Digital Photography Bible (with CD-ROM)

Rating:
Summary: Wow!!
Review: ...I've been an amateur photographer for 15 years, and my husband bought me a Canon Powershot A40 and this book for my birthday. I'm no stranger to photography, but I'm amazed at the effects I've already been able to achieve with Adobe Elements and the use of this book. I particularly appreciated the chapter on special effects and the one on cataloging and archiving images.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't ignore technical problems
Review: After reading the first 20-30 pages of this book, I found myself
so distracted by all of the typos and technical errors that I
couldn't continue with it. It seems to me that an expert on
digital photography should be able to keep mega_pixels_ and
mega_bytes_ straight. I got tired of mentions of 5MB cameras and
such. There are numerous other examples, but I already returned
the book and can't cite them all from memory.

If you can overlook this, then I have a feeling the other reviews

that say this is good for beginners are on the mark.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't ignore technical problems
Review: After reading the first 20-30 pages of this book, I found myself
so distracted by all of the typos and technical errors that I
couldn't continue with it. It seems to me that an expert on
digital photography should be able to keep mega_pixels_ and
mega_bytes_ straight. I got tired of mentions of 5MB cameras and
such. There are numerous other examples, but I already returned
the book and can't cite them all from memory.

If you can overlook this, then I have a feeling the other reviews

that say this is good for beginners are on the mark.

Rating:
Summary: Wish I'd Read These Reviews...
Review: I wish I'd read the reviews before I bought the book. I'd echo the sentiment that I was too advanced for the book. The CD wasn't anything I could use either. It was good in spots, but what I learned was really on a few pages. If you just bought or thinking of buying, your first digital camera and goodies, then buy this book.

If you've been shooting for a while and using Photoshop, you'll learn a little, but wish you'd bought something else--like a lens or something, or a different book.

Beginners BUY THIS

Rating:
Summary: Wish I'd Read These Reviews...
Review: I wish I'd read the reviews before I bought the book. I'd echo the sentiment that I was too advanced for the book. The CD wasn't anything I could use either. It was good in spots, but what I learned was really on a few pages. If you just bought or thinking of buying, your first digital camera and goodies, then buy this book.

If you've been shooting for a while and using Photoshop, you'll learn a little, but wish you'd bought something else--like a lens or something, or a different book.

Beginners BUY THIS

Rating:
Summary: Very good overview of digital photography
Review: In the spirit of the other "Bible" books, this book does a very good jobs addressing the dummies *and* the post-novices. It is not just a primer on digital cameras, but a comprehensive review of capturing, manipulating, and printing images digitally.

The author starts early in the book emphasizing the point that finished digital images are only as good as the original shots(you can't add detail that isn't there). Therefore, he covers full digital photography as well as hybrid digital photography (shooting on film, then scanning) as a cost-effective alternative shooting with a digital camera. The author makes a good point that image resolution and quality from $300 35mm SLRs can be better than $3,000 digital cams. (The instant gratification of digital is awesome, though.)

The tips and techniques on shooting are very good for the novice to intermediate shooter. The explanation of the inner workings of cameras (specifically digital) are very instructive. For example, I now understand why shooting ultra-long exposures with a digital cameras doesn't work (the image sensor is subject to "noise" that becomes pronounced after a few seconds).

There are some parts that drag if you find that subject to be a little value. I don't shoot for the web, so the chapter on image processors for web pages was boring. But if you need it, explanations and recommendations are there.

The CD-ROM includes (mostly) samples and trials (including Photoshop 5.5) of commerical software. I browsed it briefly. It will be more useful if and when I consider buying some of the software discussed in the book. If you have software that came with a camera or scanner, be assured that the software discussions are general enough to be useful, no matter what you have. If you like to try before you buy, the price of the book may be less than buying one bad program.

As with any book that covers a dynamic topic, there are limitations with the information that will show up over time. The state of the art when the book was printed ($1,000 3-megapixel and $10,000 professional digital cameras) will change quickly (and has). The author acknowledges this. With this book, you will not be able to pick the best deals in digital photography, but you will probably better understand the offerings and how to use them effectively.

Rating:
Summary: All you need to grasp a concept or learn more...
Review: Ok I work with digital cameras, printers and scanners for about 3 years now (professional as well as private life). The concept of digital photography is not new to me and there are few things that I'm unfamiliar with but... There are some settings, details or modes that I would like to try or set but just don't have time. This book will solve those problems. It will take you from basic settings and steps in technique and bump you up. So if all you want to do is print/scan basic proofs or shoot nighttime pictures you will be instructed what to do. But if you want to be more advanced, print better photos, shoot more interesting stuff all you have to do is read on... This book really covers everything; that's probably why it is $40. There are some stuff that you won't need. And if you know basics of photography, parts of the book will bore you but at the end you will have a knowledge that will allow you to improve your digital darkroom techniques. I'm really not looking for camera recommendations since I know what I want. Buyer has to be aware that examples of equipment used for demonstration may be little outdated right now. Same thing goes for camera/scanner recommendations at the end of the book. Digital bible should be used as photo guide not as an equipment recommendation source. Also one thing about the book is that author does not try to find solutions (sometimes). Some problems are solved with minimal intellectual involvement. Example: if there is a problem, tweaking will help (time consuming) but it is recommended that you have to go out and buy a $200 printer profile (much faster/less headache)... I would love to see more of the day to day solutions from peoples personal experiences rather than strictly theoretical solutions (which work fine but cost $). I'm very satisfied with my purchase.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Beginners; Terrible Book for the Advanced
Review: The Digital Photography Bible is intended for a beginner to low-intermediate digital photographer. The book is very complete - which for some may be the reason you buy it. For me, it was the reason I could not give it five stars.

When I say the book is complete, I mean it covers every topic imaginable. From selecting a digital camera (or scanner or printer) to the right imaging software to how to do basic editing on those programs. This may be what potential buyers of this book are looking for: an all in one manual that gives you a great start and that can later be used for reference. Unfortunately, I mistook the title for being a thorough reference that went beyond the basics. This book may get you to the intermediate level of digital photography but it does not take you one step beyond that. My expectations were for a more detailed look at some advanced techniques in later chapters. In my estimation the book dedicates 80% to the beginning digital photographer and 20% to the intermediate.

Some of the topics covered are:

1) Buying guide for digital camera, scanner, printer, and imaging/editing software. 2) Elementary photo techniques. 3) Pros and cons of using an IBM or MAC platform machine. 4) Basic imaging and editing techniques (primarily in Adobe PhotoShop). 5) BONUS: CD-ROM containing "lite" versions of popular imaging software.

Overall, I rated this book four stars because it is full of information and worth the purchase if you fit in the beginner or low-intermediate category of digital photographers. If you've been using a camera (film or digital) and PhotoShop for at least six months with good results, you don't need this book.

BTW, I'm still waiting/looking for a intermediate to advanced level book if anyone has any recommendations, please e-mail me.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Beginners; Terrible Book for the Advanced
Review: The Digital Photography Bible is intended for a beginner to low-intermediate digital photographer. The book is very complete - which for some may be the reason you buy it. For me, it was the reason I could not give it five stars.

When I say the book is complete, I mean it covers every topic imaginable. From selecting a digital camera (or scanner or printer) to the right imaging software to how to do basic editing on those programs. This may be what potential buyers of this book are looking for: an all in one manual that gives you a great start and that can later be used for reference. Unfortunately, I mistook the title for being a thorough reference that went beyond the basics. This book may get you to the intermediate level of digital photography but it does not take you one step beyond that. My expectations were for a more detailed look at some advanced techniques in later chapters. In my estimation the book dedicates 80% to the beginning digital photographer and 20% to the intermediate.

Some of the topics covered are:

1) Buying guide for digital camera, scanner, printer, and imaging/editing software. 2) Elementary photo techniques. 3) Pros and cons of using an IBM or MAC platform machine. 4) Basic imaging and editing techniques (primarily in Adobe PhotoShop). 5) BONUS: CD-ROM containing "lite" versions of popular imaging software.

Overall, I rated this book four stars because it is full of information and worth the purchase if you fit in the beginner or low-intermediate category of digital photographers. If you've been using a camera (film or digital) and PhotoShop for at least six months with good results, you don't need this book.

BTW, I'm still waiting/looking for a intermediate to advanced level book if anyone has any recommendations, please e-mail me.

Rating:
Summary: Very good book on digital photography
Review: This is a very good book for the novice to advanced amateur about the digital darkroom (not just digital cameras). The author does a great job walking through various parts of image capture (both through digital cameras and through scanned images originally taken on film), to editing and modification, through final display, either in print or on the web.

The writing is straightforward--here's what I'm going to say, here it is, and here's what I said. There are good pointers and hints throughout. He covers particular brands of cameras, scanners, software, etc., to some detail. Most discussions, though, are general enough to be applied to any combination of camera, software, computer (provided it's a PC or Mac--no other operating systems mentioned), etc.

The best aspect of the book is its comprehensive nature. Everything's covered. Making panoramas? Yes. How digital cameras work? Yes. Best way to prepare images for the web? Yes. Explaining a dye-sub printer? Yes. On the first read, it will probably be more than you want to know. Later, though, it will be a prompt to try something new.

The CD-ROM comes (mostly) with demos of commercial packages, including PhotoShop 5.5. A nice touch but nothing interesting enough to let me say I've used the CD a lot.

The biggest disappointment is the sample pictures. There are some color pages, but they're just before and after of tricks the author did in PhotoShop. (The book covers some basics about image enhancement, but it will not make you a PhotoShop expert.) The other pictures are in black-and-white and not very clear. In many cases, it is difficult to see the details the author is referring to.

Overall, recommended for the "dummy" or competent amateur who wants a good primer on building a digital darkroom. This is Digital Photo 101 and 102. If you want the advanced courses, go to the web because the state of the art is changing too rapidly to be well covered in a book.