Customer Reviews

A Short Course in Nikon D80 Photography book/ebook

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was a little disappointed in the book when I first got it because it looked like something hot off the copy machine. But once I plugged in the CD and started reading it, it really came to life for me and I've learned a tremendous amount about my D80 in a very short time. That I got so much useful information out of it is why I gave it a 5 instead of a 4.

The material in the book and on the CD are the same. The CD shows it in color (book is in black and white), is very easy to navigate and has hot buttons that take you to animations on the internet illustrating some of the material. Very well put together.

What I really like about the book is the additional information about when you might want to use a feature, such as double exposure, or different white balance etc., not just that the feature is on your camera. I've always been confused about shooting snow/white scenes using the +/- button. But in no time I had my black miniature horse, black on white snow. Now I'll always remember to use + with snow and - with black.

I'd bet people who use other cameras would find this book/cd useful and interesting, not just Nikon users. Great book and a reasonable price.

I received my copy of A Short Course in Nikon D80 Photography book/ebook today. I was a bit concerned as some here were complaining about the books appearance and first impression.

I must admit, the first impression is not spectacular. However as I begin to delve into the book, I find myself quite impressed.

I was looking for a book that could teach me how to use my new Nikon D80 AND teach me about digital photography.

I am very pleased to say that this book is doing both very well. It is very easy to read and understand. It also comes with a CD with the completed book in .pdf format (and in color).

I am also enjoying the many animations that help to visualize the concepts that are being taught in the book.

When I bought my Nikon D80 I was VERY frustrated because I could see that the manual wasn't going to teach me what I wanted to know.

In my humble opinion, if you are a novice and own a Nikon D80 you must buy this book.

I am a happy camper!

I own a double DVD set on learning the D80. It's much easier for me to sit and watch someone explain the camera visually. However, I don't always have a DVD player at my side. The large format, lay-flat feature of this book really appeals to me. Each feature of the D80 is explained in layman's terms and amply illustrated. Ok, the illustrations are in B&W. This was not even a consideration to me. There's a nice CD tucked inside the book with the identical book in Adobe PDF format... in color. I put more emphasis on the content of the book versus the quality. I bought this book to learn about my Nikon D80 and it did this very well. In my opinion - putting subject matter first, this is one of the better Nikon D80 learning manuals.

The hard copy appears to be off the B&W copier but that's not a problem as its keeps cost down and if you go to the CD you see the entire booklet in color; you can make the necessary notes in the spiral bound book.

If you're a novice to photography and the to D80 you'll have a very steep learning curve. In almost every section the writer refers you elsewhere so you don't have all (or even the basic) info on a topic you need right in front of you That can be confusing and frustrating as you have to read the section, page to the other referenced sections that address the topic and if you don't remember for example where the depth of field button is, go find that page. Many fingers in many pages.

All in all though its very comprehensive and if you stay with it, the methods become clear.

Having read the other reviews I was a little worried about the quality of this product, however I have to say I was impressed. Yes the book is printed in black and white but the paper and print quality is good. Everything is in colour on the electronic version, but I bought this to learn more about the D80, and SLR photography in general, and have to say I've not bothered too much with this. The important thing is that it details all the camera's functions and explains how to take good shots rather then just showing you what nice shots look like.

Like several other reviewers I was initially disappointed in the book and in its format. However, after a closer look I discovered tons of useful information.

The biggest disadvantage of the book is the lack of a detailed index at the end. The book's aim is to clarify and advise. For that purpose an index is a must. Many items are discussed in several places in the book. True, most often there is a page number referral to other pages dealing with the same topic. Still, an index is the best way to quickly find out the desired information. I strongly recommend that the next edition of the book should include a detailed index.

I purchased my camera and used this book to get up to speed quickly. I liked the animations online to help me understand the concepts. The black and white in the book was not an issue for me, but I didn't like all of the redirection in the book to other pages when learning how to do something. I was flipping a lot through the book to figure out what to do.

When I bought my D80, I immediately began searching for a good "how-to" book that would get me going quickly. The "Short Course" book on the D80 turned out to be a good choice.

The author has managed to distill the essence of digital photography technique and the specifics of the D80 into a book that you could read in a weekend. Most important is that along with explaining how different configurations work, their advantages and disadvantages he also explains why you might choose one configuration over another so you can begin right away making informed decisions about how to use your camera.

I spent the last weekend doing macro shots in my wife's patio garden. Any time I needed help figuring out a problem with focus, aperture or anything else, I was always able to find a clear answer in one short paragraph.

Maybe Mr. Curtin should consider writing a "Short Course" book on how to write a short instruction book. I'm an IT professional and I know a lot of technical writers who would benefit from reading it.

As before for other cameras, Mr. Curtin accomplished in helping users for maximizing the use a new camera. I purchased other books for my other cameras and found all are excellent. I like the wire ring binding and the style of his writing. With the accompanying DVD, users can benefit from the short scripts on many interesting topics.

If you're looking for an aesthetic coffee-table book this isn't it. BUT - if you want an outstanding teaching tool to learn how to use Nikon D80 look no further. Excellent!