David Busch's Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/450D Guide to Digital SLR Photography Reviews

• Well suited for the beginner or intermediate dSLR user!

  
  By A1GZJJ49BXSUJ8 on 2008-07-12
  Okay, I admit it- I am very much a noobie to dSLR cameras. I have been reading some of the same sort of generic books that many others have that are recommended to all photographer-wannabes and I've been slowly ascending the dSLR learning curve. But I wanted a book slanted towards beginners or intermediate users that was specifically meant for XSi/450D users. THIS IS THE BOOK! And I have had it on pre-order for almost a month as it was to be one of the first books out specific to this camera.
  
  It has been worth the wait! The very first chapter tells you how to get out there and start taking photos that are much more than merely acceptable. The second chapter is a virtual roadmap to the camera with plenty of large color photos detailing the location and purpose of all the various buttons and knobs. And from here on, the book just gets better! There are chapters on setting up your camera, getting the right exposure, working with light (natural and flash), downloading and editing images, and a great deal more.
  
  My favorite is an entire chapter devoted to working with lenses. For an absolute beginner like me, this chapter has been sooo helpful. Not only does this chapter explain various lens types but it also explains the dos and don'ts of how best to use them. And wonder of wonders, there is even a section in this chapter subtitled "Ingredients of Canon's Alphanumeric Soup" that gives simple explanations of the data engraved or painted on the barrel or the ring surrounding the front of a lens. To professional or even advanced amateur photographers I'm sure that this is information assimilated long ago, but then this book isn't so much geared towards you. This sort of information is invaluable to dSLR beginners such as me and perhaps even to many intermediate level photographers.
  
  Throughout the book there is extensive use made of fairly large color photographs and I should probably also mention that there is a good size glossary in the back followed by an extensive index.
  
  I notice that Busch is nothing if not a prolific writer and based on the large number of favorable reviews on most of his books, he's a darn good one. And finally, no...I don't know the guy but I think I would probably enjoy being a student in a class if he taught them because he writes on a level that I can understand- not too simplistic and not too far over my head.
  
  

• Tells you how and why to use the features

  
  By A1V10K3EOSW1V6 on 2008-08-14
  I've mastered the controls of my Rebel XSi, but what I really need is some guidance on how to apply those features to take better pictures. That's what this book does, in spades. Unlike the manual that comes with the camera, this book goes into a great deal of detail on WHY you would use each feature. For example, in the section on Picture Styles, the book shows how to use this setting, then explains how you can use Picture Styles to create a soft, romantic look, or reproduce the appearance of certain types of film. The description of how to choose a format setting was followed by two pages explaining when you'd want to use JPEG, when you'd want to use RAW, and when you might want to use both. These explanations of why I want to use features goes far beyond what you find in the factory manual.
  
  I also liked the more than 200 pages of advice on how to use the XSi to take better pictures. For example, in Chapter 4, there are descriptions of WHEN and WHY you'd want to use each of the different metering modes. I learned that there are some situations in which Aperture Priority may work best for sports (I'd always thought that Shutter Priority was the only choice for action.)
  
  In sum, this book has it all. It's a great introduction to the Canon EOS Rebel XSi, but is also a comprehensive photography book that clearly shows how to use the camera's features to improve your images.
  
  
  

• Glorified manual

  
  By A1B8T03Z24Y97B on 2008-08-09
  Somewhat dissapointed by this book. While it does offer better explanations of features than the camera's manual, it does not go into much details about WHY you would use certain features. I was hoping for more pages on how to use the XSi to take better pictures, not what each setting does. For example, nice description on each of the different meetering modes, but how about a few pages on WHEN or WHY you'd use each one?
  
  

• Very helpful supplement to the manual

  
  By A2CPOM98Y14C6C on 2008-09-18
  As one reviewer put it, this is a glorified manual - but that is the strength of this book, and I recommend it highly to beginners, intermediate users and anyone who is "manual challenged." The book goes beyond the manual, however, in discussing lighting, for example, lenses, maintenance, and updating the firmware. None of this additional material is going to do anything for a professional or an advanced amateur, but will be very helpful to all us lesser photographers.
  
  A new Canon XSi user, I wanted to change a camera setting on several occasions, could not find the instructions in the manual or locate the menu item or button, but promptly got the help I needed in this book. I don't go anyhwere without it.
  
  

• Great Guide for Beginner DLSR User

  
  By AWQRH1SDSUTNE on 2008-09-07
  As someone just entering the DLSR world, this book gave me alot of information of all the available functions of this camera. Written well, easy to understand....even for me :) Highly recommend this book if you are a new user of this great camera!!
  
  

• Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)
• Transcend TS8GSDHC6 8GB SDHC card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6)
• Canon EOS Rebel XSi/450D Digital Field Guide
• Canon Wireless Remote Control RC1 for Digital Rebel
• Tiffen 58mm UV Protection Filter