Book recommendation for a complete newbie

[chip 'n dale rule]

I just purchased a Nikon D40 D-SLR. One of the main motivators for my purchase was the amazing shots of WDW and other places I have seen on this board. Now what I need to know is, what book do you recommend for a complete newbie? I have only ever had a point and shoot in the past and I never even bothered to learn all the settings on that. But I'm now motivated and ready to learn so I am looking for suggestions for a good 'how to' book for someone who is starting at the very beginning. Thanks!

 

[Nikel]

To start, Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson

 

[Suburbanmom]

I'll 2nd that...Understanding Exposure is excellent.

 

[DueyDooDah]

If you bought the dSLR new, it should have come with a manual. Start there. You need to understand your camera and it's features before getting to the good stuff (the other book mentioned by the people above). You'll need to carry the manual with you while you learn for quite some time as dSLRs have an array of features that you should know about. Saying that, I should also caution you that you will not use all functions on the camera. Pick and choose the functions that work for you and just keep the rest in the back of your mind. If you know of a camera user group in your area, sit in on a session and see if they can help you through the early learning phase. And, read the threads on this site. They holds tons of great info.

 

[JCTurner]

I'll third it

Got my copy in hand as I sit here as I'm revising for my return to WDW in 2 weeks. Bought a 40D and intent on getting the best pics possible.

Enjoy !

JC

 

[chip 'n dale rule]

Update: I got a copy of Understanding Exposure for Christmas and I really love the photos. It seems like a great book but I have one glaring question!?! The author bases all of his techniques on the light meter indicating a correct exposuse. "Adjust your shutter speed until the camera's light meter indicates a correct exposure in your viewfinder and take the photograph" I've looked everywhere (in the viewfinder and elsewhere) and I do not think that a D40 has an indicator for correct exposure. Am I missing it somewhere? Any suggestions? TIA!

 

[DizneyNutz]

Update: I got a copy of Understanding Exposure for Christmas and I really love the photos. It seems like a great book but I have one glaring question!?! The author bases all of his techniques on the light meter indicating a correct exposuse. "Adjust your shutter speed until the camera's light meter indicates a correct exposure in your viewfinder and take the photograph" I've looked everywhere (in the viewfinder and elsewhere) and I do not think that a D40 has an indicator for correct exposure. Am I missing it somewhere? Any suggestions? TIA!

I have the Rebel xti, but if you look into the viewfinder, you should see the EV with the plus + (overexposure) and minus - (underexposure) (looks like you have +/- 5 EV on your camera). When in Manual mode as he describes, you set your aperature then look in the viewfinder (or wherever it is displayed on the D40) and adjust your shutter speed until the bar on the scale is cented not on the plus or minus side. Hope this helps.

 

[DizneyNutz]

Looked up your D40 Manual. Look at pages 47 and 22 in your manual. They explain how to display it on your camera.

 

[chip 'n dale rule]

It does!!!! Thanks so much! That was really driving my crazy. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed trying to learn all of this. Thanks again!

 

[DizneyNutz]

It WILL be a little overwhelming learning your way around a new camera with all the bells and whistles, but once you really handle the camera pushing the many buttons (with your manual handy of course) then the Understanding Exposure book will be helpful when you are ready to start taking photos. Hope you enjoy the camera!

 

[boBQuincy]

I am not a big fan of "Understanding Exposure", feeling it pushes readers into using manual exposure needlessly. The book does point out to "learn to use" manual so when in Auto you know what the camera is doing and why, and can change it if desired.

Today's cameras will deliver a good exposure in "Auto" almost all the time, far more often than a beginner trying "Manual" because they think it is the only way to go. Peterson likes using "Manual" but "Program", "Aperture" or "Shutter" can give the same results, and easier.

Start in "Auto" or "Program", and try "Manual" on subjects you don't care about, so the inevitable mistakes are not on once-in-a -lifetime photos.
Btw, probably 95% of my serious photos are taken in "Program" mode.

 

[LMarge]

Btw, probably 95% of my serious photos are taken in "Program" mode.

THANK YOU!!! Hearing someone whose work I really admire say that, makes me feel so much less pressure!! I thought everyone around here shot mainly in manual!!! I loved the program mode on my S2IS, and so far it's doing a fine job on the new XTi ! I do need to utilize the whole camera, not just the "lazy" mode as my dh calls it!!!

 

[pjacobi]

Today's cameras will deliver a good exposure in "Auto" almost all the time,

You missed the entire point of the book!

Each scene has several correct exposures, however, only one may be the most "creatively correct" exposure. The choice that the photographer makes is the difference between a snapshot and art.


-Paul

 

[boBQuincy]

I read the entire book today and don't buy into it. Peterson's poor analogies, condescending style of writing, numerous errors, and incorrect "facts" all contribute to a book that I just do not care for.

Press the lens release button and turn the lens 1/4 turn to see the depth of field preview?
No, there are far better books for learning about exposure than this one. I will stick with Ansel Adams "The Negative", it gets the facts right.

You missed the entire point of the book!

Each scene has several correct exposures, however, only one may be the most "creatively correct" exposure. The choice that the photographer makes is the difference between a snapshot and art.


-Paul

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Didn't we do a poll a while back on what mode DSLR shooters shot in most of the time? If I recall Av (Aperture priority) was the most common, followed by P (auto exposure), then Tv (Shutter priority), with M (manual) last.

I shoot in Av most of the time because I'm usually concerned about controlling DOF and not that worried about shutter speed. I use Tv mode when I'm particularly concerned about shutter speed. I use P mode when conditions are changing rapidly and I don't really want to spend a lot of attention on my camera. I use M pretty rarely - generally only when I want to maintain a consistent exposure across a series of shots or I'm using studio flashes.

I definetly agree with the advice that you should use P until you know better.

 

[boBQuincy]

A book that I can definitely recommend for newbies (and for those with experience as well) is Alain Briot's "Mastering Landscape Photography".

Alain goes into topics such as: seeing; light; composition; lenses; and our favorite, exposure. Some of the topics are published at The Luminous Landscape but the book offers a chance to get all of the topics in one place.

Great stuff!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I think you'll learn as much by experimenting as you will be reading. Go out and take the same shot with different settings for shutter speed, aperture, and ISO and then look at the shots to see how they differ.

The basics of exposure and using a DSLR aren't really that hard to master. The hard part is learning good composition and good lighting.