Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide Reviews

• Entirely about the Nikon D80

  
  By A2BN67MBQQ23G1 on 2007-08-04
  This book manages to pack an enormous amount of information about the Nikon D80 into its compact, portable 250 pages. A full two-thirds of the book deals directly with the camera, its components, and features, and how to use the D80's features in much more detail than you'll find in the manual. Rather than just restating the information supplied with the thin, poorly-organized guide packed in the box with the camera, this book provides lucid descriptions of each control, including when and why you might want to use a particular setting.
  
  Full color illustrations of each view of the camera makes finding the controls easy and fast, absent the mind-numbing cross references that clutter other books. Should information you need be located somewhere else in the guide, a helpful icon note helps you find it. After a "Quick Start" chapter that gets you rolling, a chapter on key features and one on setting up various options follows.
  
  Particularly useful are the chapters on general photography, which are all very D80-specific. Busch doesn't just explain exposure essentials, using lenses, or working with light. He shows you how to get the best exposures using the tools built into the D80, how to select and work with Nikon lenses, and how to use both available light and Nikon flash. I wish there were more about Nikon flash here, but that topic deserves a book of its own, and there is a Digital Field Guide that covers the essentials: Nikon Creative Lighting System Digital Field Guide
  
  Even the 70 pages on Photo Subjects is highly oriented towards the D80. There are nearly two dozen typical subjects, such as fireworks, lighthouses, events, each accompanied by suggestions for which Nikon lenses might be best-suited (with a few non-Nikon lenses sprinkled it), along with the settings used on the D80 to take the example photos. Obviously a great deal of effort was made in making these handy subject guides specific to this camera.
  
  I've reviewed several of this author's Field Guides, and like the others, this one is highly readable, surprisingly comprehensive, full of information about the camera that you won't find in the manual, and technically accurate. (I was unable to find any of the "errors" mentioned earlier, either in the text or illustrations.) I've seen the alternative D80 guidebooks, including DVDs, e-books, and bound books (most plagued by black-and-white illustrations.) This one is by far the best.
  
  
  

• Hardly about the D80 at all...

  
  By ACTU6UR17GZ46 on 2007-06-03
  David D. Busch is an accomplished photographer and author. He has said of this Field Guide, "I think it's my best yet of the five guidebooks I've written". I tried hard to find reflections of this expertise and confidence in the book. I did not succeed. Perhaps the problem is in editing. Busch has allowed, "early copies of this book fell victim to a production error that inadvertently deleted the hyphens", but there are more serious editing errors in the later version of the book. For all that, I find the real problem is the content. Or lack thereof.
  
  This book is a terrible disappointment. It is only marginally about the D80. Well over half the book is on general photography: exposure essentials, all about lenses, working with light, over 70 pages on photo subjects (taking pictures of fireworks, lighthouse photography practice...), etc. Though the lenses mentioned are Nikon, there is no attempt to make this large part of the text D80 specific.
  
  What D80 material there is is just the manual restated. Except the Field Guide has less detail than the manual.
  
  The Index seems satisfactory until you discover the two-column, ten-plus-page Glossary has been entered into the Index. Many Index entries point to nothing but the Glossary; the topic is not even covered in the text.
  
  I tried rereading the generic photography material to get some value from the book, but that material is spread over so many topics it is superficial.
  
  Perhaps a Field Guide is not supposed to contain any technical detail. However, the lack of familiarity with the D80 is exemplified by such as the photo QT.-12 showing the USB cable being plugged into the D80; except it shows the cable being plugged into the Wired Remote Port.
  
  There are two Amazon offerings that are vastly superior to this book: Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D80 (Magic Lantern Guides) and A Short Course in Nikon D80 Photography book/ebook.
  
  
  

• Best Nikon D80 Guidebook Available

  
  By A1V10K3EOSW1V6 on 2007-06-04
  I recently purchased a Nikon D80 as a backup to my Nikon D200, and have been more than happy with it. It offers many of the features and all of the image quality at a lower price. I was also very happy with this author's Digital Field Guide for the D200, and decided to check this book out. I was not disappointed.
  
  The occasional typo or misstep didn't bother me. I'm more interested in the kind of information a book can provide me, and this one delivers. It combines detailed information on using the D80, in much more depth than the tiny black and white manual that comes with the camera. The first third of the book leads you through a quick tour and roadmap with large, full color photos that make it easy to find, understand, and use each control as well as chapters on using each of the features and menu choices. It tells you how to select settings, and why, in a much clearer form.
  
  The next part explains the fundamentals of exposure, using lenses, and working with all forms of light, using the capabilities of the D80 camera to their fullest extent. As with the D200 book, my favorite part was the large chapter that described several dozen typical photo taking opportunities and how to capture them using the D80 and its available lenses and accessories. Quite useful and specific!
  
  I enjoy the Field Guide concept, and like having all the essential information I need to operate my D80 in one book, whether I am traveling light and using my D80 as my only camera, or whether I am using it together with other cameras (it's nice to have settings information at hand, because other models use different settings and have different controls.)
  
  I didn't like the other D80 guides, particularly those that had only black-and-white photos, and those that were e-books or DVDs that I couldn't take with me in the field unless I also took along a laptop. This book goes everywhere!
  
  

• Pure, concise, informative and well thought out!

  
  By A3FIP4SQRGFZAW on 2007-11-26
  O.K. here's the deal. You go out and purchase a Nikon D80, bring it home, open the box and begin to pour through the manual. About 1-2 minutes in you begin to yawn and do your best to keep your head up. You begin to nod off gaping at the one-dimensional black and white figures on the page accompanied by droll (and vague) language seemingly devised in legalese by out-of-work lawyers. You fight to remain conscious while the right side of your brain hopes you'll gather all the neceassary information through osmosis.
  
  Fast forward to David D. Busch's "Digital Field Guide". Information and illustrations that leap from the page and grab you by the lapels and enlighten you like a Buddhist monk at your local monastery. It's all covered here. And let's face it we can use all the help we can get in this digital new frontier. Basics like exposure, lighting and composition. Also types of lenses, ISO settings, aperture or mode, shutter speed and tips on downloading and editing your photos. You have a great camera in the Nikon D80. You need a great guide to get you where you're going. You wouldn't buy a Porsche and place a VW engine in it.You want the best to go with the best. The same applies here. This guide has all the essentials. Ya gotta buy it. After all, you're worth it.
  
  

• One of the Best Nikon D80 Guides

  
  By A1X2M91277ZD00 on 2007-07-18
  The Nikon D80 was designed for people like me: Jumping from an advanced digital point & shoot to this excellent SLR- both using Secure Digital cards. I'm not a pro, but I have a moderate knowledge of digital cameras. The Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide fits the type of consumer that Nikon targeted for the D80.
  
  This book is an attractive supplement to Nikon's D80 instruction booklet. Nikon's booklet is factual but the organization is fragmented. With Nikon's booklet, new D80 users will spend more time flipping pages than taking pictures. With the D80 Digital Field Guide, facts are presented in an organized, clear, concise, and easy to understand manner. A pro that have been using digital SLR's for years wouldn't need a book in this genre, but I did and have found this book extremely useful!
  
  I did receive a very early edition of this book. It is true that there are missing hyphens & a wrong USB port photo. Books like this are rushed for publication because Nikon will eventually make a replacement for the D80 that will make this book obsolete. That's the nature of technology today. Looking past the first printing errors, I find that the good far outweighs the bad- therefore the 5 star rating. The few mistakes are very obvious and repetitive. They do not deter the user from learning the D80 and photography. I suspect that printing errors will be corrected in later editions.
  
  This color guide is attractive and formatted like a Frommer's travel guide. The price (an amazing $13.59 at Amazon) also makes it a bargain in comparison to other books in this category. I highly recommend this book.
  
  I want to give this book 5 stars, but the Amazon's edit selection will not allow me to change it from a 4 to a 5! This book deserves 5 stars.
  
  
  
• Great Basic Guide
  By A3BJ54P93UNKBQ on 2007-07-13
  Busch's field guide provides all of the essential information one needs to fully operate and appreciate the D80's features. In addition Busch provides several chapters that help you get the most out of your camera. I'm an advanced amateur who is new to digital photography. I've read a couple of other books on the D80 but this was the best.
  
  
• Best Guide Available!!!
  By A29NXE3EO841Y4 on 2007-10-26
  I love this guide! I got this guide just before a trip to Alaska and by the time I got back home, it was well used with many "dog-earred" pages. It is now THE guide which goes with me and my D80. I am a novice, but I knew enough about photography to be concerned about the huge amount of bright light and over abundance of white from glaciers.
  
  From reading the guide and learning more about exposure, lighting and white balance, I was able to shoot with auto ISO, f11 and/or f13 at 1/200.
  The glacier photos were beautiful and successful shots.
  
  Busch's D80 is much better than Nikon's manual which comes with the camera, or the Magic Lantern guide which both left me confused and still with unanswered questions.
  
  The Table of Contents and Index is precise and detailed, making it easy to find the information one needs. The glossary is written in language that a beginner like myself can understand. While it teaches specific D80 functions, it also teaches general photography using the D80. A favorite addition is Chapter 7: Photo Subjects. He describes different subjects and concerns one may need for a specific photo. He presents a "Table" describing set-up, lighting, lens, camera settings, exposure, and accessories one may need such as a tripod. This section provides the photographer with opportunites to "practice" specific shooting circumstances and be successful with the photo.
  
  This D80 guide is a real MUST HAVE guide.
  
  
  
  
  
• Great User's Guide
  By A3DXQ2OKYA5YOS on 2007-07-16
  I would definitely recommend this guide to any new user of the Nikon D80 camera. It is easy to follow and looking up information is much easier than the owner's manual.
  
  
• Clear, Complete Explanations for Using D80
  By A2T9TTDWH5WMP7 on 2007-09-05
  Please ignore the other amazon review about this book that states this book is hardly about the camera at all. NOT TRUE! This book gives wonderful descriptions of how to use this camera, and explains how to use good photographic techniques with this camera. Great book!
  
  
• Nikon D-80
  By A29ZL3EUXPASU7 on 2008-01-01
  I thought I knew my D80 reasonably well. However, I gained many new insights from the book. I like the inclusion of actual colored pictures of controls and actual colored pictures of results in the small book. I already have marked many pages for future reference.
  
  I recommend you skim over the book and then go back with camera in hand and run through the controls and procedures detailed in the book.
  
  
• A Good Addition To The D80
  By AEDAW8R84G4JZ on 2007-08-25
  This book is an easy read and packed full of good information. I would recommend it to anyone with a D80.
  
  
• Handy Field Guide
  By A3CPWW5H8S8FDK on 2007-09-10
  David Busch Nikon D80 is a very handy field guide for those who are new to digital SLRs like me. I bought the Nikon D80 months ago and found the official manual coming with the camera in "bits & pieces", difficult to find the information, even about the same subject. This book really helps me to understand my first DSLR.
  
  
• Full of Relevant Information
  By A4ZTZFOO75HD2 on 2007-10-24
  I bought this along with the Lantern Guide for my D80 because the manual is somewhat lacking in details. This Digital Field Guide has the details and the application of them in various situations. It has helped me to quickly get to know my new camera.
  
  
• Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide by David D. Busch
  By AUB28QGI2VCQ2 on 2007-09-07
  After trying to make sense of the owner's manual I bought this guide from Amazon and have been very pleased. The photos let me take my camera and know exactly what I am looking at. The text I find to be very concise and easy to follow and with a few exceptions, it has been a huge help in my learning curve on this camera. My only real disappointment has been the size of the book because it is not easy to carry in the field.
  
  
• Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide
  By A1PCZ9FMKU3JG6 on 2007-08-23
  excellent book and much easier to follow than the Nikon manual. Some very good tips also - highly recommended.
  
  
• Improve your learning curve - Nikon D80 field guide
  By A1USIHS7RQNQ71 on 2007-10-17
  I had previously read the manual that came with the D80, but found you can put the manual away and enjoy learning to use the camera with this guide. Highly recommended. B. Norman
  
  
• Nikon D80 Field Guide
  By A12T04JZLTH9FT on 2008-02-26
  This Nikion D80 Field Guide is very well laid out and easier to follow than the manual that came with the camera. Very helpful
  
  
• Nikon D80 Field Pocket Manual
  By A8PICC0BU76SA on 2008-02-27
  An awesome book.............Simple approach to all of the features of the Nikon D80. Great backpocket companion...........Loaded with info
  A Great Buy
  
  
• Nikon D 80 Digital Field Guide by David D. Busch
  By APS8VE2RWV31X on 2008-03-28
  This is an excellent instructional book that goes farther then the product book and is much easier to understand.I would recommend this book to anyone with a Nikon D80 digital SLR camera.
  
  
• Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide
  By A2C7Y9VZ9OYRT1 on 2008-07-19
  We just bought the D80 and was intereted in getting an education on the manual settings. We took a trip along the Alaska Highway and took 10,000 pictures in 7 days. We were able to take each setting and work on it while taking some extraordinary pictures. What you can do with your camera and then once you have downloaded the pictures is great. Overall, the best new product manual we have ever used.
  
  
• A good intro to the D80
  By A3QQGPI3CTV9SX on 2008-04-01
  I liked this much better than the guide that comes from Nikon. It was worth getting for me being I had never owned a digtal pro level camera.
  
  
• Not for me
  By A2YZA6TIT0QDCP on 2007-09-23
  After reading this book I don't understand why anyone would buy it over using the Nikon D80 Manual that comes with the camera. The Nikon manual describes everything that you might need to know about using you D80. The book, on the other hand, glosses over many important details of how to specifically use the D80. Don't think that you need an extra book when you have a free and complete manual. Read the manual; skip the book.
  
  
• Much Better Than the Nikon manual
  By A3RV26BYSQD8ON on 2008-05-02
  For whatever faults this book may have it is certainly an improvement over the Nikon Manual for the D80. The D80 has all the bells and whistles but you need this roadmap to make it work.
  
  
• Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide by David Bush
  By A2V3F0XI8PCRLW on 2008-08-09
  Very good, with the help of this book I can use my D80 now.Combine with the other book I order ,Magic Lantern Guides Nikon D80 .I am now very happy.It,s a pity I can't get the book form of another guide to NikonCaptureNX2, but at least I found another from your Company which I have already order. Thanks everybody .
  
  
• Glorified instruction manual
  By A1GKONRSMPOCHB on 2008-02-10
  I found that this field guide was somewhat useful in explaining many of the features of the camera and how to use them, but I wish I would have saved my money because the instruction manual has much of that information. I would recommend this to beginners or to someone who wants a somewhat more informative manual than is provided by Nikon. Anyone looking for a how to book on photography using the D80 should look elsewhere.
  
  
• not the greatest
  By AEKABHU7DWP49 on 2008-02-22
  I thought this book would be a better reference for the D80 than the manual, but in fact, the manual was better organized and more precise. I felt the author jumped all over the place and I didn't really learn much more about the camera than what was offered in the D80 manual.
  
  This author seems like a very knowledgeable photographer though. The editing of this book is horrible... spelling mistakes throughout.
  
  
• Photo lessons specfic to the D80, but too heavy to be a field guide
  By A26EEQT1MDBXA7 on 2008-03-27
  If you bought a D80 as your first camera this is a fair book. Many, though, are much better at explaining the basic concepts of photography. But if you know what depth of field is, you don't need this book; look elsewhere.
  
  Only about 20% of this is D80 specific and that part is simply a large-print version of the factory "book".
  
  It's also mis-named as being a "field guide". If should have spiral binding so I can lay the book down with the page open while handling the camera. That should be a feature on ANY camera instruction book.
  
  I'm a semi-pro shooter and I got more and better info on what the buttons do from the fold-up guide also for sale within Amazon.
  
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  Okay, I've had a bit more time with the book and want to raise the rating to four stars. Why four? Depth of field is explained, yes, but a more careful and thorough reading shows that Busch has described the function as it's employed on the D80. ditto for the other million functions and I'm finding camera-specific information to be very useful.
  
  Why not 5 stars? I gave up my huge camera bag with several lenses, extra bodies, filters etc. after lugging it around Russia for a month; it took almost a year for my hip to heal. I sold it all and went the one camera with one lens route with Photoshop on the laptop (I don't lug it around). With light weight as a tactical goal, a slick-paper book is just too darn heavy to be called a Field Guide. Read this, keep it on the shelf, and take the lighter-weight Nikon manual as a reminder.
  
  
• Great help for new D80 owners
  By A2G0LZ43CTKJI2 on 2008-07-10
  This book is a big help for new owners of the Nikon D80. It is easier to understand than the owners manuel that comes with the camera and is in color. I use it as a field guide and keep it in my camera pack.
  
  
• Most informative
  By A1GJGN8CJAEGIR on 2008-08-30
  The Nikon D80 Field Guide is an easy to read, very informative camera manual. It is organized in a logical fashion, making it easy to find an answer by using the table of contents or index. It is easier to use than the manual that comes with the camera, has many color illustrative pictures, but does not get too technical. It is the book to keep with you in your camera bag always.
  
  
• Good hands-on guide to the D80
  By A3L54OKI942KP8 on 2008-05-09
  This book is definitely a step-up from the included camera manual. The quick start section and the sections describing the camera controls are very complete and helpful. Also, the section describing how best to setup your camera for specific picture settings is great.
  
  

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