David Busch's Nikon D60 Guide to Digital SLR Photography Reviews

• Perfect combination of simple explanations and depth

  
  By A1070HNJD4LUYJ on 2008-06-24
  The Nikon D60 is an entry-level camera that deserves more than an entry-level guide book. Unlike hip pocket guides that simply rephrase and condense the instructions in the manual Nikon packs with the camera, this one digs much deeper. It's an excellent introduction to the D60. There are 85 pages explaining the menus alone, with three to four times as much detail than you'll find in other guides, including every option possible, and descriptions of why you'd want to use each setting, all from the beginner's perspective.
  
  After you outgrow this setup material, you'll refer to it only as a reference guide. At that point, you'll be ready for the book's real meat, which helps you grow as a photographer with clear explanations of exposure with the D60, using its histograms, and 32 pages on choosing and using Nikon lenses. There's a very useful chapter on using the Nikon electronic speedlights.
  
  The author makes more advanced topics understandable and doesn't talk down to you. He seems to know that new Nikon D60 owners, like me, need a lot of hand-holding, but don't want to be held back. We want to learn as much as possible about photography. Having this book is like having a conversation with a patient mentor at your side who gently shows you the wonderful things you can do with this camera.
  
  David Busch's Nikon D60 Guide to Digital SLR Photography is unlike any other camera guide I've ever seen. Nikon should have shipped this in the box with the camera.
  
  

• Not your father's D60 guidebook

  
  By A2BN67MBQQ23G1 on 2008-06-24
  I think Busch is onto something here, taking an entirely new approach to turn the tired old "camera guide" genre on its ear. I was very impressed with his Nikon D300 guide, and this new Nikon D60 book uses the same format, but is written at a completely different level. Where many Nikon D300 owners are likely to have some experience as they upgrade to a more advanced camera, those who purchase the D60 are probably less experienced, even if they are no less avid in their love of photography. This book is the perfect companion for these fledgling photographers.
  
  The differences between this book and the typical guide are easy to see. For example, Busch's easy to understand, but exhaustive analysis of the Custom Setting Menu options alone spans 21 pages, which is more than what some other guides devote to all five of the D60's confusing menus. Yet, the explanations of the Custom Setting Menu are clear and concise enough for a beginner to quickly grasp, and with enough "why" and "how" to satisfy more advanced photographers.
  
  Following the same format as his D300 guide, Busch teaches you how to fine-tune exposure, choose a metering method, master autofocus, and use the built-in flash, all written at the level of a typical D60 owner. For example, the chapter on lenses, like the one in the D300 guide, "decodes" the Nikon lens nomenclature system, tells you how to choose among wide angle and telephoto focal lengths, and provides reviews and descriptions of the most popular Nikon lenses. But where his D300 guide includes more expensive and "pro" lenses likely to be of interest to owners of the more advanced camera, Busch here concentrates on the more modest Nikon optics best suited for the Nikon D60. Throughout the book you'll find examples of coverage that has been down-shifted to make it easier for D60 owners to absorb.
  
  Finally, note that the title of this book isn't "The Nikon D60 Guide" or some such. It's "David Busch's Nikon D60 Guide to Digital SLR Photography." It's more than a camera guide. It's an introduction to photography aimed at Nikon D60 owners.
  
  
  
  
  

• Top Nikon Guru Does It Again!

  
  By A1IBMQ1QPG63ZT on 2008-07-24
  I was familiar with Busch's work from his many articles in Popular Photography and other photo magazines, as well as books like Digital SLR Pro Secrets,so I grabbed this huge introduction to photography as soon as it became available. I was not disappointed. His expertise really shows in this huge introduction to photography with the Nikon D60. Virtually everything you need to know about this camera is included between the covers.
  
  The level of detail and clarity of explanations far exceeds that of the traditional camera guide. He devotes 65 pages to a thorough explanation of each control and feature of the D60, and how to use them, illustrated with large color photos. Then, beginners and more advanced photogs alike are treated to 81 pages that clear up the mysteries of the D60's menus, and when to use particular options. There are 40 pages of advice on exposure and advanced shooting with the D60, and 30 wonderful pages describing Nikon lenses and the author's extensive experience with each of them. There's 30 pages of tips on using Nikon's CLS flash system that should be enough for any strobe shooter.
  
  Only 10 pages are devoted to introducing Nikon software, but I wouldn't want more than that, anyway. I'm glad that nearly all of this book directly relates to photography with the D60. Who wants a book padded with general photo advice, software descriptions, etc.? Heck, the 20 page trouble shooting chapter alone was worth the price of the book, as it includes instructions for cleaning the sensor, which I discovered is sometimes required even with a camera that has built in sensor cleaning.
  
  All in all this book showed me why when I want the last word in Nikon expertise, David Busch provides all the answers.
  
  
  
  

• Great Book!!!

  
  By A1T4L1NNMHCNQF on 2008-08-08
  I looked at other D60 guides, but chose this one. It is very well laid out. David puts everything in an easy to understand context. If there is a particular setting that I am looking for, I can simply turn right to it without flipping through the whole book. This book is great for experienced and beginners with DSLR cameras. If you have a D60, you need this book. Thanks for a great book.
  
  

• Not bad... Not good either

  
  By ABZTELMO3NLS2 on 2008-07-22
  I bought this book 3 months after I bought the D60. From the table of contents. I thought that the book will have examples of what happens to an image if a particular setting was set in a particular way. Well, that didn't happen. Yes, the explanation for each setting is clearer than the manual, but any lay person could figure them out by taking test shots.
  
  The parts about photography tips in general can be found on the net if one does a little web surfing. I did find, however, little bits of information here and there that I have not come across over the last 3 months.
  
  This is a book you SHOULD buy at the same time as you buy your camera. If you have your D60 for a while and have played with it for while. It should offer little additional information. Also, despite the author's claim that the target audience include intermediate to pros, it really is written for someone who's brand new to dSLR AND photography.
  
  I guess I would have been a lot more satisfied with this book had it been available when I first bought my camera. Lesson for the day, don't buy the new camera until David has published his guide for it.
  
  
  
  
• The Ultimate D60 Guide
  By A1BM9OW7TBCPQT on 2008-07-23
  I agree with the reviewer who called this book an entirely new approach to camera guidebooks. The tired old formula followed by the other guides simply won't work with a camera that has as many features as the Nikon D60. This one isn't intended as a pocket guide that you tuck away in your camera bag and don't pull out unless you have some emergency to contend with. For anyone who has had their camera for a few weeks, the manual packed in the box by Nikon will serve just as well as a reference.
  
  "David Busch's Nikon D60 Guide to Digital SLR Photography" is not a tiny field guide that re-hashes the Nikon manual. Instead, it's a full sized 325 page book that covers everything you need to know about the camera in a surprising amount of depth. Busch explains each control and menu setting and devotes pages and pages to explaining how and why you'd want to use them. There are plenty of large color photos explaining each topic (some of the small guidebooks have only black and white photos.) While most of the book deals directly with the Nikon D60, its accessories, and advice on how to choose specific Nikon lenses, there is also a good foundation of basic photographic knowledge on using histograms, working with depth of field, and so forth.
  
  Amazingly enough, Busch manages to explore the camera in depth without confusing new photographers. He starts each section at a basic level, and then continues with the more advanced techniques and information you'll need as you grow in your hobby. Although my main camera is a Nikon D300, I absolutely love my D60 as a walkaround camera, and I found this book to be a fast introduction to its features and use. I already understood some of the more advanced material, but I can see where beginners will thrive on the clear, complete explanations. If you own a Nikon D60 or are thinking of buying one, you owe it to yourself to get this book. You can't find this information on the web, and most of it isn't in the other guidebooks, either.
  
  
• Alternative to manual
  By A1ITTXQ3YNRUD0 on 2008-08-26
  I recently bought the new Nikon D60 prior to travelling overseas. I lost the new manual during this travel. This book is better than the manual since it is written by a user who understands what is important and how to set up for those difficult shots you miss when travelling. Simple to read and good with the basics and also for those who want those special pictures.
  
  
• Nikon D60
  By AJJPWM2ISQ91J on 2008-10-09
  I owned a couple of nikons before which helped, but I still thought the information was well written and had terrific illustrations. The book made it even easier to use the camera.
  
  
• The Perfect Guide
  By A1CVZUM073VZX8 on 2008-07-25
  This book is an excellent source of detailed information for the amateur and advanced user alike. David speaks directly to you, but in a respectful and easy-to-understand manner that is comforting and makes the guide a pleasure to read. It contains invaluable information that any D60 user can appreciate and use to drastically improve their photographs and take their knowledge of photography to a whole new level. It explains features of the camera that I never knew existed, and instructs you clearly about not only how to use such features, but perhaps more importantly, why and when.
  
  
  A superb guide for any and all Nikon D60 users.
  
  
• D60 guide
  By A1U3U4JMMCZO5G on 2008-09-23
  After wading through the skimpy Nikon manual for this excellent camera a few times, I bought the David Busch book.I was desperate for intelligent information.
  The official manual was confusing, many references to other pages, badly written, and ineffective.
  Busch should be complimented on his excellent book which is easy to follow, and contains many first class photographs of different parts of the camera in each chapter to clearly assist the reader.
  I highly recommend this book to anyone who has bought the Nikon D60.
  
  

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