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Beginner dslr Book

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sewart

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Hi again my trusted people.

Now, I've trailed through a few threads all giving good advice on books for beginners but even the beginners seem way more knowledgeable than me!!

I appreciate there is a lot of good online resource info available but I prefer to wade through a book.

Problem is they all seem very complicated. I need a book to explain what AV, TV, P, all the different modes are and describe what White Balance, Shutter Speed, Aperture, Exposure, ISO, AV, AF, AE, AF, Tungsten, etc!! (As others can testify, I just found out today my camera houses a meter!).

I've briefly looked at

The Photographer's D-SLR Pocketbook: The Essential Guide to Getting the Most from Your Camera
Michael Freeman

and

Quick Snap Guide to Digital SLR Photography: An Instant Start-up Manual for New DSLR Owners
David D. Busch

But is there more basic than this out there?

Steph
 
Well Steph,

It's always a wise decision to glean the proper information
on the basics on any topic, and when it comes to photography,
you can't go wrong in reading and understanding as much as you
can of the basic principles that a good, recommended book
has to offer...similar to those that you mentioned.
There are many of them out there, and it may be worth it to do a
search here on the DPReview site for such recommendations.

For what it's worth, and although I have yet to crack the darned thing,
I picked up a copy of the "Nikon D5000 For Dummies" book
as I was interested in seeing their approach to explaining the
principles and specific information towards this particular camera
and how it's many features come into play.

It may be worth looking into picking one of these books up
through Amazon? I believe that there is a "Look Inside" feature
which also may help in seeing just what the book has to offer
in terms of sample information as it will show you certain
pages and would give you a better idea of what the book itself
has to offer? Depending on your camera, there may be a specific one
out there that would give you a different insight, moreso than that
of the printed manual or downloadable pdf version that came with
your unit?

Just a thought, but I would still think that you are on the right
track learning as much as you can on the basic principles involved
in photography which would cover a much wider range of not
only specific cameras, but the science behind the art of photography itself.

Thanks
Kim
--
Shoot first and ask questions later!
 
Thanks Kim - unfortunately it's not a Nikon I have but a Pentax K-x. So I'm not aware of any specific books.

Any other ideas would be appreciated.
 
I take what you say on-board and have bookmarked the videos.

Is it only exposure I'm not understanding then?? I feel I need a grounding on all the photographic terms from something more basic but perhaps all the things I listed in my first post are are all linked to exposure? I really wouldn't know.
 
Exposure is affected by available light, shutter speed, apeture, and ISO so you will learn about all of these things. Once you learn what they are and how each affects a photo, the videos will show you how to get good exposure. The link also has videos on composition.

Here are some links with a lot of good information

Read all of the articles on the first link
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

Then read what interests you here.
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/
 
Thanks for the clarification, it's certainly a book I'll consider.

Any other suggestions for complete beginners, explaining terminology, etc., welcome.
 
I added a few links that will help a lot, but the book and especially the videos are much easier to udnerstand.
 
I shall have a look at the links but was hoping to purchase a book I can take away with me for essential beginner stuff.

The two I mentioned in the 1st post I've looked at online but do not own, nor have I read, so wondered if they were worth purchasing. Any other book suggestions, etc.
 
The books in your first post seem to be good choices to learn about the functions of the camera itself.
 
I found this book on the k-10d which is an older model, but probably simmilar to the k-x.
 
Which book is that then?

Of the two I posted earlier, does anyone have a favourite?

After all my expense (well over £500) I'm only looking to buy 1 book..and of course read the manual it came with!
 
Do I have to understand the basics before I can get anything out of Understanding Exposure?? I mean to say....I didn't even know until it was pointed out to me earlier today that my camera has a meter!

I don't even know what all the 1/30 and F3.6's mean on the LCD, sorry but we are talking very first dabble at this sort of thing.
 
Thaty's why understaning exposure is so good,he explains all the why's how's and what's but not by just throwing numbers at you. The point is that after reading this book you will understand about photography. Then you can learn about cameras.
--



My Galleries are at
http://picasaweb.google.com/trevorfcarpenter
 
i haven't looked at the Understanding Exposure book.

as far as : Quick Snap Guide to Digital SLR Photography: An Instant Start-up Manual for New DSLR Owners by David D. Busch

you can view this entire book here
http://my.safaribooksonline.com/book/photography/9781598631876

it is pretty basic and should be easy to understand. look at it on-line and see what you think. they did not have your other option for me to compare.

the one thing i noted about the Quick Snap book is that it didn't really explain... exposure. it is fine for discussing camera controls and a basic understanding of histograms and what area of the viewfinder "center weighted metering" covers... but, it is a bit superficial.

if you are looking to save money, don't get something too basic. i may have missed it looking at the on-line version, but i didn't see much that explained the exposure triangle of aperture, shutter & ISO.

i will try to find this Understanding Exposure book. something a little more advanced than you think you need is not bad. you can ask questions here. the Quick Snap struck me as a fine companion to the owner's manual...
sewart said:
Do I have to understand the basics before I can get anything out of Understanding Exposure??
Click to expand...
Understanding Exposure sounds like it will explain the basics :^)
sewart said:
I mean to say....I didn't even know until it was pointed out to me earlier today that my camera has a meter!

I don't even know what all the 1/30 and F3.6's mean on the LCD, sorry but we are talking very first dabble at this sort of thing.
Click to expand...
 
is this the book by Bryan Peterson?
some reader reviews here

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/understanding-exposure-by-brian-peterson-a-reader-review

a couple mention it was written for film and tweaked for digital. but they say it is a good book...

one reader commented Bryan recommended f/22 and focus at 2 feet... i consider this a poor technique. for a couple reasons. it may explain exposure well, but i would not like Stephanie to take this piece of advice...

PS
the context of the advice was using the hyperfocal technique
Trevor Carpenter said:
Thaty's why understaning exposure is so good,he explains all the why's how's and what's but not by just throwing numbers at you. The point is that after reading this book you will understand about photography. Then you can learn about cameras.
--



My Galleries are at
http://picasaweb.google.com/trevorfcarpenter
Click to expand...
 
actually, i like this book

Exposure and Lighting For Digital Photographers Only, By: Michael Meadhra; Charlotte K. Lowrie
http://my.safaribooksonline.com/book/photography/9780470038697

the chapters are all about how photography works and it was obviously written in the digital age... there isn't much in there about modes. it might seem a bit much, but i think you can catch on. there is plenty on-line to fill in any gaps and you still have a book you like to hold. but, it will be one to grow with. i enjoyed reading through it.
 
I used a Nikon Coolpix L1 from May 2006 until Nov 2010, took pictures just by pressing the button, not using any common sense at all. I did not know ABCD of photography till Nov 2010. I gifted away that camera, so I was left with no camera. I started a search for a good camera and came to know that its not so easy in year 2010. To know what I should buy I needed some information on cameras and photography. I landed here on DPReview around last month. I saw many recommendations for Understanding Exposure, 3rd edition book. I approached my local library and got the book early December. I dont have a camera today, I am dumb starter in photography and I have no experience at all. Yet, I still find the book very useful as it makes me learn and clear my doubts on taking good photos in situations that prevail. The book does not give insight with operating each of the camera buttons, dials and wheels. It gives me the basics of "what is what" in photography, film or digital we should not really care. I read only 2 or 3 pages per day and try to understand those pages, then memorise the concept behind what Bryan is talking about. Sometimes I take tour of his videos on this website http://www.ppsop.com/understandingexposure

Bryan Peterson's another book Understanding Photography Field Guide is also with me through the library. I will start reading it in a week or two.

Steph's original question to know each button, function, dial and wheel, its usage, each menu option and its usage in photography is a good idea. I would love to have a small book on knowing all controls and menu options and their usages, all when-to-use-what-and-how kind of stuff.

I might permanantly buy two or three good books for my reference on digital photography and DSLR camera controls etc. Understanding Exposure 3rd edition will be one of them for sure. Suggestions are welcome which books are really worth holding paperbacks.

Alas, my camera search continues and has a shortlist till date.
SX30IS
FZ100
D3100
Canon Rebel T2i

Thanks!
 
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