, and Thrasher magazines. He has written twelve highly successful Digital Field Guides for Wiley publishing and a comprehensive book about concert and live music photography for Focal Press.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book!, December 13, 2009

By 

Melissa Andrews (Queen Creek, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nikon D3000 Digital Field Guide (Digital Field Guides) (Paperback)

Recently got a D3000, although the manual explained the camera, the D3000 Digital Field Guide completely surpassed the manual and any other book that I have read about DSLR's. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has a D3000, it should be mandatory :) The book goes into great detail about the different settings that can be used with the camera, how to achieve certain photos and also has a glossary in the back if you don't understand some of the photography words like me. The book also comes with a gray card and color checker and explains how to use it and the reasoning behind it. As a new mother I wanted to have professional looking photos of my baby and now I do, I didn't have to pay someone else to achieve it either! Another great thing about the book is the size, you can take it with you on your photo taking adventures, it is easy to flip through and find which settings you should use to take amazing photos in any situation. Overall the book gets you ready and comfortable with your D3000. After reading it, you have the sense of excitement about taking photos, because you actually know what you are doing instead of just taking snapshots.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Comparison with the D3000 For Dummies, March 7, 2010

By 

G. Conner (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nikon D3000 Digital Field Guide (Digital Field Guides) (Paperback)

I first purchased the D3000 Field Guide by Thomas and found that almost half of the book was dedicated to general photography issues. The technical portion of the book was only fair and did not go into much detail (ie. in the manual mode it tells you how to change the shutter speed - move the Command Dial - but not the aperture). I was highly disappointed in the the book.

So I purchased the D3000 for Dummies and was amazed at the quality and amount of information it provides (ie. in the manual mode you have to hold down the exposure compensation button and then turn the Command Dial to change the aperture). The D3000 for Dummies hits all the basics and then goes well beyond the basics to really explain the potential of the D3000.

I would recommend the D3000 for Dummies over the D3000 Field Guide.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good for beginners, April 22, 2010

By 

Deborah Krisher "granny goose" (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nikon D3000 Digital Field Guide (Digital Field Guides) (Paperback)

I have found this book helpful in understanding my camera so I can enjoy using it. Easy to understand. The Title of field guide is misleading because the book is too big to fit in my camera bag, which is large in size. I wanted to take it with me when I travel. A field guide should be able to fit in your pocket or camera bag. I would recommend this book to anyone new to digital cameras.