Nikon D50 Digital Field Guide Reviews

• Read the Manual

  
  By A1F6PIIZ0ZHHD6 on 2005-12-22
  The D50 is the Nikon Camera Company's entry level digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR) and will appeal to folks wanting to upgrade from a point-and-shoot camera. Unfortunately, the number of controls on the camera can be daunting and the 100 plus-page, black and white instruction book can be equally daunting. It is to appeal to people intimidated by the manual that the "Nikon D50 Digital Field Guide" with its plentiful color graphics and generous use of white space is designed.
  
  The book is divided into two parts. In the first part Busch describes the camera and various functions. The second part gives some instruction in photography basics, including a discussion of exposure, lenses and the downloading and editing of pictures. There is a chapter entitled "Photo Subjects" that is almost half of the pages in the book and that presents a variety of subjects from "Abstract Photography" to "Zoo and Animal Photography". Each of these sections gives a few general tips on photographing the particular subject matter and then presents one of the author's pictures with a discussion of the author's considerations with regard to setup, lighting, lens, camera settings, exposure and accessories. While the discussion doesn't go into great depth, it might be useful to a beginner encountering a new subject.
  
  With regard to exposure, I was particularly pleased to see the explanation of histograms, since I consider this the most distinct advantage of photographing with a DSLR.
  
  However most of the discussions of the camera were less than adequate. When the author discusses the program, shutter priority, aperture priority and manual modes he never tells the reader when each of these might be appropriate. The D50 offers the user a number of options in setup that are never even mentioned. The author also makes several references to the RAW format but never really suggests why or when it might be a useful format.
  
  His discussion of technique is cursory and disjointed. For example, his discussion of how aperture adjustments affect depth of field comes several pages before any explanation of depth of field. He tells you how to set white balance many pages before explaining the function of white balance.
  
  What particularly surprised me is that Busch has written a much better book on DSLR's called "Digital SLR Cameras and Photography for Dummies." .
  
  You can read the "Nikon D50 Digital Field Guide" if you want a nicely designed book that lures you into reading just enough about the camera and photography to be able to capture a few pictures. For the serious new D50 owner, I would recommend reading the manual that comes with the camera, no matter how intimidating it might appear, and then reading Busch's "For Dummies" book.
  
  

• Must-have!

  
  By AAWFDLJCD8VUX on 2005-11-30
  Another great book from David Busch! I odered my new Nikon D50 online and received it early last week. Then I bought this book, which is magnitudes better than the manual that comes with the camera. The guidance for configuring the D50's complex menu of options is superb, with plenty of "when to use" and "when not to use" information. The scores of techniques in chapter 6 are full of good ideas, and the color photos throughout the pages are incredibly informative -- and sometimes inspirational. This book should be standard issue with every D50.
  
  

• Very Useful

  
  By A2OBTAQQ165KBW on 2006-03-24
  This book is far more extensive than the manual that comes with the camera and it helps with the transition from point-and-shoot photography to SLR. It goes over the basics of SLR photography and can help you taylor your growth in the skills to what you need. Best of all it tells you specificly how to do it with the Nikon D50 rahter than being a general book on photography and SLR photography. Any one who is thinking of making the switch to SLR photography using a D50 will want this book.
  
  

• A color manual and more

  
  By A1HCCYYGI0CPAU on 2006-07-10
  I recommend this book to those who felt the manual that came with the camera was not enough. It covers everything that is in the manual with more detail and every page is in color as well. Along with the information on how to use the camera, it also gives you simple and basic information on how to take pictures explaining exposure, metering and more. Nice book to have around for beginners.
  
  

• Best D50 Book Available

  
  By A2XA3LX5GPJAVK on 2005-12-16
  I considered buying a Nikon D70s, but settled on the D50 because it was a lot less expensive. However, most of the D70s instruction DVDs and books available don't really apply to the D50, because this camera has different controls, etc., for example only one command dial isntead of two, and different buttons on top. So I was glad to get this D50-specific manual that explains these key features clearly.
  
  There are lots of photos of the D50, with annotations explaining what each feature does. I liked the specific advice on the various scene modes -- when to use each one and when not to use each one -- as well as the explanations of use of the different autofocus AF-C, AF-S, and AF-A modes. This was all explained in much better language than in the manual that came with the D50.
  
  The "recipes" section, which is a long section on various types of photography and how to shoot photos in those situations was very good, too. There was specific advice on using the D50 in these environments, including which lenses to use.
  
  All in all a very good book.
  
  
• A Simple Plan
  By A6Z3R870SFRKR on 2005-12-25
  My simple plan for learning how to use my new D50 camera was to buy this book. I figured I'd learn all the camera's features and how to use them. What I didn't plan on was learning the basics of photography -- that was a welcome bonus, as I didn't realize there was so much about picture-taking that could help me take better photos. I was able to start of slowly, learning just as much as I needed to improve my shots, then follow the author's instructions in various picture taking situations as I tackled types I'd never explored before. My simple plan worked out beautifully, thanks to this book.
  
  
• Nikon should bundle this book with every D50
  By A2OFH09UJYSX4T on 2005-12-16
  This book should be included in the D50 package along with the vendor's user manual. Nikon's manual makes a good, if confusing reference, while this book fills in all the gaps that Nikon leaves out. For example, instead of just a couple views of the camera with all the parts labeled willy-nilly, the Digital Field Guide includes an overview photo, then close-ups from various angles, all
  completely labeled with captions that show which control does what. The Quick Tour and first couple chapters will allow any new D50 owner to hit the ground running.
  
  Because the D50 is more likely than, say, the D70 to be purchased by someone new to SLR photography, the basic chapters on photo fundamentals will help anyone who doesn't know what an f-stop or shutter speed is and how they work together to provide correct exposure. You can also learn about all the confusing options and when they should be used.
  
  I loved the 100-page chapter on photography techniques, with several pages devoted to different types of photography situations, with advice on how to get good pictures in each setting.
  
  
• Videos are USELESS in the field.- Take this book instead.
  By AI3PAWB0XHL5M on 2006-07-17
  The whole purpose of a "digital field guide" is to have a compact book with the most essential information at your fingertips when you're out taking pictures. Unless you carry a laptop around with you as you shoot, a video is pretty useless. In fact, I find videos not very helpful even when I am at home. I can't imagine trying to learn how to use a camera by sitting around watching a movie. The best way to really learn is to go out and take pictures, using this book as a friendly helper. You'll find all the most important information you need about settings and controls, explanations of what they do, and recommendations about which settings to use in particular situations, with example photographs in each case. I find that when I come home from a productive shoot I'm more satisfied with what I learned than when I sit and watch a video.
  
  
• We needed this!
  By A3F7SYOSQZIK9R on 2005-12-23
  The manual that comes with the Nikon D50 has good basic information, and it certainly is the authoritative source for reference information about the camera's menus and settings and controls. However, this book does a much better job of explaining how to use the camera within the greater context of SLR photography.
  
  I recently purchased a Nikon D50 for my high-school-age son, who has a budding interest in photography. At the same time I got him this book as well as Busch's other digital SLR book, "Digital SLR Cameras and Photography for Dummies." They are complementary books. This one won't teach you photography, although it has some good basic information on fundamentals such as exposure and composition. It does show how to use the key controls of the camera, and it does that quickly in a few chapters with well-labeled photos.
  
  The Nikon D50 Digital Field Guide also provides basic tips on common types of shooting situations, and is compact enough to go along with my son in his backpack. As he's ready to learn photography with a digital SLR from the ground up, he's got the information he needs for that in Busch's Dummies book. These two books cover all the bases, and I recommend them highly.
  
  
• Overall, quite good as an introduction
  By A28HNHJ22X2VRC on 2005-12-24
  Like many experienced photographers, I am often asked by friends to recommend a good, simple, camera for someone who has a nascent interest in taking pictures. Lately, I've been recommending the Nikon D50, and advising these neophyte photographers to add this book to their wish list. It's important not to overwhelm beginners with too much information, too soon, and the author of this field guide seems to understand the needs of D50 owners quite well.
  
  It offers exactly the kind of information that someone new to D-SLR photography needs. These people are serious about taking pictures and have the time to spend doing the best job they can -- otherwise they would not have invested in a camera that's both easy to use, but which has a wealth of directions in which to grow creatively. They'll learn the essentials from this book in a simple to digest form -- everything from how to set up their D50, how to use the various settings and controls, and how to apply them in specific photo environments. It's remarkable how much information is packed into such a concise book, and equally surprising just how valuable this guidance is for photographers.
  
  This Field Guide makes a good starting point. Read it, learn your camera, apply the lessons in this book and then go on with different books to learn even more.
  
  
• Excellent resource indeed
  By A3VOX6C4XZPW4Y on 2005-12-26
  Nikon D50 owners will be pleased to know that a totable guidebook to putting their digital SLR to best use is available. While this book doesn't include everything about the D50 -- you will still need the manual that came with the camera to look up some obscure settings -- this book has all the need-to-know things in one place. And it fits in your camera bag, too.
  
  Not only did I find the information I needed about the controls and features and settings and menus of the D50, I found some valuable refresher information about photo basics, and a very nice chapter with dozens of shooting situations and tips on settings and techniques for taking pictures in those environments. Great pictures -- all in FULL color. This book is an essential guidebook for any D50 owner.
  
  
• Excellent field guide for the D50
  By ACYPJJZW304XN on 2006-07-09
  This is what this book is, and is not:
  
  * It's a FIELD GUIDE. I bought it specifically because it was a small format book that I could take along with me for guidance when I am out taking pictures. When I am unsure what menu settings to make, I take this book out of my backpack, look up the options, and make them quickly. When I see a photo opportunity, I can look up that kind of photo and read three or four pages of advice, illustrated with full color pictures.
  
  * It doesn't duplicate the user's manual -- it expands on the information in the user's manual and provides more detail about the things you really need to know about the D50's controls.
  
  * It's not a software manual. I don't take my laptop with me when I take pictures, so I don't really need lots of pages about Photoshop or Elements or Picture Project or Nikon Capture. It's silly to expect a photography field guide to waste 20-25 percent of its pages on software.
  
  * It includes all the settings you need for the practice photos if you look carefully, including f/stop, shutter speed, ISO setting, saturation boost (if used), etc. Plus the lens used is listed, although most of the shots were made with the same two or three inexpensive lenses.
  
  * This book is definitely NOT written for the advanced photographer. This book is cheap enough that the controls and functions part would be useful for any new owner of a D50, regarless of expertise level. I would have bought it just for that. The how-to sections are better suited for novice and intermediate photographers who need some ideas and tips. Sharp advanced photographers won't be looking for definitive photography tutorials in a 250-page field guide, in any case.
  
  Overall, I liked this book a lot. I'm on the verge of graduating from intermediate to advanced photographer, but there was still a lot in this small book for me to learn from. It could have benefited from more coverage of VR, but nothing is perfect.
  
  
• I love this book
  By A2KV3R6J9H5PIS on 2005-12-19
  I'm so glad there is a decent book on using the D50 available, because there is certainly a serious need for such a book. This one has everything you need to get started shooting pictures, and it complements the user's manual perfectly.
  
  It is divided into 7 chapters plus a Quick Tour that describes just the essentials to begin shooting immediately.
  
  Chapter 1 -- Exploring the Nikon D50. This is a description of all the features of the camera, with close up photos showing the location of every control and what it's used for.
  Chapter 2 -- Setting Up Your Nikon D50. Explains the important menu settings and why you'd want to use them and what for.
  Chapter 3 -- Photographic Basics. This chapter explains all the terms like f-stop and shutter speed and depth-of-field.
  Chapter 4 -- Working with Light. Very valuable advice on using the D50 internal flash and Nikon external flashes.
  Chapter 5 -- All About Lenses. If interchangeable lenses are new to you, this chapter explains how to choose them, and what they do to improve your pictures.
  Chapter 6 -- Photo Subjects. This is a 100 page chapter with dozens of photo shooting situations and descriptions of the settings you need to take good landscape or portrait or other kinds of photos.
  Chapter 7 -- Downloading and Editing Pictures. This is more of a overview of what you can do and how to do it instead of a chapter on image editing, which would take a whole book. This chapter will get you started.
  
  This book is a great tool for owners of the D50 camera.
  
  
• Primo introduction to D50 and Photography
  By A3S7J6RTIAPBE6 on 2005-12-18
  I received a D50 as an early Christmas present and this book along with it, and both are excellent! This book has all the introduction I need to this great camera, including a Quick Start that got me up and shooting within minutes of opening the box! I also loved the full discriptions of each feature of the camera.
  
  I expect I will learn all the features of the D50 within a few weeks, but will still find the Field Guide very useful because of the information on how to shoot different types of pictures such as fireworks (not till July 4) landscapes, sports, and other kinds. This is a great book for any new D50 camera owner.
  
  
• All camera manuals should be like this
  By A28E2DOXSZ1EO7 on 2005-12-22
  I don't know why camera manufacturers don't include manuals this good with their cameras. I realize that it's necessary to include every single feature and every single menu item and every single specification in the "official" manual, but what a new user really wants to know is how to make the basic settings needed to take good pictures right out of the box. This book does that for you. There is a quick start chapter that tells you just the things needed to start taking pictures, and nothing more, and will be useful for anyone who is new to digital cameras or just new to digital SLR cameras. Then, a few chapters lead you through the features of the camera and its menus.
  
  After that, it's off to the races! The author introduces basic photographic techniques, and then devotes a very long chapter to each of the most popular kinds of photography, with tips on how to set the camera, choose an appropriate lens, and arrange your subject. A book this portable can't include everything within it's pages, but the most important thing is that it has enough to serve you well in just about any situation. I really learned how to use my Nikon D50 from this book.
  
  
• Far, far superior to Nikon's own user's manual
  By AK7MR3AMXCDC3 on 2005-12-17
  If the manual packed with the Nikon D50 were usuable, this book wouldn't be such an essential purchase for every new user. The D50 is often sold to digital camera owners who have never used an SLR before, and who may have experience that's limited to point and click cameras. For these camera owners, the Nikon manual may be almost incomprehensible. That's why this approach, which doesn't duplicate the information in the owner's manual but instead expands and explains the use of the camera controls is so much better. If you buy this book, you may never need to open the original manual again.
  
  Although I did have some photography experience with a film SLR before I got my D50, I like the typical D50 owner, was in need of some brushing up on both basic photography techniques as well as more advanced techniques. I found the tone of this book to be just exactly right, not too technical and not too simple either.
  
  
• The manual missing from the box...
  By A2FNM5JVHZP0IW on 2006-04-13
  David D. Busch's NIKON D50 DIGITAL FIELD GUIDE is an outstanding camera user's guide to the D50 model: it's the manual which should accompany any Nikon D50 purchase, covering all the basics from its seven DVP modes and ISO settings to exposure, lenses, and how to compose photos. Packed with color examples and screen shots, NIKON D50 DIGITAL FIELD GUIDE is an excellent reference.
  
  
  
• This book is for any new D50 owner!
  By A3AT1AB78XNOTB on 2006-07-09
  Like most reviewers, I loved this book! It makes the perfect complement to the manual, because it doesn't duplicate the manual. Instead of listing every possible setting (you can get that from the manual if you need to), it goes into much greater detail about how and why you'd want to use various features and settings, making it quite useful as an adjunct to the skimpy book furnished with the camera. For example, you'll learn why you want to use continuous or single autofocus, and the best situations in which to apply them.
  
  The book's instructions in the basics of photography are especially helpful for inexperienced users, who are typically the most frequent buyers of this entry-level Nikon DSLR. Then, it offers tips on how to take certain kinds of photos, such as landscapes, portraits, night shots, etc. and gives you advice on the suggested settings introduced in the first chapters of the book. Unlike the Magic Lantern Guide to the D50, which uses black and white illustrations exclusively, this one is printed in full color, so you can see exactly how the techniques described will work out. Any new D50 owner will find lots to learn in this book.
  
  
• Mandatory "equipment" in my classes
  By AQ5MMFHN79ZPX on 2006-01-04
  I teach classes in SLR photography, and when students ask for a recommendation for an inexpensive, full-featured camera, I point them towards the Nikon D50. Not all of them go ahead and buy it, of course, and many of the students already have a DSLR. But for those who do own this entry-level Nikon camera, I strongly recommend that this book be the first "accessory" they buy. If they have a Canon Digital Rebel or Nikon D70s instead, I recommend the other two Digital Field Guides in this series.
  
  While the basic usage information about the cameras is good, I haven't found a better brief introduction to photo basics than these books. Those students who use the Digital Field Guides for a few weeks (before we get into more advanced techniques) seem to do much better than those who "go it alone." You can't go wrong with any of these three books.
  
  
• Essential guidebook for the D50
  By A250IWG3O4VWS5 on 2006-04-06
  This guidebook for the D50 should be in the camera bag of every owner of the Nikon D50 digital single lens reflex. This camera is quite complex to operate, and the manual furnished with it is not much help in learning all the features and controls. The Nikon D50 Digital Field Guide has large, clear, well-labeled photographs showing each part of the camera, and detailed desciptions of what the various controls do. Later on, you'll find a huge chapter, which is about one-third of the book, that provides recommended settings for taking pictures in different common shooting environments.
  
  Anyone who really wants to learn how to use the D50 should get this book.
  
  
• Just what I needed
  By A291HYQ00KLFMC on 2005-12-18
  This book was just what I needed to get started using my Nikon D50 digital SLR camera. It had more clear instructions for using this camera with the important features discussed and explained. I also found the information on basic photography to be very useful. Thank you.
  
  
• Decent accessory to have
  By A1NMEIJ7ZZRBSY on 2006-05-31
  This book is inaccurate in several places (referring to the camera's depth of field preview when the camera doesn't even actually have that feature, for example) and doesn't cover the details on the D50 in the depth that I would like to see. It provides alot of info on photography tips & techniques in general. That's nice and all, but I want info on the D50 and only the D50. I have plenty of other books on composition, etc. However, it is a great complement to the "manual" that came with the camera and is an easy read. It does provide more elaboration than the "manual." Worth the $15ish that it costs but you might also consider looking up the many other books or instructional DVDs out there on the D50.
  
  
• Field Guide for the Field
  By A23F6JAZFF856Q on 2005-12-20
  I bought this book specifically because it was a small format 250 page book that I could tuck in my camera bag and take along with me for guidance when I am out taking pictures. When I am unsure what menu settings to make, I check this book, look up the options, and adjust my settings quickly. When I see a photo opportunity, I can look up that kind of photo and read three or four pages of advice, illustrated with full color pictures.
  
  I'm glad this isn't a software manual. I don't take my laptop with me when I take pictures, so I don't really need lots of pages about Photoshop or Elements or Picture Project or Nikon Capture.
  
  The how-to sections are best suited for novice and intermediate photographers who need some ideas and tips. I'm on the verge of graduating from intermediate to advanced photographer, but there was still a lot in this small book for me to learn from.
  
  
• Major improvement on the manual
  By A1J2QQQMDU21T7 on 2006-01-03
  I was lost when I tried reading the manual that comes with the Nikon D50. Then, I discovered this book, which is much easier to read and has a great deal more useful information. The approach was perfect: the author begins with a quick start that describes the basic controls and settings you need to make to begin shooting. It tells you when to use and when not to use certain options. Many new D50 users will stop right there and run out and begin taking pictures. When you're ready, there is a guided tour of the D50 that explains the same controls, and others, in more detail, with more attention to settings but always with advice on choosing the best combination.
  
  After some explanation of photography basics, the book branches out into a large chapter that has all the settings and recommended equipment (lenses, tripods, etc.) for various kinds of photo environments such as landscapes, sports, etc. This was perfect for me, as I was able to try out some kinds of shots I'd never attempted with my point and shoot camera. They came out great. This book is a great introduction to photography and the D50 camera.
  
  
• First-Rate Book for Beginners
  By A2OKJUNL3CWPP0 on 2006-04-12
  I purchased the Nikon D-70 book from this author and this D-50 guide at the same time, this one for my wife and the D-70 book for myself. You don't really need both, as the two cameras are very similar and the pair of books covers much common ground. However, we're glad to each have a copy for our respective cameras.
  
  It really is a first-rate book for beginners who need some help in learning how to use their Nikon digital SLR.
  
  
• Your portable photo course
  By A3GAXLWHAUBH0Q on 2006-08-06
  What I liked best about this book is that, unlike the Lark book, it wasn't just a rehash of the Nikon D50 manual furnished with the camera. In fact, it goes far beyond the original manual and shows you in great detail why you should use particular features, and how to get the most from them. As such, it isn't a complete replacement for the manual; you'll still need that to look up an obscure feature or two. If you're expecting a D50 manual with color pictures, this isn't it. After reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised to find I had learned far more than than the technical facts of how to use my D50 than I had expected. I found that in addition to clarifying the basic operational aspects of my camera, this book was packed with information about basic photography as applied to the D50.
  
  This book covers everything from the 'Rule of Thirds' to lighting techniques to suggested practice shots for you to go out and take. It covers using flash as well as natural light. It tells you how to take large group shots as well as portraits. I especially liked the recommendation for getting someone to help you with large groups. I'd never tried that and have since found that this works extremely well.
  
  This book also has lots of great suggestions about taking pictures of landscapes, sunsets, zoos, travel, still life, street life, seascapes, panoramas, patterns, online auction photos, night, children, architecture, etc. This book really amazed me with it's wealth of information - all as applied to the Nikon D50.
  
  I also appreciated that the author realized that this book was going to be tucked into a camera backpack and taken out into the field for use as a compact, concise reference guide. It isn't bloated with useless information, nor does it duplicate all the information in the manual that is provided with the D50. Instead, this book does two things. In the first half it provides an illustrated summary of all the controls and the key menu choices much more clearly than is provided in the Nikon manual. If you forget how to set the burst mode or want to use the self-timer, you can flip the book open, quickly see where the controls are, and use them immediately.
  
  The first half also does a good job of telling you exactly when to use various modes and options. For example, each of the Scene modes is accompanied by a little blurb labeled "When to Use" and "When Not to Use." You're also told to use Continuous Autofocus for sports and pictures with fast moving subjects, and to use Single Autofocus for more stationary pictures.
  
  The second half of the book is divided into several dozen sections on each kind of photography with a brief description of that kind of photography, advice on how to take good pictures of that type, and recommendations on what lenses and settings to use. This is exactly what I needed. I don't want a huge book to carry with me out in the field. If I want to read an entire chapter on Landscape Photography, I'll buy one of those 800 page do-everything books. As a Field Guide, this book has exactly what I needed, no more and no less.
  While this book is pocket sized, the figures are still in full color with lots of example photos showing the kind of results you can expect to get if you follow this book's tips and advice. One huge chapter has several pages on the most common types of photography, from sports to outdoor portraits, and shows the settings to use in those situations. This book, my D50 and kit lens, and SB-600 flash go with me everywhere!
  
  
• Best of the D50 Guides
  By A1WM9Z103PF24B on 2006-08-15
  I've been dissatisfied with the DVDs that claim to teach you how to use this camera, and have found most of the other guidebooks lacking, too. However, there are quite a few things I like about this small, but information-filled guide to using the Nikon D50 digital camera. It really is head and shoulders above the rest.
  
  * It's perfect for use in the field. Like other reviewers, I bought this book specifically because it was a small format book I could take along with me for guidance when I am out taking pictures. When I am unsure what menu settings to make, I take this book out of my backpack, look up the options, and make them quickly. When I see a photo opportunity, I can look up that kind of picture and read three or four pages of advice, illustrated with full color pictures.
  
  * It doesn't cover software. Obviously, I don't take my laptop with me when I take pictures, so I don't really need lots of pages about Photoshop or Elements or Picture Project or Nikon Capture. It's silly to expect a photography field guide to waste 20-25 percent of its pages on software. This one does not.
  
  * All the important information is there. It does include all the settings you need for the practice photos, including aperture, shutter speed, ISO setting, saturation boost (if used), etc. Plus the lens used is listed, although most of the shots were made with the same two or three inexpensive lenses, affordable by any D50 owner.
  
  * This book was written for someone like me. The Nikon D50 Digital Field Guide is definitely not intended for the advanced photographer. The how-to sections are best suited for novice and intermediate photographers who need some ideas and tips. Very advanced photographers won't be looking for definitive photography tutorials in a 250-page field guide, I would guess.
  
  This is a great book for D50 owners, and far superior to the other D50 guides on the market. The advantages are the full color pictures (not black-and-white as in other guides), in-depth coverage, and accuracy. Of course the brief introduction to basic features in the first chapter doesn't mention that the flash doesn't pop up in some modes -- it's a quick start. That information is provided later in the book. All in all I found this book to have exactly the right information.
  
  
• Great book for new D50 Owners
  By A3RQKW7MQHRIPG on 2006-03-08
  I know it's intimidating to buy and use your first DSLR, but the Nikon D50 makes a great choice. This book is a great choice for information when you're ready to really learn how to use your D50 to take better photographs. Advice to "read the manual" is not useful when the manual is obtuse and contains countless cross-references. This book has it all, laid out for you in an easy to access manner.
  
  It has lots of full color pictures of the camera and its controls and then later many color photos showing the techniques of photography and composition, categorized by type of photography. This book is compact enough to carry along with you, and belongs in every photographer's bag when out in the field.
  
  
• Wonderful Nikon D50 reference
  By A1PU5JM57JUJUH on 2006-01-03
  This book is quite a bit more than a guide to using the Nikon D50 camera. Of course there is lots of information that explain the features and use of the camera. The full color illustrations that show what each button does clearly, while explaining menu commands that can be hard to understand are very good. But then the book goes further to explain photographic concepts in concise language. I finally know how to choose an F Stop or shutter speed and when to let the camera choose them for me!
  
  While this book is pocket sized, the figures are in full color and large enough to evaluate easily. Nor is it all pictures with very little text.
  
  The chapters include:
  
  Quick Tour: This shows you just what is needed to begin taking pictures right out of the box, even before you have learned your camera well.
  
  Chapter 1: Exploring the Nikon D50: This looks more in-depth at the features of the camera and their use.
  
  Chapter 2: Setting Up Your D50: This chapter tells you how to make the essential settings both common and not so.
  
  Chapter 3: Photography Basics: Explains exposure, using histogram, depth of field, etc.
  
  Chapter 4: Working with Light. How to use lighting, multiple lighting, flash and so forth.
  
  Chapter 5: Lenses. Choosing lenses and what to do with them.
  
  Chapter 6: Photo Subjects: More than two dozen different photography situations with all the settings to get perfect photos of them.
  
  Chapter 7: Downloading and Editing Pictures. This was not my favorite chapter as it was very basic, but still useful for the beginner.
  
  Glossary: Big glossary with lots of definitions of words that you might not be familiar with.
  
  I recommend this book.
  
  
  
• Excellent organization, great information
  By A2M4Y61E6Q7KG on 2005-12-23
  This D50 guidebook has its priorities straight. The author recognizes that new D50 owners are likely to be photo neophytes or, at the least, new to digital SLRs. So, he doesn't bog you down with intense explanations of various features and functions right off the bat. Instead, he kicks off the book with a Quick Tour that explains how to use the essential controls and settings so you can set up your camera right out of the box, and get started shooting. You'll learn how to use the autofocus controls, white balance, and exposure options immediately, so you can begin shooting five minutes after cracking open this book. Then, once you've gotten your feet wet, later chapters explain in more detail exactly how those features work and what they are used for. I liked this approach much better than if the author had taken everything in strictly sequential order. It would have been easy to get bogged down in detail.
  
  Instead, I enjoyed some measure of success with my new camera immediately, which in turn drew me back to the book to read on and learn more. The information is great.
  
  

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