Nikon D50 Digital Field Guide
by David D. Busch
|
List Price: Our Price: $8.99 You Save: $11.00 (55%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.37 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Nikon D50 Digital Field Guide
Book Review: Agreed with other reviewers-read manual or other books on the subject
Summary: 2 Stars
This is not very good book for D50. The reason that author tries to explain two things at once. Fist how to take great photographs and second how to use array of custom functions on D50. He doesn't successes in either. Writer doesn't explain fully complexities of multiple functions of the camera. As for "how to take great picture" there are tens of books on that topic which explains art of photography in many details. Recommend instead to get truly technical book on all D50 functions "Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D50" by Simon Stafford. I promise you will get more information from this book as to how use technical abilities of D50 to full potential. Do you for instance know that D50 doesn't lock simultaneously Exposure and Focus while you half-press release button (It locks only focus), because it's D50's default setting. You would think AF-AE are locked when you press release button halfway, because it works so in many and many cameras even point and shoot digital, but not for Nikon D50 (though you can make it so, explained in a book).Book Review: Excellent basic book on photography for D50 owners
Summary: 5 Stars
This is written at the exact level that new Nikon D50 owners need. It provides basic information on the camera and its options and controls, and shows how to set up the D50 for picture taking. Then, it moves into photographic topics that might be unfamiliar to a new D-SLR owner, such as using depth of field and working with the Nikon interchangeable lenses. After that we are treated to discussions of typical photographic situations with advice on how to handle them.
This book serves well as a Field Guide that you can stuff in your camera bag and take with you when you need guidance. It doesn't cover all aspects of photography -- no 250 page book could do that -- but it explains what you really need to know in a way that a Nikon D50 owner is likely to appreciate.
Once you have finished this book, you can continue to learn more about photography with more general books. I recommend this author's Digital SLR Cameras and Photography For Dummies, which I also purchased and enjoyed.
Book Review: Far, far superior to Nikon's own user's manual
Summary: 5 Stars
If the manual packed with the Nikon D50 were usuable, this book wouldn't be such an essential purchase for every new user. The D50 is often sold to digital camera owners who have never used an SLR before, and who may have experience that's limited to point and click cameras. For these camera owners, the Nikon manual may be almost incomprehensible. That's why this approach, which doesn't duplicate the information in the owner's manual but instead expands and explains the use of the camera controls is so much better. If you buy this book, you may never need to open the original manual again.
Although I did have some photography experience with a film SLR before I got my D50, I like the typical D50 owner, was in need of some brushing up on both basic photography techniques as well as more advanced techniques. I found the tone of this book to be just exactly right, not too technical and not too simple either.
Book Review: Field Guide for the Field
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book specifically because it was a small format 250 page book that I could tuck in my camera bag and take along with me for guidance when I am out taking pictures. When I am unsure what menu settings to make, I check this book, look up the options, and adjust my settings quickly. When I see a photo opportunity, I can look up that kind of photo and read three or four pages of advice, illustrated with full color pictures.
I'm glad this isn't a software manual. I don't take my laptop with me when I take pictures, so I don't really need lots of pages about Photoshop or Elements or Picture Project or Nikon Capture.
The how-to sections are best suited for novice and intermediate photographers who need some ideas and tips. I'm on the verge of graduating from intermediate to advanced photographer, but there was still a lot in this small book for me to learn from.
Book Review: I'm New No More
Summary: 5 Stars
As a new D50 owner, I was a little lost about what to do with my shiny new Nikon camera, since it had so many more capabilities compared to my snapshot digital camera I'd been using. This book has made me a photographic veteran, grizzled and experienced, with lots of knowledge, tools, and techniques under my belt.
The introduction to the Nikon D50 camera in the first few chapters cleared up a lot of confusion for me, such as what settings to use and when and why. I thought I'd never figure out the program modes and autofocus system until this book spelled everything out.
The cool techniques and tips in Chapter 6 really did the job for me, though. It helped me know what zoom setting to use, decide among other settings, and offered ideas for taking creative photos in challenging situations. This book is an excellent guide for all new D50 owners.