 Well-written, well-designed, excellent primer |
| Review Date: July 27, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Photographer, Madrid |
Always eager for something to read in English, I picked up several of this author's books on a recent visit to New York. This one I actually got for a friend of mine back home, but I found myself totally absorbed in it on the plane ride. What a great idea this is!
You'd think that digital SLRs are too "advanced" a topic for a simple book like this one, but Busch obviously recognizes that many DSLRs are going to be purchased by people who have never held such a camera in their hands before. They are so affordable now that it just makes sense to get one and gain all the flexibility and expandability they offer, rather than invest in an expensive compact digital camera with far fewer features.
But what do you do when you're confronted with all those buttons and dials, and, Even, a lens that comes right off the camera and can be replaced with another one? I'd say you should read this book. It starts at a very basic level, never talks down to you, and provides exactly the kind of information that new DSLR users need to begin taking pictures. I wouldn't recommend this book to experienced DSLR owners. It's really too basic for them. But that's a good thing for everybody else. |
Read this book first!
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| Review Date: April 12, 2006 |
| Reviewer: M. In. Smith, Kansas |
Digital SLRs have become so affordable that many point-and-shoot photographers are rushing to upgrade from their snapshot camera to a DSLR. Hold your horses! As a long-time DSLR user, I can tell you that there is a LOT to learn about using these wonderful, complex cameras. Before you start out on the wrong foot and encounter disappointment, you should read this book first.
It's not an advanced or even intermediate DSLR guidebook. It's best for those who are just starting out and feeling their way, and need a quick introductory course in topics like the basic controls of a DSLR, using aperture priority or shutter priority, continuous or single autofocus, what different lenses do, and so forth. All those questions you're too embarrassed to ask your experienced friends are answered here.
The topics are divided into bite-sized pieces that can be explained in two pages, so all you need to do is leaf through the book to find what you want to know, and read just the essential information. I really liked that this book is not specific to a particular camera model, making it more useful to those who own SLRs from Pentax, Konica Minolta, olympus, Samsung, and other manufacturers who aren't "honored" with books dedicated to their cameras alone. This book works with all brands.
The Quick Snap Guide won't replace your camera manual. It won't even replace more advanced photography books. It's what you need to get the understanding you require to begin using your digital SLR camera properly. I'm recommending this book to all my friends who need a jump start. |
Using your dSLR: the Prequel!
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| Review Date: June 22, 2006 |
| Reviewer: FredM, New York |
It's always a pleasure to review one of this author's books, because he seems to have a knack for combining the visual and textual aspects of learning photography. In this case, Busch tackles the tricky subject of learning to use a dSLR through a unique approach that combines large images with brief, but surprisingly complete summaries of what you really must know about a given topic. The information is arranged into two-page and four-page spreads, with the key photos, captions, and explanations facing each other so that everything is laid out for you in a nice chunk.
I see this book as a kind of prequel that you'd want to absorb before studying digital SLR photography in depth. Buy this book right off the bat, perhaps even before you acquire your dSLR, and pick up the basics and jargon immediately. Use it to familiarize yourself with your camera and its functions. Then, you'll be much better equipped to use the photographic techniques included and, Even, to understand your camera's confusing manual. |
Basics and more....
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| Review Date: July 25, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Callus, Waukegan IL |
This really is an instant startup book for those who are new to digital SLRs. On one level, it provides just the basics that you must know when you begin using your DSLR. Each of the two page sections provides a brief description of various camera controls, features, and Techniques, with large illustrations. But you'll also find numerous sidebars and inserts that go deeper to provide the background you need to have a deeper understanding of your camera. All the knowledge is condensed into an easy to absorb form. So, you can quickly get up to speed with your DSLR just by reading this well organized book.
If you're the type who is looking for a fast tutorial on using digital SLRs, this book is the real deal. |
Great starter!
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| Review Date: July 17, 2006 |
| Reviewer: DRebel Photo Nut, New Haven CT |
We've needed a book like this for a long time. I've been mystified by most of the introductory digital photography books I've seen, because most of them don't deal with digital SLRs, or, at least, the basics you need to know before you can actually begin using your new camera. This book is a true starter manual for those who have never used a digital SLR before. It presents the basic concepts, such as viewfinders, various types of autofocus, the difference between matrix, centerweighted, and spot metering, the selection of the right lenses, and so forth.
Best of all, it manages to do all this in about two pages per topic, with all the text and illustrations grouped together on facing pages. I didn't even need the table of contents or index. I just paged through the book until I found a topic I wanted to learn about, and then read everything I really needed to know (with no confusing excess detail) in a couple minutes.
If you're a seasoned user of d-SLR cameras you probably know everything in this book. But you might still want to own a copy to loan to a friend who comes to you with a lot of questions. And if you're a beginner d-SLR owner, you'll find this book is worth its weight in gold. |
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