Product Description:
Focal Digital Camera Guides: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D
Just bought a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D and looking to combine practical know-how with inspiration? This one-stop, easy-to-read guide covers all the basic functions of the camera, and everything beyond.
For the basics, turn to the quick start guide, which will get you up and running in five minutes.
For an understanding of your camera’s many controls and features, check out the section called “The Camera.” If all you need is a quick explanation, you’ll find it. If you’re looking for the Whole Story, you’ll find that, too. Settings that affect how your pictures look are accompanied by full-color examples that show you exactly what you can expect. This section also covers the camera’s menus, playback features, memory, and power sources.
The section called “Software” shows you how to get the most out of your camera’s software. It covers tethered shooting, color management, RAW conversion, storing your images, managing your library, and backup strategies – to name just a few topics.
Ultimately, this book’s greatest strength isn’t its focus on the camera or the software; it’s the detailed, easy-to-follow instruction it offers on using your camera to take truly superior photographs. Sections devoted to lenses, subject matter, and light cover these variables in depth, always presenting the most effective techniques in the context of the strengths and limitations of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D.
Written by a widely acclaimed photographer and photography teacher, Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D shows you how to get the shots you can see in your head but have never been able to capture with a camera.
* The quick start guide will have you taking great photos in five minutes.
* In-depth coverage of every feature and control ensures that you have access to the tools you need for every shot.
* Full-color examples demonstrate how different settings affect your photos.
* Expert coverage of lenses, lighting, and subject matter gives you the practical knowledge you need to go after any shot.
* Step-by-step instructions on photo editing and image management help you get the most out of your camera’s software.
* A detailed review of accessories for your camera explains which of these add-ons offer the most value for your needs.
* Dozens of tips and tricks prepare you for every situation you’re likely to encounter – in the field, at the studio, or at your next wedding or family reunion.
*Get up and running fast with a visual tour of the camera and quick start guide by a professional photographer who writes in a clear, no-nonsense style
*See how camera settings change your images with good and bad shots side by side and understand how to shoot, process and color manage and archive your images
*Focal Camera Guides is a brand new series of colorful, modern guides to top DSLRs
Summary: Better for users with a bit of experience
Rating: 3
I read the book from the perspective of a relative newbie to SLR photography. I don’t know what the numbers on a lens mean (EF-S 17-55??). I don’t really know the difference between a full-frame and a “chop” camera. I don’t know what macro or telephoto mean…though I think I’ve got “zoom” down!
For me, this book was a mixed bag. It was great to have a resource that’s specific to my camera model, so I could follow instructions specifically. There were areas of the book that I found to be quite clear, as well as sections that left me scratching my head.
The first thing I noticed, to my dismay, was that there’s an incorrect photo on page 33. Normally it wouldn’t be a big deal, but the photo is supposed to show the position of the dial in “Portrait” mode, but in fact it shows the dial in “Program” mode. A total newbie who didn’t pick up on this right away might start of on the hopelessly wrong foot.
Going through the descriptions of the menus was confusing to me. Again, probably quite clear to someone who knows a thing or two about photography, but ended up quite lost on numerous occasions. There were other carelessly worded sections in the book, including several references to “CF cards” (which I assumed to mean Compact Flash…but this model uses SD cards). Another example is references to the “incandescent lighting” white balance settings, while the camera itself uses the term “tungsten light.”
I did not review the “software” section of the book, as I did not install or use the Canon-supplied image software.
There are interesting sections on the book about light, lenses, and especially subjects and accessories. It’s impossible for a book like this to go into these areas in exhaustive detail, but it does provide some useful tips and insights for getting good pictures.
A big part of the problem, for me, is that I really need to take a basic photography class and get some experience with this camera. For my situation, the book was useful, but a step or two more advanced than I, as a beginner, was ready for.
Summary: Layout Stinks, Boring, Too General, Not Specific Enough to This Camera’s Model
Rating: 2
I purchased the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi nine months ago, it’s my first DSLR and I’m learning more now about SLRs than when I used my film SLR and I love it! The user manual that comes with the camera is a total joke and I set off to purchase a book from a third party to teach me what Canon chose to not teach.
This book by CHRISTOPHER GREY disappointed me and I deem it insufficient for me.
The layout is terrible which makes understanding the text difficult because none of the illustrations are labeled with a reference number (i.e. figure 3.7) and side by side comparison photos are often on different pages (requiring the page to be turned to see it). The pages are way too cluttered. The small page size often with six or more illustrations on a two page spread, with little white space to help one’s eyes rest, and the fact that the text goes deep into the center crease makes it hard to read. There is not a lot of detail about this model of the camera, it is not infused throughout the text. Too much of this manual is general information that applies to all photography.
After a thorough side by side comparison I feel that the book by DAVID BUSCH “DAVID BUSCH’S CANON EOS REBEL XSi / 450D DIGITAL SLR PHOTOGRAPHY” is much better. All I want is one book that tells me how to use the camera, shows clear examples of the difference between using this setting or that setting, and also why I should do things that way. When I understand the why’s I can retain that information for use that knowledge on the fly when in the field (without consulting the book).
Numerous times I sat down to read the Grey book and use it with my camera but found the crammed layout too visually cluttered to handle. The text is dry and lacks excitement for this camera model or for Canon’s. The book didn’t draw me in, it turned me off.
Some sections are general discussions of photography such as light and composition that completely lack details specific to Canon cameras or this specific model.
To be fair to the GREY book, before reviewing it for Amazon Vine, and because I want to be fair before publishing a book rating at 3 stars or below, and because I don’t enjoy writing non-glowing reviews, I pulled out my copy of BUSCH’s book. I had previously purchased Busch’s book from Amazon and did side by side comparisons and read the Busch book more thoroughly than I had in the past, spending about four hours at that task. This told me all I needed to know, that I favor the Busch book and like the Busch book more than I’d previously realized. The book by Busch gives more text information in a more clear way, has larger illustrations, and has a great page layout.
I rate this book 2 stars = I Don’t Like It.
(I’m being kind and not giving it a 1 star = I Hate It rating because the Grey book will teach someone something, it is not completely useless.)
For more details about the negative opinions listed above for the book by Christopher Grey, with some specific examples, see below.
I am disappointed with the section about picture styles, it is skimpy and says to experiment to find which you like (!). It fails to explain more details about this feature that I learned from reading the book by Busch.
One of my biggest complaints is the illustrations. First they are on the small side compared to other books on the market. The section about using the software that comes with the camera has the smallest illustrations which is not good considering we need to read the small symbols on the screen captures. See page 94 (about using the camera’s menus) for an example of too many small illustrations (nine) without captions that make matching to the text content tricky.
Most of the illustrations have no captions and none have reference numbers. When trying to show a camera using different settings on the same subject it would be clearer to reference a certain illustration (figure 2.6 or figure 2.7). On pages 88-89 there are photos about text on page 87 that have nothing to do with text on page 89.
In the section about lenses you have to guess which image is to what lens, and not every lens has an image to go with it which I think it should. The lens reviews are odd, not really helping me decide which is a must have or which is very specialized. There are no comments about price such as saying “this lens is fantastic but costs over $1000 so if looking to spend less this other lens will do much of the same thing for less money”.
I feel strongly that side by side comparisons of two or more images should be on the same page or at least the same two page spread, the reader should not have to flip over to the next page and back and forth to compare them. See pages 180, 186 and 187 for examples. See pages 85-86 also.
Perhaps these layout issues is not the author’s fault but the other staff of publisher, the graphic designer or the editor’s, or someone else, in any event these problems make the book hard for me to use by turning me off, leaving me confused, or tiring my eyes out.
Summary: An excellent beginner’s book for taking great pictures using the Canon XSi
Rating: 5
This is a how-to book for taking beautiful and creative pictures with the Canon XSi camera, for someone who is in the beginner level of photography understanding and experience. It complements the camera operation manual provided by Canon, which tells you about all the functions and capabilities of the camera, but mentions nothing about when to use what particular function or feature, or how to take beautiful picture in varying lighting circumstances. Of course you still can take decent pictures without consulting this book, but this is true only if subject and lighting situations are normal (the subject is not moving, light is hitting the subject from the front, and contrast is normal). Also, the Canon manual does not teach you anything about how to take a picture that looks great by paying careful attention to composition, depth of field control, shutter speed control, white balance modification, and under/over exposure.
The book is divided into six parts. Only Part 1 (The Camera) is specific to Canon Digital Rebel XSi. Part 2 (The Software), 4 (Lenses), and 6 (Accessories) are specific to Canon. Part 3 (Light) and 5 (The Subjects) can said to be applicable to any camera, conventional or digital. Once you read over the Part 1’s 80-some pages of explanation, with color pictures, of camera functions and settings, it should give you a much greater understanding of the camera than what was provided by the Canon manual. As a beginner, you should then move to Part 3 (Light) and Part 5 (Subjects), because they will provide you the necessary knowledge so that, together with Part 1 (The Camera), you will be able to take non-ordinary pictures in any situation.
This book is very well written; all technical terms are explained clearly. I highly recommend this book to anyone starting out in photography.
Summary: Great Step-by-Step Guide
Rating: 4
Don’t want to go through that tiny black-and-white manual that came with your camera? This is the perfect beginner’s guide with easy-to-understand language and great graphics. It will teach you everything you need to know to get your camera up and running and taking great pictures. There’s always more to learn with digital photography, but this is a great first step.
Summary: Excellent Reference Guide for DSLRs
Rating: 5
Excellent introductory guide for beginners. Advanced DSLR users may be looking for something more.
As a DSLR beginner user, I rate this book 5 stars.
As a DSLR advanced user, my friend rates this book 3.75 stars.
This is one of the best instructional/reference guides I have ever read regarding using a product. The book is very in-depth on almost every topic, and has many pictures to show precisely what the author is talking about.
Even though this book has XSi and 450D on the cover, it can also be used as a general reference for any and all DSLR cameras. The guide offers many tricks, tips, techniques, and rules to follow when using your camera. There are sections that focus mainly on those two camera models, but 50% of the other topics applies to any DSLR.
The author begins with specific review of the two camera models, the buttons, menus, features, etc. The author continues with the basics, such as the different modes on the camera, settings, and lighting. The additional sections cover the software that comes with the cameras, and some additional equipment that a owner may consider purchasing for better pictures.
As a DSLR beginner myself, I found this book to be very educational, informative, and necessary as a reference guide. A friend of mine is an advanced user, and he provided his rating, which is at the top of this review.
* Publisher: Focal Press
* Number Of Pages: 256
* Publication Date: 2008-08-29
* ISBN-10 / ASIN: 024081066X
* ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780240810669
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