Customer Reviews

Nikon D5000: From Snapshots to Great Shots

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The D5000 is my second DSLR. I had a D40 for about a year and then went to the D5000. I purchased the Field Guide to the D40, to try to get a handle on what I could do with a DSLR. While the Field Guide had a great deal of information, it wasn't presented in a way that as easily understood by me. In contrast, this book is great. There are detailed descriptions of SLR features and settings specific to the D5000. There are even assignments to complete at the end of each chapter applying the knowledge on the concepts that were presented. I had a vague understanding of aperture, shutter speed, etc prior to this book. However, now I feel like I can actually implement the appropriate use of different techniques. There are many great pictures in the book as well that indicate the settings that were used to achieve the shot. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is not already an expert.

I have the Sony DSC-V1 and Panasonic DMC-ZS3 point and shoot digital cameras as well as the Canon A-1 35mm but the Nikon D5000 is my first DSLR. Chapter One that lists changes to make to default settings to gain better control for taking more predictable shots is worth the cost of the book.
The book is very easy to read and quickly helped me to become very comfortable with using and optimizing the professional modes.
The sample photos provide great examples with specifics on settings and composition so you can take similar photos.
I purchased my camera about two weeks before I went on vacation to New Zealand and received the book a week later, so not only did it help me to accelerate my learning curve but I also used it as a field guide to review and take great photos that I will post here for your reference.
You will also be able to download two additional e-chapters that helped me to maximize the time lapse feature and the video mode.
In addition to being a good companion to the Nikon user guide with accurate references, it provides a good overview of digital photography.
As mentioned by other reviewers, at the end of each chapter there are assignments that really helped me to reinforce the material I read and to start taking photos with confidence.
I would highly recommend this book to any D5000 owner.

If you have moved to a Nikon D5000 camera from a point and shoot compact camera, then this book could be all that you need to see you through your photographic journey. The heart of this book addresses the very heart of photography; that is exposure, and the application of aperture control, shutter speed control, and sensitivity. On this fundamental topic Jeff Revell will take you by the hand, and through clear explanation and good photographic examples, he will explain these concepts in superb detail. Of course, the key thing is that he does so with the Nikon D5000 firmly placed as the tool to be be used to fulfil this understanding. For this aspect, the book deserves all of the praise it is receiving - well done Jeff. However, if you already know a bit about aperture control; shutter speed; depth of field and sensitvity, then you may need a book which offers more than this one does. In fact, I would suggest that if you have a reasonable grasp of these concepts then stick with the Nikon Manual and get a general photographic book which offers the level of technique you need.

I've knocked one star off of the rating, because in my view it offers some contradictions in advice which may not be helpful to its audience. If you are moving into SLR photography without the understanding of exposure that this book implies, then I really don't understand the advice given to shoot in RAW format. Yes RAW is 'better', but only in the sense that a Ferrari or Dodge Viper is 'better'. If your photographs are never going to see anything bigger than your computer screen or a 10*8 print, then stick to JPEG - every photo package under the sun handles JPEG, and you can email them off to Aunt Mary in Cincinatti without a care. The other advice given right up front to generally switch off all things automatic (white balance, etc), may be sound, but if you really need to understand about aperture and shutter speed, then manual white balance at Chapter 1 may be a step too far at this stage!

I'm going to knock off one more star. Jeff, why oh why have you decided to offer two more 'free chapters' for the book which need to be downloaded, but can only be accessed after registration at the accompanying web site? That's not free, that's ripping off us consumers. If the chapters were ready in time, which they were since you refer to them in the printed edition of the book, then put them in the book. It's simple! Also 'free' in my mind doesn't just mean $0, it means free of hinderance, free of the need to register,it means FREE.

In summary, a good book, and for some a very good book. Jeff, please revisit your thinking on 'Free'.

I just got a D5000 for Christmas, and while I'm not a novice, I'm not a professional either. I fall in the middle of the road category. I have a good amount of general photography knowledge, but can stand to learn more specifics and techniques, especially tailored for this model. I'm also getting my feet wet again, since I haven't used a SLR in a number of years.

It starts off with a run down, most of which I'd picked up via the user manual that came with the camera. But this is where it differs: it's all in color with lots of photo examples.

I personally am a very visual person. I'll pick up double the amount of information if you let me read it(vs. listening), and probably three times the info if it has visual photographic examples. This book was made for me!

Beyond the basics in the beginning, it delves into each setting on the camera(manual, shutter priority, etc as well as all the pre-programmed settings like sports and portraits). After covering the ins-and-outs of your camera, it has nice chapters on moving targets, portraits, landscape photography, mood lighting and creative composition.

I recommend it 100%, and is a great gift to a D5000 owner, or as an automatic companion when purchasing this camera. It's right down the middle: won't baffle the newbie but has some useful information for a seasoned photographer. I rarely buy books(or keep them) as I will check them out at the library, but I will have this for many years to come as an excellent read. A must have!

Update: I still use this book often to reference it when I have a specific setting or shot in mind. It answers my question 95% of the time. There's so many different setting on the camera, this book is perfect to give even more descriptive explanations for their uses.

I purchased the Nikon D5000 DSLR in Oct. 2009. I was having such a hard time deciphering the user manual. I even went back to the camera store to ask for help. This book explains it in such a manor that makes it easy, even for a dummy like me. The authur takes you step by step in performance and it will probably make you a 5 Star photographer.

Description with color pictures is a bonus. It is a better book than the dummies. It is a good review book for beginner photographers. I first thought why i need this book if i have a manual. I found this book at a bookstore and browsed through it. Then, I realized that the manual teaches you how to use the functions but this book teaches you how to take pictures! I like the description of this book than those dummies book out there. I would recommend!

This book does not repeat much which is already included in the manual, rather, it instructs you how to set up D5000 and use it to do proper photography with good examples. I found the two additional chapters are helpful as well especially "Chapter 12, D5000 Video - Beyond the Basics". The contents about D5000's video feature is not included in the book but can be downloaded in Peachpit's website. I enjoyed it.

First, Thanks to Jeff Revell for creating this book! I floundered with my D5000 for months despite a bunch of digital photography books and the manual. I kept the camera mostly in automatic mode before I came across this book at the library. In a very structured way it has provided me with the most important knowledge about the camera and photography to immediately begin shooting better pictures. I'm purchasing it so that it can be my ultimate manual. Love the photos in the book; they are very inspiring, and also like the details that go with them to explain how they were achieved. Also like the assignments at the end of each chapter to make it real!

I bought this book about a week after I got my camera since the manual is just that...a manual. If you're just looking to use the automatic modes on the camera, save your money. If you want to really use your camera, this is an excellent guide. There are good explanations and good illustrations in a logical format that is easy to read and understand. I've used this as a hands-on guide, practicing as I read through it and it has definitely made me comfortable with the camera and is giving me a good foundation in the basics of digital photography. Highly recommend.

When I got my new camera, I was determined to learn how to use ALL of it, not just the automatic settings. This book was perfect for me - took me step by step with lots of simple instructions and pictures. I'm "practicing" every day and still learning, but have come a long way and continue to reference the book for quick, easy to understand answers. I recommnend this book most highly!