Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K20D
by Peter K. Burian
Our Price: $32.30
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Peter K. BurianBrand: Pentax
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-05-06
ISBN: 1600593798
Number of pages: 272
Model: 84022
Publisher: Lark Books
Book Reviews of Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K20D
Book Review: Climbing the Learning Curve
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a small-sized book, 7.5 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches, and the only color in the whole shebang is the cover. I'll admit, that I was put off by the totally black-and-white format. For instance, the author (p85) is making a point about the sRGB color space with a black-and-white photo. On the other hand, the book is printed on a heavy (probably 28lb) paper stock, so there is no bleed-through from the backing page. It gives the book a nice heft. The book is perfect bound, which is hugely annoying for a reference book. It should have a wire binding so the pages stay open. Nevertheless, I'll admit that I've been rough on my copy and I haven't lost a page, yet. There is also a "Quick Reference Wallet Card." The wallet card is a nice idea, but I don't think it's that useful in the overall scheme of things.
I've been teaching Digital Photography for five years. When I started, very few of my students had DSLRs. Now, the DSLR students outnumber the point-and-shoot owners. If I thought the point-and-shooters were dazed and confused by their new gadgets, the DSLR folks are generally wading in much deeper water.
A DSLR is a marvelously complex and expensive camera that is like a boat; you can just spend and spend on it and the end is never in sight. DSLR owners desperately want to learn how to use this new camera well, without killing the poor thing.
Enter the DSLR instruction book. I was especially happy to find "Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K20D." Pentax, compared to Canon, is a sad little orphan. Personally I love the camera, but I'll admit the learning curve was steep for the first for weeks.
The book has grown on me. I carry it with the camera and I've decided it's both useful and entertaining. The writing style is smooth and comprehensible and subjects are well covered in 272 pages. The price, $14-$20, is certainly reasonable.
The book has a comprehensive Table of Contents. The main headings are: Digital Photography, Features and Functions, Digital Recording and In-Camera Process, The Menus, Camera and Shooting Operations, Flash Photography, Lenses and Accessories, and Working with Images. There is a good Troubleshooting Guide, a Glossary and an Index.
I recommend this book to K20D owners. The beauty of a book like this is that when you first get your camera everything seems overwhelming, especially if you weren't an SLR user in your past camera life. The whole process can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, the more you learn, the easier it is to learn more. You can read and reread the "Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K20D" book. As your knowledge base grows, passages that you read previously suddenly make sense and encourage you to explore new techniques and options.
Summary of Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K20D
This brand-new Pentax has major, new features, and this Magic Lantern Guide helps photographers make the most of every one. It covers such exciting upgrades as the low-noise, high-resolution CMOS sensor; the Live View that provides a real-time preview of a scene on a large monitor; a series of picture style options for creating different effects; a Dynamic range Adjustment option; plus a greater variety of post-processing alternatives than ever before.
Cinematography Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Cinematography Books
Bollywood Dreamsby Jonathan Torgovnik
Phaidon Press; Published: 2003-03-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $26.72
Price in other shops:
The Guerrilla Guide To Moviemakingby C.R. Bell
Guerrilla Films; Published: 2011-03-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.15
Price in other shops:
Video Basicsby Herbert Zettl
Wadsworth Publishing Co Inc; Published: 2006-07-03; Paperback; Book
Professional Digital Compositing: Essential Tools and Techniquesby Lee Lanier
Sybex; Published: 2009-12-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.99
Price in other shops:
The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Ageby Steven Ascher, Edward Pincus
Plume; Published: 1999-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.93
Price in other shops:
The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Filmby Michael Ondaatje
Knopf; Published: 2004-10-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.88
Price in other shops:
The Steadicam® Operator's Handbookby Jerry Holway, Laurie Hayball
Focal Press; Published: 2009-02-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $29.97
Price in other shops:
Cutting Rhythms: Shaping the Film Editby Karen Pearlman
Focal Press; Published: 2009-02-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $26.43
Price in other shops:
The Professional Cameraman's Handbook (Fourth Edition)by Sylvia E. Carlson, Verne Carlson
Focal Press; Published: 1994-01-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $94.47
Stop Motion: Craft Skills for Model Animation (Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation)by Susannah Shaw
Focal Press; Published: 2003-10-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $184.72
Similar Books and other products
Nikon 8072 Microfiber Cleaning ClothNikon Sport Optics; Digital Camera
Best price: $5.25
Price in other shops:
Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K-7by Peter K. Burian
Lark Books; Published: 2009-10-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.65
Price in other shops:
GGS DSLR LCD Optical Glass Screen Protector for Pentax K20D cameraGGS; Digital Camera
Best price: $5.54
Price in other shops:
Pentax Electronic Cable Switch for Pentax Digital SLR CamerasPentax; Digital Camera
Pentax DA 55-300mm f/ 4-5.8 ED Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR CamerasPentax; Release date: 2008-05-21; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Pentax BG2 Battery Grip for Pentax K10D and K20D DSLR Cameras (Retail Packaging)Pentax; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Pentax AF 360 FGZ Flash for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras (w/ case)Pentax; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Pentax K20D JumpStart Guide (TWO Tutorial DVD set)by JumpStart
JumpStart; Published: 2008; CD-ROM; Book
Best price: $24.95
Pentax Remote Control F for Pentax Digital CamerasPentax; Release date: 2011-10-21; Digital Camera
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops:
Pentax D-LI50 Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery for Pentax K10D and K20D Digital SLR Cameras (Retail Packaging)Pentax; Digital Camera
Best price: $49.95
Price in other shops: