Photography book recommendations

[Mickeysfriend]

Happy New Year all! I have been lurking here for some time and I am awed by all your knowledge and talent. I am considering diving into the slr world and I am trying to learn as much as possible before I purchase a camera. Has anyone read Digital SLR Cameras and Photography for Dummies? Just wondering if it is worthwhile to purchase this book. Also, does anyone know if old (25-30 yrs) lenses will work on todays Nikon bodies? I had someone at a camera store tell me, they will work, but not great. Something to do with the sensors?

Thanks for your advice!

 

[ssanders79]

Regarding old lenses: they will work on newer nikon dslr bodies. The catch being they will not meter or auto focus. That means you willneed to set your camera to manual and revert to old school photography. I have 2 old lenses that I use on my D40 that have really been a lot of fun. I do wish I could get auto focus as my eyes are not the best. These old lends for we me to learn to shoot in manual mode which I still use with tv kit lens.

 

[wen-tom]

I was bought the "for dummies" book as a gift (not sure what DM) was trying to say there!) and it is quite good if you like the way the for dummies series teach. I do refer to it quite often but i think it depends what you want to learn as its not specific to a certain camera. Personally i find i use my field guide (david busch) more than the for dummies because i usually need help with how to use my camera

 

[My2Girls66]

I have not read that book so I can't comment. Bryan Peterson has some great books. Understanding Exposure is one of them- it is great- easy to understand. I have a Nikon D50 and a D80- my 20+ y.o. autofocus lenses work just fine on both. There is a crop factor to keep in mind. 1.5x I think. So a 35mm lens on your old Nikon would be like 50mm lens on a new dslr body- 200mm lens would be like a 300mm etc... On the D40, D60 and D40x the old lenses will not autofocus.

 

[ukcatfan]

I had someone at a camera store tell me, they will work, but not great. Something to do with the sensors?

Sounds like a ploy to get you to buy new lenses if you ask me. Some older lenses are just as nice optically as a new lens. They might not be as user friendly, but that has nothing to do with image quality. Being old, be sure they do not have any problems like fungus.

 

[Mickeysfriend]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I do like the Dummies series, they are easy to understand and since I am just starting out, I thought it might be a good starting point. Once I decide on a camera, I will probably buy a more specific book. I also found a book by Scott Kelby that had good reviews, 'The Digital Photography Book' Any comments on that one?

As far as the lenses go, it sounds like they might just work. I had no idea they could have a fungus. Would I be able to see that by just looking at them? Right now I am leaning towards the D80. I would love the D90, but not sure about sinking the money into it.

 

[My2Girls66]

I have the 2 Scott Kelby Digital Photography books- both are excellent
Do you already own the lenses? You can find some great deals on the D80 right now. Just over $700 for body and lens from reputable dealers.

 

[wenrob]

I didn't like the "Dummies" book. Scott Peterson and Scott Kelby's books are first rate though.

 

[Mickeysfriend]

I'm leaning towards the Scott Kelby. The lenses belong to my mom from an old film Nikon. She's not using them so she said I could have them. Don't know any of the details as far as what type they are, etc. It sounds like they might work with the D80. What is a good all purpose starter lens if I were to get a kit lens?

 

[My2Girls66]

The D80 kit is an 18-135mm. Its a great all around lens.

 

[jann1033]

photographic composition by tom grill and mark scanlon.

the reason i like this book so far( up to page 40 ) is it really gives you background on the "why" ie why a certain line gives you a certain feeling, why a frame works or doesn't etc . they didn't have Bryan Peterson's color/composition book but the only problem i have with his other books is to me they don't go into the detail i want( understanding shutter speed more than understanding exposure). BPs are more fun reading but not as fact filled, while this one is drier reading but really goes into the details. it was 21.99 at barnes and noble.
now if i could just figure out what the dumb curved line represents in the golden section i'd be in business( at least now i know the golden section is just basically a 8:5 ratio, which i more than i understood before yesterday)

 

[Suburbanmom]

Thanks for the recommendation. I've been looking for a good composition book. I'll have to check this one out. I'd love to know more about the "why"

 

[Groucho]

My wife got me The Photographer's Eye for Christmas... it's really, really good so far, I have no complaints whatsoever and I am really happy that I'm almost halfway through and I have yet to read the words "rule of thirds". I highly recommend it if you want a book specifically about composition!

She also got me Tom Ang's Digital Photography Masterclass... I'm figuring that that will be airplane reading. It looks really good so far, also.

 

[Villainess]

My wife got me The Photographer's Eye for Christmas... it's really, really good so far, I have no complaints whatsoever and I am really happy that I'm almost halfway through and I have yet to read the words "rule of thirds". I highly recommend it if you want a book specifically about composition!

I just picked this book up over the weekend! Glad to hear you are enjoying it.

 

[jann1033]

My wife got me The Photographer's Eye for Christmas... it's really, really good so far, I have no complaints whatsoever and I am really happy that I'm almost halfway through and I have yet to read the words "rule of thirds". I highly recommend it if you want a book specifically about composition!

She also got me Tom Ang's Digital Photography Masterclass... I'm figuring that that will be airplane reading. It looks really good so far, also.

yeah this one mentions rule of thirds but says it's a guideline unlike the normal dogmatic view i've seen elsewhere.
my barnes and noble stinks in the photo category ( like 20 copies of the same book on using your point and shoot) but i might pick up the "eye" one after i finish this one( almost done, once i start i book i can't put it down, bad habit when husband has to eat a sandwich for dinner )
and mind posting a review once you get into the other one? i would like a good reference book and didn't really see on that fit the bill for that.

 

[Quicklabs]

I got The Photographer's Eye, too. I have to read it slowly, a little bit at a time since there is so much to absorb. I'm learning a lot.

 

[ABell]

Hi Everyone,
I would just like to start off by saying that you all take amazing photos. I am just getting into photography even though I have had my Canon 20D for awhile now. I would like to know what books do you recommend I read to get a better handle on digital photography and how to get some great shots such as yourselves.

Thanks.
Andrea

 

[My2Girls66]

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson and Digital Photography Books 1 & 2 by Scott Kelby

 

[annnewjerz]

Hi Everyone,
I would just like to start off by saying that you all take amazing photos. I am just getting into photography even though I have had my Canon 20D for awhile now. I would like to know what books do you recommend I read to get a better handle on digital photography and how to get some great shots such as yourselves.

Thanks.
Andrea

I would say the general concensus would recommend starting with "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. I got it for Christmas and am almost done with it. After that, I'm going to move onto Beyond Portraiture and Understanding Shutter Speed, both by Bryan Peterson.

There are great photos in the books that serve as examples, the content is really easy to understand and it's just a fun book to read so far.

 

[boBQuincy]

I will take a different approach and recommend Ansel Adams "The Negative" and "The Camera". Written about 30 years ago they of course do not deal with anything digital but they deal very effectively with light and cameras, more so than any other book I have read.

If you read and understand these you will have no problem with camera settings and exposure, ever!