Nikon D50 (Magic Lantern Guides)

Perfect book for this camera.

I bought a NEW book but when I got it has been used!!! I think I should get some of my money back since it is used.

Great guide

easier than original manual

much easier to use than manual that comes with camera easy to understand terminology a great reference tool very user friendly

GOOD BOOK

The Magic Lantern Guides are a whole series of books about specific cameras. I have just finished with the Nikon D50 book, but they have a large selection of books on cameras of various makes and models.Going by the D50 book, the books are not guides to photography but to the specific camera involved. It holds pretty closely to the manual information and manufacturer's specifications - for good reason, of course. But it goes into much more detail than the manual does. For example, it explains in depth how each of the pre-set program modes actually works, such as Protrait, Closeup, etc. It also explains the various option settings and makes recommendations for which to use and which not to use. While not a photography guide, it does give good tips on best settings for different situations. It also has a surprisingly good section explaining depth of field and how it is affected by zoom, distance and aperture. The book also has detailed technical appendices with lists of settings, options, accessories, error codes, etc. The book lastly comes with a folding laminated card with key shortcut tips useful to have on hand in the field.So, all in all, was it worth reading? I would have to say yes. It ain't like reading a novel, that's for sure. For a new owner of a camera, it would be perfect. Having a bit of experience with the D50 now, this was more of a review but still a worthwhile one for me. For an experienced user, it would more of a reference book to look up why certain settings or modes work certain ways. I did find several things going through it where I had to say, "wow, I didn't realize (or remember) that." For example, once in the options menus, you can rapidly move through the settings with the scroll wheel rather than just the navigation button going one line at a time. Another example, you don't have to go into the menu to adjust the flash level, you can press the flash button + exposure button + use scroll wheel. Now these aren't earth-shattering and they are probably in the manual somewhere, but these two tips alone will really be useful.Drawbacks: this particular book is heavily in need of a good editing job. There were many noticeable errors in the book which is inexcusable for a technical publication. For example, there were two places I noticed where icons of buttons were missing and the text would say, "then press the (insert exposure control icon) button." Missing and repeated words were also noticeable. Also too much space was taken up by solely black and white photos that neither show the camera's full potential nor did the pictures well demonstrate specific features and uses mentioned in the text.By the way, this particular book was written by Simon Stafford, a British chap who appears to have written several books in the Magic Lantern Guide series.

(This is an updated review to one I posted earlier in April. I write this having more experience with the D50 camera).This book serves as an OK supplement to the Nikon D50 instruction manual. The Nikon manual provides information about you the available functions as a reference. Simon Staafford's book gives you additional explanations about those functions in a conversational tone, as well as possible consequences when using the functions. It covers a lot of material, and it comes with small wallet-sized cards that have summary information about the camera's functionality in case you cannot take the manual with you.One major nitpick I have is that the example photos are all black-and-white. I believe that for new Nikon D50 owners, they will likely be attracted to "colorful eye candy," so black-and-white photos don't truly help advocate the D50 camera. For example, I noticed David Busch's Nikon D50 Digital Field Guide, an all-color book, before noticing this book. If I didn't research this book, the publisher would have likely lost a sales opportunity. Don't underestimate the power of color in published materials, especially when the subject is about general photography.Unfortunately, while the content about photography techniques are acceptable, there are a number of typos about camera operation, most notably the descriptions of the icons in the displays, as mentioned by another reviewer. I am now a little more experienced with the camera than I was before, so I didn't notice these typos initially. I agree that having typos about the camera's function is very bad for a book that tries to teach you how to use the camera.

Although it was mentioned in advertisement that its a nicely maintained used book but I was pleasantly surprised that the book was as good as brand new book just brought off the shelf from a book store.I am satisfied with it and am giving 1* less rating bcos of delivery was very slow. Nevertheless worth the wait.

I bought this as a gift. The recipient seems to be happy with it.

Great little book

This is certainly not a book that could be described as Nikon for idiots or anything remotely close. There is an assumption that you have a reasonable knowledege of digital photography before you begin, which is a bit surprising as Nikon market this camera for the beginner. That said the book is not difficult to follow, providing you have the base knowledge, but not the sort of book for bedtime, it wakes you up!