» The Complete Guide to Digital Photography, 2nd Edition: Completely Revised and Updated (A Lark Photography Book)

The Complete Guide to Digital Photography, 2nd Edition: Completely Revised and Updated (A Lark Photography Book) Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Good but out of date
Comment: I have checked this book out of the local library a couple times in the last year and find it a very good intro to the subject. The sections on modifying photos using software, especially Photoshop may be a bit more sophisticated than a general user looking for an intro may want but I find them very useful. The author introduces some very important issues like the fact that dust is a major problem with the sensors on interchangeable lens cameras and that because of the smaller sensor size relative to a 35 mm film image the image is 1.6 times bigger than with 35mm using the same lens. However, I would have liked to see info on selecting lenses for various photo settings. The thing that perplexes me most is that Amazon is selling the 2nd edition of this book however the one I am reading is the updated 3rd edition and among the other titles for sale here is the even more recent 4th edition! Why is Amazon still pushing this outdated edition? Don't be fooled, buy the 4th edition!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Good principle information.
Comment: It does not ever mention the Sony CD 300 camera pictured on its cover, but does give understanding in the general operation of digitals and some insight on film and its history briefly.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Best book I've seen!
Comment: This is the best book I have found so far on digital photography. If you know the basics and are looking for some in-depth info, I recommend you buy this book because it covers all aspects of digital photography well. I guess I would describe it as an intermediate guide, since one person complained that it is not a beginging book. Actually, I think that depends on the person and how much you want to learn about the topic. Also, it is easy to understand and unlike many books I have seen it is really well illustrated and the pictures helped me to understand the text--so the illustrations are well thought out. If you are shopping for a book on digital this one should be considered strongly.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Complicated for a beginner
Comment: I borrowed this from the library. I found it to be complicated. I'm a beginner in serious photography. I don't think it is a good guide for a beginner.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A good overall guide, well illustrated and with good depth
Comment: If you are already have some introduction to the fundamentals of photography, and are looking to explore digital photography (both technically and creatively) this is a very good book. It has a good discussion of hardware (cameras, etc.) and software (for editing and manipulating images). It also has a good discussion of approaches and techniques to taking photos. The book is extensively illustrated throughout with color photos and drawings, a real strength compared to most other books.

My bias is that most people should focus more on taking good photographs - paying attention to lighting, exposure, composition, etc. - than on technology. It takes a lot of editing to fix a bad shot. So the fact that this is written by a photographer is another big plus (though he appears to do mostly coffee table books, rather than guides).

A better book for some is Steve Bavister's Digital Photography. It's much clearer on the key fundamentals of photography. It has less detail all around, but that is a plus for those who want the main ideas quickly or looking for an accessible introduction. That's the book I bought for my teenage nephew; he's smart, but given his limited experience, I thought it better to give him a book with more emphasis on photography.

Note that Freeman's book discusses technical aspects of hardware and software generically, not specific to any program, which may be a negative for those users looking for a step-by-step guide to their programs or software. Also, if you don't think you'll ever do more than resize or fix red-eye, the technical discussion may not be much use to you. OR, it may open your eyes to what can be done!

Another set of alternatives, for a narrower group of users looking more for specifics on the technical aspects of hardware and software, are books like Long's Complete Digital Photography. But those books don't use photos and illustrations in the text, and are written by technical writers - not photographers. They emphasize the "digital" far more than the "photography," and aren't good as an all-in-one first book.

This is one of many books where the rating really depends on the fit to your needs. My 4 rating assumes that you are a match ... it may be the wrong buy for some.

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