Customer Reviews

Quick Snap Guide to Digital Photography: An Instant Start-Up Manual for New Digital Camera Owners

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I would describe myself as a committed amature or a prosumer photographer. In the next few months, I will be upgrading to a digital SLR in the 6-10 MP range. But which one? I consider myself knowlegeable about photography, but the array of features of dSLR cameras was overwhelming. Which are going to be important to me, given my typical needs?

This reference was just what I needed! Using a generic composite illustration created (through the magic of Photoshop) from three or four different popular dSLR cameras, this book walked me through common features located on the camera body, as well as typical menu options. It explained what each feature does, in what situations you'd typically use/need that feature, and the advantages and disadvantages of "tweaking" that particular adjustment. Then, it moved on to different popular flash options, including different kinds of flashes, common settings, and how each works with the camera.

Finally, this book discussed various types of lenses, advantages and disadvantages of each, which are typically most (and least) expensive, and situations in which it does and doesn't make sense to purchase that lens. It also discusses ways in which a dSLR can work with lenses and flashes you might already own - even manual ones from film days.

This is not a book on how to compose a photograph, but rather, on the mechanics of actually setting the camera to capture your shot. It doesn't dumb things down, but it doesn't get into anything too mechanically or scientifically technical. (I don't want to BUILD a camera - just USE it!) It explains options in language that should be easily understandable to anyone who is a sophisticated enough photographer to want a dSLR in the first place.

I still don't know what model dSLR I want to buy, but, with this reference, I am now equipped to comparison shop. BUY THIS BOOK!

I recently came back for a marvelous trip to Mexico City with lots of wonderful pictures from my simple Kodak point and shoot.

A loooong time ago I kind of understood some of the concepts needed to use manual settings. To be honest I don't remember much of that and every one who has seen the photos I took didn't seem to know that a $135 camera took them.

That said, I found myself bugged by the fact that this camera ate batteries - I was going through a pair everday. I found that if I took the batteries out of the camera when I wasn't shooting they lasted longer. This makes me suspect that the camera itself had a problem So I decided that I wanted to acquire something a little better.

That was the reason I got this book. I wanted something that would tell me what these new fangeled cameras were about as well as teach me some of the basics of using a camera and getting the most out of it.

Now let me be clear - this book is for someone who really isn't familiar with, or doesn't remember much about using a camera. The subtitle says it all: An Instant Start-Up Manual for NEW Digital Camera Owners. It helped me choose a really nice, versatile camera - the Panasonic FX18 and it gave me some ideas on how to use it. I gotta tell you the manual that came with my camera is for Sh--!

That said, this book is an informational guide and potentially a reference book. It's likely that it will end up sitting on your shelf so you might be better off checking it out of the library once or twice.