If you have even read a Nikon camera manual, ...
584783
If you have even read a Nikon camera manual, you know that they are dense, confusing and foggy. You have to read things twice and sometimes multiple times in order to decipher what Nikon meant. This book removes that fog and makes things clear and concise with just the little extra explanations to get you along the way in order to make the most out of the Nikon D810. This book is a must.
3649285
Although the camera/DVR seemed to function as advertised, the owners manual accompanying the unit was a disgrace. Translated into English from who knows what Asian language, little if any of the descriptions made any sense. The manual provided no instructions on how to access and use any of the features, or explain what they were supposed to do, or provide suggestions on the best settings. Unless you are well versed in the concepts and operation of a dash cam, I recommend you find another manufacturer. The internal battery lasted less than 10 minutes before shutting down. I have 2 cars, so This is my second dash cam purchase, the first being from a different manufacturer. My first cam had understandable instructions and helpful information, as well as a battery that lasted over an hour. I would not recommend this product to anyone.
3290292
I purchased this book based on the author's reputation and on other positive reviews but am sorry to report that I was disappointed. I went through it once, it is only a glorified manual, with larger photos in colour instead of small line drawings the manual has.  It tells you what each control or button does, but how exactly to use it, when to use it and why to use it -- is often not covered. At times it tells you what it does (exactly as the manual does) without further elucidation, which is why people buy the book in the first place.

I think it might be a cut-and-paste from some earlier book the author has written about another Nikon camera, because on one page (Page 134) it refers to a "focus selector lock lever" which is non-existent on this camera model (d5100). Not expected from an author with one million books in print

On the positive side, it contains some useful info about lenses, accessories, software, but not worth the price of the book.

I am unlikely to open it up again. I also bought "From Snapshots to Great Shots on the D5100 - I think that is a better buy
267190
The instructions supplied with the unit aren't very good.  It's more of a quick start guide.  All you need if you're a seasoned photographer that is already familiar with speedlites.  The beginner will have to do their own research to get more comfortable with working it with their specific camera.
4721301
It took a couple of years, but like my Nikon before this one, the battery compartment would not latch shut.  It always felt a bit sketchy as the pressure from the batteries would push on the door, but that fact that Nikon would not spend a fraction of a cent more to have a better designed and manufactured mechanism speaks volumes to how far this company and its reputation has turned to absolute crap.  As to the pictures themselves, some were clear,many others not.  Sometimes it flashed, other times not.  I'm experienced with SLR cameras (including a Nikon) and high-end video equipment.  Basically this is just a cheap point and click throw-away camera, which unfortunately will now reside in a landfill where it properly belongs.
3849919
How instructional manuals have changed over the years. With a camera like this, though, you need a book to explain it for you. The included booklet with the camera is just not adequate to cover all of the features of this great camera.  It is very readable and helpful. I often sit down with it with my camera in my lap and go through the chapters one by one trying out all the settings and features. The only problem I have with the book is that although it does explain the features very well, it sometimes doesn't tell you exactly how to get to those features and settings.  There are several places on this camera that you can go to to find settings and some of these are found in more than one location.  But if you use and fiddle with the camera long enough you can figure it out. One mistake the author made was to refer to the camera as having 24 MP.  It has 16MP  Overall, I'd say that anyone buying this camera should also buy this book to go along with it.
3394598
It doesn't come with any manual. So, if you are a beginner, good luck. It shoots in Automatic mode but the bokeh is just too much. All my pics look like they're shrouded in edge fog. I looked online for any guidance and no luck how to shoot in manual mode with my Nikon D7000. if someone knows how, please let me know and I'll change the feedback.
2332654
A good manual for this complex camera.  It helps if you have some basic camera knowledge to begin with.  If you don't take some basic camera classes to help you get started with a camera of this type and then you'll be able to make good use of the manual .
2220382
Every time a major new piece of camera equipment is introduced, books explaining how to use the equipment are a few months behind.  The Nikon D300 is a marvelous new camera that was introduced in November.  This book is one of the winners in the D300 camera book race.

The book itself is a nice combination of e-book in PDF form with a hard text copy.  The PDF file includes the use of color and buttons one can press to connect to short animations on the publisher's web site.  (You'd better have a high-speed connection to use this facility.) The text copy is in black and white, 8.5 by 11 inches form, with a spiral binding, similar to what you might get by taking the disk to your local print shop and having them print it out and bind it.  There's may be no savings in cost by getting a disk and printed copy, but it's a lot more convenient, especially if you don't take to reading books on-line.

Curtin starts his book by getting the reader up and running with his camera by describing how to put the camera into program mode so you can just get out and shoot right away.  The initial chapter then describes the buttons and dials of the camera.  The book is particularly useful for individuals new to a digital SLR in all chapters because it explains the principles behind the settings, such as when the author explains what pixels and formats are before explaining the quality controls.  He offers subsequent chapters on exposure, sharpness, color, lens selection and flash in which he first explains the relevant theory and then how one can apply it with the camera.  A nice feature for beginners is that he often points out how to deal with problems that might appear to be caused by a broken camera, when all that has happened is that some wrong button has been pressed.

Although there is a lot of fundamental information here, there is nothing about how to apply the D300 to actual picture taking, and few recommendations on which options to select when offered by the camera.  For example, Curtin mentions the continuous-servo auto focus mode, but does not describe the various options offered by that mode such as 9, 21 or 51 point focusing.  (These options are mentioned in the chapter on menus but the material provided in that chapter is even more abbreviated than the Nikon D300 User's Manual.)

More advanced users who already understand exposure, focus, white balance and similar subjects will not find much information that will help them use their D300.  For example, the D300 can be used as a part of the Nikon Creative Lighting System, but there is no mention of that in the chapter on flash.  (Strangely enough, that chapter contains information on studio lighting systems but not with Nikon flashes.)

Occasional errors have crept into the book.  Curtin says that the D300 viewfinder offers 95% coverage of the image area but the coverage is actually nearly 100%.  (The D200 offered 95% coverage.)  Similarly the description of the auto-focus area mode selector positions is reversed.  However these errors are not substantial and should not interfere with the new user's ability to learn to use the camera.

The publisher offers a web site where materials dealing with other aspects of digital photography are available.

In summery, this a good book for the new digital single lens reflex camera owner who has purchased a D300.  Advanced users will have to hope upcoming books will address their needs.
1627698
As all information ever divulged by Mr. Thorpe, it is done so directly and in detail. Quite frankly, Panasonic should probably hire him to write their manuals. It isn't so much that the manual is so bad, it's just that Mr. Thorpe's is better, and has a lot more input from an experienced photographer. It let me hit the ground running upon receiving the camera.
1255167
B. Moose Peterson has written a technical but clear summary of the features of 6 older Nikon cameras.  In addition to descriptions of the F2, FM, EM, FG, N2000, and N2020 models, he has included complete instructions  on the operation  of each respective model.  Although obviously a fan of  Nikons, the author has conveyed an objective summary of the various models.  An excellent reference book for collectors or first time buyers of one of  these cameras who needs a "how to" manual.  Illustrated with  sharp photos of each model.
4961689
After ordering and beginning to read this book, I noticed that it is designed for owners of DSLR cameras.
Not sure if that limits what someone without a DSLR (mirrorless) can get out of this book, but I thought I'd let ya know.
4736676
I don't own it but have read enough about it as well as the specs to know that it is one of the rare Nikon products to be clearly worse than the product it is replacing.

- Lower power = poorly lit shots
- AAA instead of AA batteries - slower shot to shot, less battery life - you'll miss some shots
- Cheap, poor drawstring bag instead of the nice padded and zippered SB-400 case

For more info see Ken's useful review - [...]

What is Nikon is thinking here - they're replaced a nice, useful product (SB-400) with a followup that is inferior in all respects and likely to hurt the quality of your photography.

Also a shame - opportunistic vendors have sucked up all remaining SB-400 stock and are selling it at a significant markup ($50-$100 too high) given how good it is.
2029770
There is a developing wish list of firmware updates that have been suggested both here and at other sites on the web and 90% have both merit and are possible; so I will not rehash those items, but instead, I will turn my suggestions to hardware issues. This camera and I expect its successor(s) will be around for some time as the lens map provides clear indication. Let me premise the comments that follow with the statement that: "I am not looking for a small camera; that will never be a deciding factor for me." The 1st thing I would like to see is an off camera flash cord because as another "never"; I will never use a flash perched atop of a camera. It will be mounted on bracket, thus the need for the cord. Second I would like to see someone like Jenis develop a two battery switchable grip that would provide not only the two battery capacity but also a larger camera grip. I will not spring for the add on Fuji grip but would pay for a unit that increase battery carry and provides the grip feature.  I am anxious to get my hands on lens adapters that will accommodate Nikon, Olympus, Contax G2, lenses as well as lens offerings from Zeiss and Voightlander.

Yes sir; picture my XP1, mounted on a bracket with a battery pack and cord attached to a bracket mounted flash for fill flash purposes/situations...no my XP1 would not be a small camera, but then I still love a fully loaded Nikon F5. The XP1 and I have already become good friends an none of the camera's quirks, and they all have their own, has posed a problem in the learning and set up curve.

OH, and SilkyPix; it will vanish a soon as Adobe offers up the "raw .raf" conversion...enough said on that issue. I have already communicated that matter to/with Fuji in Japan.
154431
I bought this remote about three months ago and have tried to use it a couple times, with little success. It looks like you have to point right into the camera lens to get it to work. I felt like a clown clicking and pointing to different directions just to make it work. There must be some kind of bluetooth or radio communication devices to make this better. The D90 has a connection for external remotes, so the other Nikons should have it, too.
4589952
No much better than the manual that accompanies the camera.  i was looking for more detailed explanations which I didn't get
4644257
I had a slightly different idea of what this book was than it turned out to be after I got it and started reading. Truth be told, I can't quite remember what I expected it to be, and it's hard to put a label onto what I now think it is.

Clearly, this is not a technical manual, and it says so early on in the book. Then again, I wasn't looking for another manual to tell me what function I find where in the menu. I was looking for a book to tell me, if in such situation you want this, then try that. That, I would say, is where this book shines.

As of last night, I have finished reading about half the book, mostly reading one chapter at a time, thinking "a-ha" and grabbing my camera for a few quick experiments before returning for the next chapter.

Yesterday, for the first time, I managed to make a killer shot of my son playing in the garden, sun straight behind him, with perfectly exposed face and no visual hint of artificial light. That alone was worth the price of this book. And that's despite owning even less than the least of the equipment mentioned in the book (D50 with SB600 speedlight, no gels, no remote, no diffusers).

So yes, it's Nikon-centric, and yes, few of us own anywhere near the equipment Joe uses, but you CAN get a lot out of it. Admittedly, I went "shopping" over the weekend and ordered a gel set and remote flash cord, so let's see how much further that will go.