Customer Reviews

Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Last week I bought my first digital SLR - the Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens. I decided to step into the world of digital SLRs after years of experience with different (and very good) compact or "point and shoot" digital cameras.

My current compact digicam is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3K 7.2MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) - which I took to Peru, and with which I took some wonderful photos. As good as they were, I wanted to try for even better pictures, and happily bought my Nikon D40x SLR.

But after I opened the boxes and got my pristine new D40x ready to use, I suddenly felt lost and overwhelmed. Yes, there's an "auto" setting, but if that's all I use, I figure I might as well not have spent all the money to get into the digital SLR world. The owner's manual is, I'm sure, complete and accurate, but I found it difficult. It tells me the name of a button and something of how to use it, but I don't have the background to know what most of that means in terms of taking a photo.

Fortunately, I ordered this book from amazon - and it's saved the day. I'm still working my way through it, but I know it's a keeper - and it's going along whenever possible, for reference on the spot when I'm taking photos.

I'm no dummy, nor a total novice at digital photography. But I'm not a professional photog, nor a "camera geek" familiar with a lot of the technical terms and concepts.

The author strikes just the right note for me with the explanations in this book. At last - I'm starting to understand histograms, and feel more assured when changing ISO settings. I'm also learning the uses of all those dials and buttons on my new D40x.

Reading this book has conquered a vague sense of dread I felt about this new gadget ("what was I thinking buying this complicated expensive camera?"). Instead, I'm looking forward to using my D40x and learning more as I go.

I don't know if it exactly replaces the owner's manual supplied by Nikon, but I encourage anyone who's feeling baffled by that manual to get their hands on this book. It's made all the difference to me between puzzlement and comprehension.

I have a couple of Busch's earlier books on photography and really like his feel for the needs of those of us who would like to get beyond the snapshot level with our new expensive digital cameras. In this one, beyond the obvious help with using the D40, I like the all-color format which helps me find sections so much better. And I really like the sections on taking specific kinds of photos, which have charts that streamline all the variables you need to address. A small thing... the size is perfect for slipping into my camera case while having a complete guide to help me on the road.

I bought both this guide and the magic lantern guide not knowing which was best. While the magic lantern guide is okay (better than the manual), this guide is far superior in organization and instructions. The color pictures add a lot. The sections on how to shoot different types of pictures is great. If you need a guide get this one!

This guide to the D40/D40x is aimed at the beginning digital SLR photographer, but has some excellent information even for advanced amateurs.

It is well-written, well-illustrated, and covers the subject in depth. If you've just purchased a D40 or D40x, or have had one for awhile, you will learn many things here that are very difficult to get from the manual.

The first third of the book explains all of the features and settings of the camera in clear, well-illustrated format. The remainder provides basic information on photographic techniques, and specific suggestions for many types of photography.

Highly recommended!

This book by David Busch gives a better insight into the use of the D40 and D40x cameras than does the guidebook that comes with the camera. The book contains many color photos to illustrate the discussion.
I was moderately familiar with the D40x camera using the Nikon guidebook before I looked at the Busch guidebook so I could skip a lot of the introductory material. I skimmed the chapters QT (Quick Tour of taking and saving the first pictures), Chapter 1 (gives detailed names and uses of the camera functions), and Chapter 2 (essentials of camera metering, adjusting exposures, adjusting ISO, noise reduction, and retouching photos). I looked more carefully at Chapter 3 (playback menu, shooting menu, custom settings, and setup menu) as there are a lot of detailed settings that are easy to forget. I did not look carefully at Chapter 4 (exposure settings)since I have done this with a number of cameras. First time users should find these chapters useful.
I looked more carefully at Chapter 5 (lenses) as it describes in detail the confusing lens-naming scheme of Nikon. Only certain lenses (AF-I or AF-S) with internal focusing motors will autofocus with the D40 and D40x since the camera has no focusing motor. I, for instance, use the kit 18mm to 55mm lens which will autofocus and also my old 70mm to 210mm lens with no autofocus motor for this camera. This is fine with me as I do not need autofocus with this latter lens. I often use the 70mm to 210mm lens with a Nikon close-up lens (5T, 6T) so I would much rather have manual focus. Nikon also has a decent, economical 55mm to 200mm vibration reduction lens with autofocus for these cameras that costs only about $250.
Chapter 6 is mostly concerned with continuous and flash lighting. The D40 and D40x has a small built in flash although I usually use the Nikon SB-600 external flash on autosettings for a brighter flash. The various flash settings such as front sync, rear sync, slow sync, red-eye reduction, and exposure compensation are often confusing so this discussion should be helpful to many.
Chapter 7 is a long chapter that suggests ways to approach taking photos under various conditions such as sunrise-sunset, infrared, action, black and white, flowers, and landscapes among many. One can pick sections they want to check. For example, the infrared section is the only place I have found some details on the use of these cameras for infrared (Nikon would not give me any information on the infrared sensitivity for these cameras but apparently they are sensitive to the near infrared). The cameras can be used with a Hoya R72 or Wratten 89b filter which will filter out the visible light and allow the infrared to pass. Also starting points to begin taking infrared photos are suggested (ISO 200, f/11, 8 seconds, use tripod etc) since exposure and focus have to be done by trial and error due to the different characteristics of infrared relative to visible light.
Chapter 8 describes downloading and editing images mostly using software from Nikon (Picture Project, Capture NX, and Control Pro). Nikon Picture Project comes with the camera and can be used to transfer images to your computer, do minor editing, and sharing your photos. Nikon Capture NX has to be purchased separately (about $150), and it can be used to modify images that in some operations make it easier to use than Photoshop Elements or Photoshop. For instance, similar colors can be changed over the entire image in one operation without changing other colors in the image. I often use Nikon NX for changing colors and then return to modifying the image in Photoshop.
Also there is an appendix and glossary. The appendix includes topics on updating the firmware of the camera (controls camera operations such as processing and links to external devices). Also the appendix suggests how battery life can be extended, fixing flash problems, reviving bad memory cards, and cleaning your sensor.
In short, this book should be a good book for the beginner to intermediate user who want to find out about the details of the camera so that the best pictures can be made under a variety of conditions. The beginner who wants to use the D40/D40x cameras more as a point and shoot camera can just set the camera in programmed exposure mode and still obtain a lot of good pictures without understanding all the functions of the camera. The advanced user who has used a number of Nikon digital cameras would not probably find much in the book of interest. Thus the star rating would vary a lot depending on your level of experience.

The Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide could be a replacement for the owner's manual, and so much more. In addition to explaining the camera's features with simple language and large color photos, the author delves into the operation of Nikon's lens system and then provides countless examples and exercises to inspire the imagination and provide a solid foundation for DSLR users. I obtained this book in order to help a friend who recently purchased the D40X, but now I think I'll just turn the book over to him - he'll be in good hands.

I got this for my wife to go with her new Nikon D40. This has been her go to book and the one that goes with her and the Nikon. The photos are well described and the camera settings for the shots are included with suggestions, that's a real help. The in depth description of the D40 settings and controls are the best we have found yet.

Returning to photography as a hobby, after an absence of many years, and purchasing a Nikon D40 as my first digital camera I found the accompanying instructions to be very challenging. This book is easy to read,understand, and makes my entry into digital photography substantially easier. It allows me to completely understand the different functions of my camera and ultimately achieve a higher level of competence with the camera.The camera is excellent, and the book provides a great foundation for any future digital camera upgrade. I highly recommend the Nikon D40/D40X digital field guide.

Being new to the dSLR realm, I found this book to be GREAT! It gave great information on an array of subjects.

I've bough several books on the d40 and this one was by far the best.

This is a great field guide! The materials that come with the camera from the factory seem to be so detailed that they lose the reader- - - confusing very often, and poorly written regardless of brand or camera quality. This guide places all essential directions in straight forward english, and tells the reader how to acomplish the desired action. It is clear, and very well written by someone that is not an engineering profesional -- -I refer to it daily !