|
 |
|
Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D80 (Magic Lantern Guides)x$11.55
  (47 reviews)
Best Price: $19.95 $11.55
The new, mid-priced Nikon D80 replaces the Nikon D70s/D70—which was the subject of our best-selling Magic Lantern Guide ever! This model features a 10 megapixel sensor, up-sized 2.5” LCD monitor, and 4.5 fps capability.
MPN: 1600591124 -
|
Customer Reviews
|
a few flaws but an easy to use learning and reference guide
By ACTU6UR17GZ46 on 2007-05-24
Some of the value of this book lies in Nikon's lousy D80 manual. Nikon's manual is ill organized and printed in gray on toilet paper. Okay, maybe it is recycled paper.
Stafford's Guide is full of well-organized information. It is well printed. I can even recognize the small icons in the text (not true of all camera books). I wish publishers would not shrink icons a second time to place them in tables. However, even these tiniest of icons are recognizable in this Guide.
The author, Simon Stafford, is an experienced photographer and author. His Scottish education and UK roots show through in his language but are not distracting. Unfortunately, poor editing diminishes Stafford's excellent writing and technical presentation. Lesser typographical errors are just distracting but some errors get in the way of understanding. "...offers the photographer total control overexposure, ..." stumps the eye until you realize it should have been "...over exposure".
That said, Magic Lantern/Lark Books printed the book on decent paper (except the covers curl) and with black ink. Vastly better than Nikon's manual. The photos, especially the super-close-up photos of the D80's anatomy, are very clear. The rich typography is excellent: headings are bold, bullets are well used to structure lists, captions are set off and readable, and on and on. Point being, the production folk have done about all that can be done to make the printed material easy to read and understand. It is as if this book was well conceived, well designed, well written, and well printed, but the publisher skipped the final steps of preprinting production: the editing and index are not up to the quality of the rest of the book. The index should be five times its skimpy two pages of large print. I go on about the index because we are reading this book not for pleasure but to learn something: to understand how to use the D80's features. Especially, I want to be able to quickly locate how to change camera settings. Fortunately, the Table of Contents is nine pages of compact, structured, easy-to-scan print and stands in for the unusable index.
I seldom find book glossaries useful. This book is an exception. The sixty-plus terms are well selected and the several-to-many-sentence descriptions contain just the right amount and level of information.
So why five stars after all the griping and groaning? You can get past the inadequate final editing and the printing keeps the content from turning to mush; in fact, the printing lifts Stafford's excellent writing up and makes its content quick and easy to understand and retain. The book is 334 pages not counting the index (and you should not count the index). I can't believe the low price. Content, printing, and price offset the editing. For its few flaws, it really is an excellent book.
greatly disappointed
By A2OZMV5YNDH0V4 on 2007-03-30
The book is slightly bigger than the manual that came with the camera, but most of the content are simply paraphrasing what is in the original manual. i was looking forward to learning advanced skills or tricks that are not discussed in the camera manual, but i'm sorely disppointed, even the few sample pictures in the book are in black and white only. i personally don't find the book useful.
Just What I Needed
By A30AH7QTWZ0H3G on 2007-05-25
I am an advanced amateur just trasitioning from film to digital. I bought the D-80 because I wanted a camera I could grow into rather than out of, and all opinions/reviews seem to agree this is such a a camera. However Nikon's operating manual did not enable me to feel I was ever going to be able to understand and learn to harness the camera's potential. I wanted something that would help me get organized and feel I was on a path that would enable me to understand and become confident with the camera. This book turned it all around. It provides an organized, logical, tutorial that clearly explains what the D-80 does; how to make it work for me; and supplements this with just the right amount additional information which promotes the feeling of not only how but why as well. I now feel I am going to be able to learn to use the camera and has enabled me to relax and look forward with confidence to using this remarkable tool. The little wallet-sized cheat sheet enclosed with this book is like training wheels that will prevent me from crashing and feeling I am never going to successfully master and fully enjoy this fine machine. The book's clarity and organization have enabled me to overcome my anxiety. It is "Just what I neededd". I think most new owners of the D-80 will agree it is just what is needed.
More than I expected
By A36E8TYZM3OW4S on 2007-03-21
For $12.50, I don't see why you would debate buying this book as it can only help you in understanding your D80. The book is a lot larger (pagewise) than previous Magic Lantern guides that I've purchased in the past. It fits nicely in your camera / gadget bag so you can easily take it with you in the field. The book goes through all the custom setting functions, and it gives you suggestions which I like. The Blue Crane DVD goes through the functions but does not give you suggestions so you have to either experiment, or guess which setting you want to use and what the outcome will be. The pictures are black and white but they are very clear and sharp. I had an N70 Magic Lantern guide and the pictures were "fuzzy" and I could not understand what the author was trying to point out with them. You can also feel confident knowing that the book is up to date because in the flash photography section, they talk about the SB-400 and the SB-400 came out in November or December.
In short, the book is easy to read, very in-depth, and I think every D80 owner should have this book. For $12 it is a steal.
I am extremely happy with this purchase.
It's just okay - i prefer the dvd
By APDDI68IPPDYH on 2007-04-12
this book seems to just paraphrase what the really poorly written owners manual states. this book will help you to understand your d80 better, which i guess would be your ultimate goal, but it is a serious time investment on the readers part.
the dvd is MUCH quicker and easier to understand as they go through everything step by step and are able to SHOW you how to use the D80 more effectively
- Good content but needs an editor
By A3BJ54P93UNKBQ on 2007-04-23
I would give this book 5 stars for content and 0 stars for editing. Unfortunately, the poor editing spoils an otherwise great book. Others have commented on the poor index. Again, this is the fault of the publisher. Magic Lantern should be embarrassed to have done such a poor job in the editing and indexing department. They owe the author much more than an apology. In fact, in my opinion the author should look for a new publisher. He's much better than they are. I also agree with the comments of the other reviewers that the pictures should be in color. As far as the content is concerned, the book is fantastic. It is informative, helpful, and complete. The writing style would be easy to follow if it did not have so many errors. If you own the D80, this book will give you more information about how to use it. It is an excellent supplement to the manual. However, I would wait for the 2nd printing before buying it and hope that the errors will be corrected. Another good option would be the "Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide" by David Busch. It's in the same price range, is well written, has color pictures, and has been better edited.
- Nikon D80
By A2P95ED17ZVIMO on 2007-05-06
I'm gaining additional insight & understanding of my D80 with the use of this clearly-written book. It elaborates on some issues of which the manual is vague.
Redundant material can be rapidly scanned - dependant on the user's level. In sum, I know more useful facts about using my camera. If you seriously want to utilize your D80, than this book, as an additional reference, will help you attain that goal.
- Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D80
By A3HPY19NKE7UN0 on 2007-08-01
Good, clearly written & understandable manual for the Nikon D80 Digital SLR camera body. I was very disatisfied with the manual provided by the manufacturer,(Nikon). Internet manuals are too laced with author's personal opinions & bias's. The Magic Lantern Guide is presented in a manner that genuinely helps the reader master the multiple settings required to sucessfully use this camera body. A digital SLR has many more adjustments for the user to master than does the equivalent film camera making fairly frequent referral to an understandable reference mandatory. This Guide definitely fills that need.
- Got Color! Wheres the Color!
By A29DPCFQ5VKR24 on 2007-04-11
First impression when i looked at this book. "Digital Photography for the Black & White Photographer". The only color in this book is the cover. Everything else is black and white. The author uses pictures to describe something and then it's upto the reader to IMAGINE it in color"
- Thorough and clear, but not creatively helpful
By A1C4Q73QXSO3RO on 2007-07-21
While I strongly disagree with those who so vehemently criticize Nikon's D80 manual (I actually think it is quite well written and very helpful, and refer to it often), I do think that this Magic Lantern guide is a must for D80 owners.
By the time I had finished my first reading of this book, I had a thorough and in-depth understanding of the workings of my Nikon D80 camera. The suggesions which accompany many of the sections were somewhat helpful, but nothing to write home (or even to Mr. Stafford) about.
Other than the many and annoying "typos" and poor editing (commented on by others, as well), the main shortcomings of this book (in order of importance) are: 1.) it provides little or no creative information about using the D80 or improving your photography with this camera generally (although, to be fair, that is not the reason I bought the book in the first place); 2.) there are not nearly enough illustrative pictures, and none are in color (which I understand is a printing cost-saving measure); and 3.) the index is much to meager - it could have been twice as long.
Still, I highly recommend this book to D80 owners (whether, like me, you have previously used a film or digital SLR, or you are completely new to SLR and/or digital photography). This is a valuable tool in learning your D80 and in making it more than just a "point and shoot" camera.
- Excellent D80 Guide
By A18T218H79P5 on 2007-04-02
Not only does the author significantly expand on the Nikon D80 Manual with helpful details, he adds background assisting with understanding the different camera settings. This guide is for new users wanting to improve technique as well as the intermediate and advanced users. It will be of little use to "point and shoot" users satisfied with preset modes. It includes a handy concise wallet-sized field reference guide covering the different settings. I strongly recommend this book to any D80 users desiring a better understanding of the camera settings as well as clarification of the sometimes confusing Nikon D80 Manual. Several inconsequential typographic errors and the poor quality of the photographic reproductions prevent me from giving the five stars that the writing content deserves.
- A good manual
By A3E8ZFKCZ9EN2Q on 2007-05-14
This is actually the manual Nikon should include with the D80. If this is your first Nikon DSRL you should read it from start to finish. Many parts will be boring because it covers subjects you already now from your SRL photography experience. However you will find all over the book interesting and useful things about the D80. The Nikon D80 manual coverage on the camera es to brief, and you need a lot of experimentation to discover how things work. The Magic Lantern book covers things in detail, with this book you should also experiment, but basically practice the acquired knowledge.
- Definitely and asset to learning the D80
By A2IXV91B2P56AT on 2007-04-15
I concur with the reviewer who chided the negative reviewers. For $12 bucks, what are you expecting? This is a good manual for learning the D80. Yes, I would've liked to see color illustrations, but color is more expensive and this book would've cost more. As it is, I'm quite satisfied with the layout and the manner in which the subject material is presented. It's concise, thorough and easier for me to understand than the manual that came with the camera. The book is also small enough for me to tuck into my camera bag. So, the bottom line is... if you're reading this review you're wanting to know if the book is worth buying. The answer is "yes"!
- Somewhat helpful toward understanding the D80
By AA94E5JQD6855 on 2007-05-18
This guide is better than the user manual that came with the camera, which is not saying much. My number one complaint is that the index is woefully inadequate, especially for a person at my level where I am just learning the terminology. I have tried to find information through the index and have resorted to paging through the entire book to find the information I was looking for. Also, as others have noted, there are many typos, which is distracting. Where was the quality control on this? Many more examples would also be useful.
However, the glossary was helpful with understanding basic terminology and acronyms (like what TTL means -- a pretty silly acronym). It could be more comprehensive, though.
- No Magic Here...
By A1RQ1OT5ZQ1DR7 on 2007-05-21
I bought the guide hoping it would help me navigate through the maze of menus and sub-menus... it provided very little help.
- Magic Lantern Shines Again!
By AWRGMUPO9NIAR on 2007-07-18
What can I tell you about this guide? Your best bet is to throw away the Nikon user's guide that came with your D80 and put this little gem in your camera bag instead: after you've read it of course. It is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive guide on the D80 you can find, it's full of tips and tricks to make your camera and photos better, and it's affordable. So, what are you waiting for? BUY IT!
- Great info
By AZBONDSBN4TAT on 2007-07-23
This book has a lot of extra info from the user manual. The book gives a lot of depth to all of many features of this camera and also gives some interesting back stories.
The author does not like auto features at all, but I found that the auto features work rather good on this camera. But he goes into the manual setting in great detail.
The index is rather poor but it is laid out so that you can find stuff okay.
I learned three or four solid things from the book so it was worth it.
- Nikon D80 Magic Lantern Guide
By A3CNI3Z6HIROB4 on 2007-04-12
Absolutely brilliant! Easy to follow. Full of practical advice along with hints and tips of the best settings for your camera. If you're new to SLR or to the D80 this is a must have!
- A very good guide for the Nikon D80
By A3DO4WR849ZRYV on 2007-05-21
OK, there are numerous minor typos and grammatical errors in this book. But anyone with a lick of sense can easily read through them and get a ton of very valuable information about a very sophisticated camera! The author's suggestions for settings are very valuable and made with thought and logic. The Nikon manual is very hard to read and has been printed so much that the printing plates are worn out and the menu and camera symbals are unreadable. This a much preffered book in my opinion. And in addition it's also more thorough. I highly recommend it, typos and all! Since you already have, or contemplate getting, a Nikon D80, get this book, it will be invaluable.
- I should have known
By A3RQWGGEE5P2UO on 2007-10-10
Bought new, the book comes wrapped in clear plastic. I should have known why, or at least suspected why. Except for the cover, none of the accompanying photographs in the book are in color. The descriptions of some of the features tell you how they work, but don't say how to do them. In other words, there's no reference to the camera or its menus. For example; Exposure Delay mode (CS-31) gives a good description of the feature but leave you guessing how to actually do it. The pull-out quick reference card included with the book is a handy feature. A much better book for the D80 novice is; Nikon D80 Digital Field Guide by David Busch. By the way the D80 is a great camera.
- Good reference. Many typos
By A2TRC1VJG2YLV8 on 2007-05-10
This book is a good reference and has a lot of helpful hints and suggestions. That alone is worth the price of this book. I recommend the book for the serious D80 user.
The typos and grammatical errors are numerous. Who edited this book?
Bottom line, for less than $15.00, this book is a good value if you can overlook the errors.
- Excellent for People Who Want to Know More
By A3W3H9S9FISFH8 on 2007-06-16
This book is quite technical, but it provides information that cannot be found anywhere else. The full descriptions of the menu options are worth the price of the book alone.
We are techies who want to take better photographs with our D80, so many of the discussions appeal to us. A beginner probably would not benefit from the book.
Understanding the algorithms behind the automatic focus and metering help us use them more effectively.
The discussion of how the camera and chip process a flash photo is very detailed, but well worth reading, if you want to really understand how to make better flash photos.
- Magic Latern Gde for Nikon D80
By A3T8M4VPBXJS8O on 2008-01-15
The Magic Latern Guide for the Nikon D80 is proving to be an valuable resource. It is a straight forward guide in logical progression of information. The text simplifies the complex technology of Nikon's digital camera. I have found functions I would never have known about except through this guide. It travels with me on every photo shoot. I have assimilated information much more quickly and utilized the camera more comfortably as a result of using this guide.
- Helpful Book
By A983LDVC0K8R0 on 2007-07-09
This book is very useful to help a novice like myself begin to understand the complexities of the D80. It does not however give a lot of insight into digital photography and provide a better understanding of the nuances of photography, nor should it. It is a great addition to the somewhat weak manual that comes with the camera.
- Manual should have been like this
By A36ZSY0KSBSR93 on 2007-12-24
This is a great manual for your d80 everything is told with lots of detail and it will really help you learning the camera features.But I wish this book contained some field tips which can teach you how to shoot in different situations...
- Great How-to
By A3MAEYDHO20OPR on 2007-05-07
Much easier to understand than Nikon's manual, the Magic Lantern Guide offers a comprehensive tutorial on the D80. It covers just about everything you need to know. This book plus your eye for a good shot should be just about all you need to take excellent photos with your new camera.
- Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D80 (Magic Lantern Guides) reviewed
By A2Q9RH6FKUYCYQ on 2007-05-07
This book makes for easier reading and comprehension of the particulars of operating and getting the most out of the Nikon D80 digital camera. While I have'nt gotten completely into this book, I have found it easier to understand than the manual which comes with the camera. I expect this book to help me be a better photographer with this camera, and so far it has not let me down. I have found it not only easier to understand, but also more in depth on the subjects I have researched within its pages. Thus, I reccomend this book at least over the nikon manual.
- Nice supplement to the D80 manual
By A1A53EU6O5JJJI on 2007-05-25
Not as in depth as some guides but does a nice job in explaining and supplimenting the manual. The book is an easy read and will make new DSLR users more at home with their new D80.
Recommened for anyone who wants more than the manual.
- Thorough and Concise
By A35I8X65E7TM1W on 2007-06-13
This book goes way beyond the owner's manual by giving you in-depth background for the technologies built into this camera as well as first-hand advice for using its comprehensive features. The author give quite a bit of information that helps explain how the camera works, coupled with his own experiences and opinions with various available options.
Some have complained about the fact that the book contains black and white photos, as if they expected to see what kind of images the D80 can produce. When you think about it, all photographic images in a book printed on a conventional printing press are altered from what you'd get shooting with the D80--they've been converted to a different color space (CMYK or grayscale) and converted to dot patterns or screens needed to recreate an image that a printing press can produce, not what you'd see on your computer screen or the display screen of the camera.
Lots of good stuff in there and a book I'll constantly refer back to.
- Magic Lantern Guides: Nikon D80
By AX2OR3GULSGCQ on 2007-07-05
Excellent book, much better than original Nikon manual. Well written and with author's opinions which is refreshing. Easy to understand and apply techniques. Unfortunately, just four of five stars because of the many misspellings and typos throughout.
|
|
You may also be interested in...
|
|
|
|
|
|
