5 comments about Nikon D40/D40x Digital Field Guide.

1. If you miss a good manual for your new D 40/D40X, this is the right purchase. It is simple and systematic, and takes you through your camera step by step in a way that is very easy to understand. The last half of the book cover Digital Photografing in general, and it might be practical for a complete beginner. It is not a book about the art of digital photografing though !



2. This is an excellent guide to the Nikon D40X, explaining all of the functions, camera operating modes, and settings. In addition section 2, is a comprehensive guide on taking great pictures with the D40X, covering all of the essentials, with many examples and tips.



3. I've been trying to get through the actual manual for almost a year now, it's so obtuse and hard to follow. This book is GREAT and I've begun to love my D40x and appreciate it's many features. What seemed so complicated before in looking at the camera and it's many features has become easy to understand. This book is organized very well and easy to read. Of all the manuals I've read, this one is the first page turner that I've encountered.



4. Exceeded my expectations, and I had already read the manual cover to cover so I was meant to know most of the capabilities of the D40. Where this book excels is that it tells you how to use the functions of the camera to achieve results, as opposed to just telling you what they are meant to be. The practical photography section at the end is outstanding. Excellent colour example photographs throughout. Very impressive.



5. This book is great. It gives you a lot of information on the camera, but not just that, it also provides tips and how to apply photographic techniques.
   It's a great book.

5 comments about Photoshop Elements 6 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)).

1. Gift for daughter - she is looking forward to finding time for using Photoshop. Nice book - nice condition.



2. I have found the book ASIN:0470192380 Photoshop Elements 6 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))]] to be very helpful as I have been taking lessons on using Photoshop Elements and found that the book explained things very clearly for me. Having the graphics made it easy for me to understand my lessons and also it showed me there were lots of things that could be done in the programme that I had never even thought of. I had already seen the book before I ordered mine so I knew that it would be a good one to get.



3. This book was brand new, half the price of the store's, and arrived both quickly and in excellent condition. I would definitely recommend this seller.



4. You just have to have it when you buy Photoshop Elements 6!!! Made it MUCH MUCH easier for me to use the software!



5. I liked this book very much. I haven't gotten to use it as much as I would like to, however, I can have it as a reference book to take down when I need it. It goes step by step which is what I need.

5 comments about Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac: The Missing Manual.

1. Insofar as I have used it, I find it helpful but think the index is a little weak. It is a very good reference tool for the learner of the program, which is what I am. A more sophisticated users of Photoshop Elements may find it a bit lacking, as friend of mine did who looked at it and determined some steps in the lessons on layers were not included. I found the lessons about moving through the layers a bit difficult. (Maybe that's just me!).



2. I've used the'Missing Manuals' series for Windows Elements since version 3. The Mac version is as thorough and instructive as they come, with numerous fine-tuning tips for more advanced users. Although bulky, the contents are all meat without fat ot bone; Brundage's writing style is pleasantly conversational and witty, without resort to the heavy-handed contrived 'humor' adopted by others in the field.
   
   Unfortunately - a shortcoming made all the worse by printing color on pulpy paper - this book cries out for a companion work-along CD so that the user can duplicate the exercises. The hoary 'reason' to download images rather than spend a few more bucks turns out to be an empty promise as the web image library is incomplete, outdated, and borderline quality. Locating the website alone, plus time wasted and effort expended, would be worth the small extra cost of including a CD.
   
   Even so, the reader will be well rewarded by the outstanding informative quality of the contents. This truly will the definitive reference text to Elements users from rookie to rocket.



3. At its most simplistic level, Photoshop Elements offers useful and intuitive tools to make almost any photo live up to its best potential. But there's so very much more to use in Elements that without a guide you really can't begin to appreciate -- or master -- its powerful tools. That's where Barbara Brundage comes in. She has pretty much perfected the art of laying out how best to approach Elements 6.0 no matter whether you just want to touch up a photo or take it into enormously creative directions. Her tone is straightforward and user-friendly without talking down. She includes step-by-step approaches, frequent referrals to related materials, and loads of photographs to help the reader really understand. She also tends to frequent Elements forums, where she offers advice and helps people sort through technical issues that might pop up.
   
   In a perfect world, Adobe would include a book like this with Photoshop Elements. This is not that perfect world, and I'm not sure I'd want to go into it without the right tools at my side. For me, that's Ms. Brundage's book, and the enthusiasm I bring to any photo myself. Well worth the money.



4. Definately need this book to work with Photoshop elements 6, but its still complicated. I needed help from a Photoshop person to actually interpret the program.



5. The Missing Manual Series generally offers solid instructional manuals and " Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac" is no exception. It begins with a walkthrough of the elements of Elements, explaining the different work spaces, palettes and so on, then presents some common photo editing situations and details how to improve the images. Instructions are generally clear and well thought out. A short advanced section at the end touches on some special editing problems and helps explain how to approach special needs in a logical manner.
   
   As you would expect from a general manual, this doesn't cover tricky editing situations or provide a cookbook for special effects. You'll have to get a more advanced or specialized book if you want to expand beyond basic to intermediate Photoshop Elements skills. That's not a complaint. The book covers enough without trying to be everything to everybody. But for its target market, this book does a nice job of providing clear instructions and explanations, and provides a good handle on what can be a pretty intimidating program.

5 comments about Yankee Stadium: The Official Retrospective.

1. This was an awesome book. I have gone to Yankee Stadium since The 1940's. It is really one of the most beautiful places in the world.
   This book has the Stadium coming to life.



2. One of the best books on Yankee Stadium I have ever read. Throw away all the others...this is the one to have!



3. I am very satisfied with the book as well as the timeliness of the delivery. Being a lifelong Yankees fan I am looking forward to the new Yankee Stadium with bittersweet emotions. The new stadium is great for fans as well as for ownership of the team. I will never forget my visits to Yankee Stadium to see my favorite team as well as my childhood idol (Mickey Mantle)with my lifelong idol my dad. Thanks to amazon.com for making this great book available at an affordfable price



4. I bought this book as a gift for my husband. He absolutely loves it. He actually said that it's the greatest book that he's ever received! I flipped through it and it's very insightful with a ton of photos that capture the history of the stadium.



5. I went to the Stadium a few weeks ago. It was sad knowing this is the last season in the House That Ruth Built.
   This book will keep the memories alive forever.
   
   This is a must have for any Yankee fan. Get it!

5 comments about Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting.

1. Lighting is what photography ("light writing", in Greek) is all about, right? If you haven't mastered lighting, you're not taking photographs; you're making snapshots.
   
   This book is a masterful guide to light in all its forms and uses. Read it to learn what you can really do with your camera. I recommend it highly.



2. This book is excellent, describing how to light a variety of common but tricky situations. It discusses all of the necessary physics in non-technical detail and in that way is a good practical accompaniment to technical physics texts such as Principles of Optics: Electromagnetic Theory of Propagation, Interference and Diffraction of Light (7th Edition) and Optics (4th Edition). I highly recommend it for those interested in doing photographic lighting as well as those trying to understand the physics of light.



3. This book is the basic text for how light works. It will introduce you to the behavior of light and the work of handling various surfaces, including what makes good portrait lighting. If you're into product photography, handling glass and metal is in there. If you're just interested in people, everything you need to know is here. Unless you're already in college for photography and are getting a solid grounding in all the technical (physics) aspects of photographic lighting, buy this book and be "enlightened".



4. Loads of information / explanations. A little bit of physics but only that necessary. Details how light works, how to photograph glass and metal, and much more. One of my favourite photography books, and so far the ONLY book (I've purchased around 20 photography related books from Amazon) I've been motivated to review on Amazon!



5. When I buy a Tec Book. I am happy if I get at least 1 really good chapter of info I can use. This book had many good chapters and I use it as a on going reference for my work. I recommend this book for anyone serious in improving their lighting techniques in the studio.
   
   PS It's not filled with a lot of poor attempts at humor like some of the "Photoshop" technique books. You probably know who I am talking about...

5 comments about Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D Digital Field Guide.

1. This book is very good, and teach too many pictures technics, in a easy way



2. This book is really, really good. Since I purchased my camera, I have struggled with all the features. The book explains things very clearly. This book is great to read, has simple explainations with very good detail, and really good examples photos and illustrations.



3. Wow! I am so impressed with this camera! I did quite a bit of research before making a decision, and I am pleased with my final selection. The images are stunning, and the camera itself is so user-friendly.
   
   The only thing that I would recommend for Canon is that they revamp their included software and guides. The guides assume a certain knowledge and are not well designed; and the software includes so many extras as to reduce efficient and thorough functionality.



4. I am relatively new to "real" digital photography. I had looked around at many other field guides and instructional DVDs (many of which left something to be desired). I ended up choosing this book, and it has not disappointed. It covers all of the functions of the Rebel XTi and also the photography concepts that you need to understand in order to use those functions. It's well organized, full-color pages are easy to navigate and read. The sample images they provide are very helpful because they also include the camera settings used to capture those images.



5. The XTi was my first digital camera, and while I loved my Canon EOS rebel 35mm, I thought it was time to update. So, I'm obviously not a seasoned photographer and thought I'd better learn all the possibilities available with my new camera. I bought this book based on all the positive reviews and was not disappointed. I could go to a specific topic, based on what type of setting I wanted to try, walk through the steps in the book, try it out myself, and see the results immediately! It is well written and has great photo examples of what you should expect to see when you try various settings. I highly recommend this book to any XTi owner.

5 comments about iPhoto '08: The Missing Manual.

1. Packed with great information, well organized and presented in a humorous fashion. I keep it right alongside my computer for reference.



2. iPhoto '08 is very useful for newcomers to iPhoto. One surprising, to me, plus is that the book actually begins with a couple of chapters that are photography tutorials that are helpful without being too technical. I think this 'missing manual' can help many get the most from their use of iPhoto '08.



3. I have showered so much praise on these 'Missing Manual' books it may seem like I am getting paid by David Pogue himself to write these reviews, but I guarantee you that is not the case!!
   
   Full of crisp, clear, color photos that jump off the page, a writing style that is fun and easy to follow, and a layout that is second to none, there simply is no line of books for learning applications on the market that is better than the 'Missing Manual' series.
   
   If you use an application (whatever it is) and you want to learn to use the tool in question, forget going online or taking a class. Either it will be a waste of time, money or both!!! Just look at the name of the app you are interested in, see if there is a Missing Manual book for it and BUY IT.
   
   These books are that good, that impressive, that well written, and that well published. I put the highest stamp of approval on this line by O'Reilly.
   
   ***** HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION



4. Apple really needs to collaborate with Mr. Pogue and put this book in every software application! I was at a loss converting from one system to a Mac but this book has truly made it so much easier for me. I have finally been able to stay off the phone with Apple and work on my photos! Thanks Mr. Pogue! Once again you have come through for me!



5. iPhoto 08 was exactly what I needed to get the most from my home photography. It is well written and easy to follow. The price was excellent and the quick service was greatly appreciated.

No comments about 21 Nights.

5 comments about The Betterphoto Guide to Digital Photography (Amphoto Guide Series).

1. Enjoyed reading this book and am looking at other books by this author. I found it easy to follow with good examples and explanations on when and why to use certain settings. It is definitely a beginner book which is exactly what I needed.



2. I've taken classes and read other books; however, this one is FAR SUPERIOR. It explains EVERYTHING you need to know to take great photographs (not snapshots!) and is written clearly from this photographers years of experience. It's not technical, rather it explains everything step by step. If you are a super advanced photography, this one probably isn't for you -- but even if, like me, you've had classes and some experience this book fills in the gaps.
   
   The pages are quite nice -- glossy, colorful, and has "tip" boxes throughout.
   
   I HIGHLY recommend this book.



3. This is a good book. There are no bones about it. It is easy to understand, which is important when explaining complex principles. I have been reading and learning about digital photography quite a bit lately, and quite honestly, find the book a bit on the simple side. While, that is not optimum for ME, I do not think it detracts from the quality of the book, one bit. It still teaches tidbits here and there, and quite honestly, his notes on compisition throughout the book, was well worth the price, alone.
   
   All in all, easy to read, easy to understand, good book. If you have a good understanding of compisition and exposure, this book would probably have very limited appeal.



4. If you've been thinking about digital photography as a hobby, but aren't quite sure where to begin, then this is the book for you! Even if you don't have the camera yet(such as myself) and you're not sure if taking that leap into serious photography is the thing for you, then you can be rest assured that this book will help de-mystify the wonderful world of digital photography.
   
   This book is, for the most part, for those thinking about or just starting to delve into photography as a hobby, be it casual or more serious. It is not a highy technical book that makes you shy away from all that camera jargon, but it does explain everything in easy-to-understand detail . It teaches you how to take photos the right way, so you don't have to spend all your time "doctoring" up your photos on the computer. It is, in the most pleasing form, an informative book that teaches you everything you do need to know about photography without talking down to you nor assuming you already know a lot. A perfect balance of information that is very easy to grasp.
   
   Jim Miotke starts from the beginning, from getting to know your camera to all the basics such as exposure, lighting, and composition. He doesn't just tell you how to take great photos, but actually explains why some photos don't work and what comprises great shots. All the topics are accompanied by photographs to help the reader understand what is being taught. Each and every picture has a purpose and is essential in getting his explanations and points across.
   
   What really impresses me are all the tips and side notes that are throughout the book. It's a perfect blend of enough text and information along with these great tidbits of info that will keep you reading and reading(You may find yourself reading the entire book in only a few sittings!)
   
   Another plus are his "assignments" he has in each chapter. These are practical things that you can actually go out and do to put to test what you just read and learned. He understands that just reading about something doesn't quite make an impact as actually doing it.
   
   In summary, there is a lot to be learned from this book for beginners or soon-to-be beginners. This is a very easy book to get caught up in, and is sure to be a great reference book. It will inspire and encourage you. It shows that with enough passion, patience, and know-how that great shots are not beyond the reach of us beginners and novices.
   
   (For those who are interested in nature photography, you have to get Jim's other book, The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Nature Photography . Written in the same style, it's the perfect companion book, focusing more on landscape, wildlife, and macro photography, also available here on Amazon)



5. Two Points:
   
   1. Excellent book for those who have just bought a digital SLR and want to know how to use it. The author doesn't patronize or irritate. It's simply, here's how I shoot, this is the result, this is how you can do it too.
   
   2. The author lives in Seattle close to me, so some of his examples are places that I'm going. For me, this book is like the ultimate field guide to the subjects and lighting I come across all the time.

5 comments about Nikon D300 Digital Field Guide.

1. When I bought my D300, I had the best intentions to read through the
   manual that came with it - I promised myself that if I was spending
   this much on a new camera that I'd really take advantage of its full
   potential. But I found the manual to be frustrating and not
   surprisingly, boring. My biggest complaint was that the manual
   explained the function of a button or setting without ever teaching me
   how it would actually affect my photos. So I bought this book hoping
   it would increase my understanding of how to use my D300's controls to
   get the best possible pictures. I wasn't disappointed. This book
   takes you through your camera's settings and menus step-by-step,
   explaining not only the function of each setting, but also when you
   should use it and how it will make your pictures better - exactly what
   I was looking for. It also has a large section that talks about the
   basics of digital photography. While I had heard a lot of these basic
   rules of photography before, I felt like it was a great refresher
   course and I learned some new tips for getting great pics. I
   feel more confident using my D300 after reading this book and my
   pictures have improved as a result. Highly recommended.



2. In his introduction, J. Dennis Thomas acknowledges that his book covers much of the same ground as the "D300 User's Manual" from Nikon, but in a manner that's easier to comprehend and more interesting to read. It seemed to me that Thomas didn't quite reach his goal.
   
   Part I of the book starts out with a quick tour of the camera which describes how to set the most basic functions necessary to use the D300, followed by a physical description of each of the controls on the camera. The author then follows up with a slightly longer discussion of the camera's functions, followed by a line-by-line description of each of the camera's menu items. In Part II, the author provides generic discussions of Nikon's family of lenses, photography essentials like exposure and composition, the use of light, a long chapter devoted to snippets on different kinds of photography, like architectural or landscape photography, and then a chapter on viewing and editing images in-camera. There is an appendix which describes a few accessories in the broadest possible terms.
   
   Every equipment guide has to aim at a broad range of users from beginners to professionals, although the Nikon D300 is such a sophisticated machine that it is more likely to be used by more experienced photographers. I suppose that a beginner might find new information here, but only if he didn't want to go through the small print, black-and-white only, manual that comes with the camera. On the other hand, a lot of essential information was not discussed. For example, although the author often refers to options offered by the camera relating to the differences between the JPEG and RAW formats, he never gives a full explanation of the benefits of one format over the other. Another example is in his description of the number of focusing points available in dynamic area mode. Although he describes the difference between 9, 21 and 51 point modes (more points--duh!), he doesn't explain why it doesn't make sense to just use the most points for any occasion. The author doesn't tell you that the more points you select, the slower the camera focuses because it must sample each point for changes in the scene.
   
   There were even a few cases where Thomas included less material then the Nikon manual. He describes a menu item called "Print set (DPOF)" which did not even seem to appear on my D300's menu! After frantically trying to figure out what was wrong with my camera, I looked in the "D300 User's Manual" where I found that this is a menu setting that probably isn't even available until certain other conditions have been set up. (I eventually found the item by scrolling backwards through the playback menu.)
   
   Most of the material in part II is just too broadly brushed to be very useful. A new photographer might learn that there is such a thing as a soft box, but never learn how to use one with the D300.
   
   Some material provided is misleading as in the image that's included with the explanation of histograms that shows the histogram divided into five sections while the D300's histogram is divided into four sections. In other cases, illustrations that would help one understand the discussion were not available, as in the failure to include a screen capture in the discussion of picture controls.
   
   Although this volume may be enough for beginners who don't want to go through the tiny print, flimsy paged "D300 User's Manual" provided with the camera, more serious users would be better off with "David Busch's Nikon D300 Guide to Digital SLR Photography" (even though I must acknowledge that Thomas does provide a better explanation of fine-tuning auto focus lenses).



3. The reviewer who said this book was packed with errors was being kind. Some sort of technical fact-checking should have been done to fix the multiple errors, goofs, and obvious typos that appear in every chapter of this misguided guidebook.
   
   Some of the errors provide the wrong information, or leave out a crucial fact. For example:
   
   Page 7: Figure QT.4 is labeled wrong. Center weighted mode is labeled as 3D Color Matrix II, Matrix is labeled as center weighted mode.
   
   Page 18: "Press this button and rotate the Main Command dial to change the white balance (WB) setting." No mention is made of rotating the sub command dial to change the bias.
   
   Page 18: Incorrect description of AF-S lenses.
   
   Page 18: "Reflected through a series of mirrors..." Wrong. Although some Nikon cameras do use a series of mirrors, the D300 uses a single front-silvered mirror and a pentaprism. A "series of mirrors" involves a different technology called pentamirror.
   
   Page 27: In the description of the electronic analog exposure display, the author says, "When the bars are to the left you are underexposed; when the bars are to the right, you are overexposing your image." Wrong. It's the exact opposite. There are even plus and minus signs in the viewfinder to tip you off.
   
   Page 28: In explaining exposure compensation value, the author mis-states: "When pressing the Exposure Compensation button and rotating the Sub-command dial, the EV compensation is displayed." Wrong. Just press the button to display the EV compensation. Or press the button and rotate the main dial to change it. The Sub-command dial has no function or use here.
   
   Page 43: White balance bracketing. The author fails to mention that, unlike exposure bracketing, only one shot is taken per bracket set during white balance bracketing. The D300 saves multiple JPEG copies of that shot using different white balances. A rather important distinction, I think.
   
   Page 45: "The focus indicator light in the viewfinder displays when the camera is in focus." Wrong. Actually, it stops -blinking- when the lens is in focus. It does appear when the "camera" (lens, actually) is out of focus.
   
   Page 69: "Image quality, size, and JPEG compression can also be changed by pressing the QUAL button and rotating the Main Command dial." Wrong. You need to rotate the sub command dial to change the image size.
   
   Page 70: The author states about 14 bit depth that "there is much more color information for smoother color transitions in your images." Here, and in Chapter 2, the author seems to have the notion that 14-bit files do nothing but provide extra colors for gradations. Dynamic range means a lot more than that, especially with the D300, where 14 bit provides extra "headroom" in the shadows (but not in the highlights) compared to 12-bit depth.
   
   Page 82: "e4 Modeling Flash When using the optional SB-600 or SB-800 Speedlight, pressing the Depth of Field preview button fires a series of..." Wrong again. Surprise. This feature, of course, also works with the built-in flash, which is not mentioned.
   
   Page 82: "e7" Ignores that bracketing order also functions for WB bracketing, in a way different from the exposure bracketing described. This is one of the pesky details not copied from the OEM manual.
   
   Pages 83, 84, 85. Incorrectly describes setting of function, preview, and AE-L/AF-L buttons. Readers will be terribly confused when they discover (on their own) that setting certain functions locks out other settings. This is explained on page 304 of the Nikon factory manual.
   
   Page 87: "I recommend taking your camera to an authorized Nikon service center for cleaning." I don't know whether to laugh or cry over this one. Of course readers will be terrified of this simple procedure if the author doesn't know how to do it, either, or provides any instructions. This is a D300 we're talking about, not a D40. Non-snapshooters need to learn how to clean their sensors from time to time, even if automatic sensor cleaning is included in the camera.
   
   Most of the descriptive material about setting up and using the camera appears to be condensed from what is provided in the Nikon manual, with many important options, details, and warnings left out to save space. The Dust off ref photo menu entry description doesn't give you a clue as to when or why you might want to use it. The terrific wireless transmitter or GPS capabilities? Not a clue as to what they do. There's no mention of the absolutely wonderful improvement in handling of non-CPU lens data compared to the D200. Why not?
   
   The lack of detail can be infuriating for someone who wants to learn how to use their D300 from this book. The author says that you can get up to 8 fps continuous shooting when using "batteries other than the EN-EL3e with the MD-D10." What batteries are those? Throughout the book he uses the phrase "a number of" rather than the actual number of something, or recommends going to the Nikon web site to find information you'd expect to find in this book.
   
   I can't imagine that Nikon D300 users would be looking for a "field" guide that is a summary with less information than is found in the user manual, especially since some important distinctions are ignored or left out, and replaced with downright incorrect advice. Avoid this one.



4. This brief overview barely scratches the surface of what an advanced digital SLR like the Nikon D300 can do. It's barely half the size of the manual that comes with the camera. How could it be anything else?
   
   There are much, much better guides to the new Nikon D300 camera, each of which doesn't stop at telling you how to make settings and use features, they tell you why. Thom Hogan's "Complete Guide" has more information in any chapter than you'll find in this entire Digital Field Guide, but it's an e-book. The best choice, though, is probably the Nikon D300 Guide to Digital SLR Photography by David Busch. Like the Digital Field Guide, it, too purports to provide a mixture of features and setup instruction with photographic advice, but does a much better job with both.
   
   The Field Guide is weakest in explaining the Nikon D300's features, which is odd, because that's what you buy a camera specific book for. This is most obvious in the section on the complex and often confusing Custom Setting menu. The Digital Field Guide allots only 11 pages to this menu, mostly a rehash of the menu entries and their options that you'll find in the Nikon manual. The Busch book, in contrast, devotes 43 pages to an exhaustive analysis of how these settings should be used, and augments that with an additional 12 pages of tables with recommended Custom Setting Menu Bank and Shooting Menu Bank settings for Studio, Portraits, Long Exposures, Sports Indoors, Sports Outdoors, Landscapes, and Bracketing.
   
   Interested in learning about the D300's exciting new capabilities, like Live View, the MB-D10 battery pack, or sensor cleaning? You'll find anything from a sentence or two to a couple pages on these topics. Mystified by autofocus or want to know the difference between phase detection and contrast detection? Busch covers that in nearly 20 pages. The Digital Field Guide's entry-level camera approach doesn't have room for that much detail. Instead, we're given such gems of insight as "Metering mode dial. This dial is used to choose the metering mode. Turn the dial to the desired mode. You can choose Matrix, Center-weighted, or Spot metering." Wow. A new D300 owner would never be able to figure that out on their own.
   
   One of the strengths of the Nikon line is the huge number of lenses available. Busch devotes 40 pages to that, including detailed lens by lens recommendations about what should go in your kit. The Digital Field Guide breezes through the topic in 14 pages.
   
   I suppose that if you are an absolute beginner and want an introduction to the Nikon D300 that is more concise and less detailed than the thick manual that came with the camera, this book will serve. On that basis, it deserves three stars. If you're a supertechnoid and want to know how many milliamps the LCD draws, the Thom Hogan e-book is the ultimate reference. But if you are a serious photographer who wants to know the whys and wherefores of using the Nikon D300, you owe it to yourself to purchase the Nikon D300 Guide to Digital SLR Photography instead.



5. There are so many errors in this book that I can't even recommend it for the beginner photographers it is aimed at. It's amazing that a field guide for an advanced camera would lack depth. If a Nikon D300 is your first camera or digital camera, you may find the first three chapters on setup helpful, but anyone who knows a little photography should steer clear.
   
   First, this is a tiny book with only about 234 pages of actual information. A typical Magic Lantern Guide provides roughly twice as much information. The rest of the book is filler, with listings of accessories, camera specifications, online resources, glossary, etc. There simply isn't room to explain everything you need to know in the space available.
   
   Worse, a precious 70 pages are wasted with beginner-level descriptions of how to take snapshots of "real world applications." If you think you can learn how to take sports photos, landscape photography, macro pictures, travel, or wildlife photography in four pages each, go ahead and follow the author's questionable recommendations. But, I expect that most Nikon D300 owners would be either looking for something a little more advanced or, perhaps, favor dropping this material to allow room for advice on using the camera's features.
   
   Unfortunately, this book isn't suitable for beginners because it is riddled with errors, which range from incorrect descriptions of how to use D300 features, to absurd general photography advice. For example:
   
   - We're told about the Quality Button: "Press this button and rotate the Main Command Dial to change the image size and quality." Sorry, but if you want to change the image size from L, to M, to S, you must rotate the Sub-Command Dial.
   - About the focus ring, the author says, "With some lenses, such as the Nikkor AF-S lenses, you can manually adjust the foucs at any time." That simply isn't true. I suggest the author mount any AF-S lens that lacks the M/A-M switch (if he owns one), such as the original 18-55mm zoom, and try to manually adjust focus with the lens set in the A position.
   - The author notes, "As with wide-angle lenses, telephoto lenses also have optical aberrations, such as perspective distortion." Even a beginner photo class will teach you that apparent perspective distortion is most certainly not an optical aberration. The author should Google "coma," "spherical aberration," or "chromatic aberration" to learn what an optical aberration is.
   -The section on filters is a total mess. The author recommends using UV filters to filter out the UV light that digital sensors are immune to. We're told that ND filters "can also be used to slow down your shutter speed" (Amazing! My D300 requires using the main command dial.) The description of how polarization works is wrong and makes no mention that, for proper effect, the Sun should be 90 degrees off the lens axis, nor what types of reflections don't respond to polarization at all. The IR filter description is wrong, too.
   
   These errors do a disservice to beginners, who have no way of knowing where the mistake lies in claims like "small to medium umbrellas lose about a stop and a half to 2 stops of light" or in "continuous lighting, also known as hot lights."
   
   If you're a serious D300 owner, I recommend looking elsewhere. On the plus side, the photos in this book are all first rate.