Canon EOS Rebel XSi/450D Digital Field Guide | 
 enlarge | Author: Charlotte K. Lowrie
Publisher: Wiley
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $10.73
You Save: $9.26 (46%)
New (26) Used (8) from $10.73
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 16374
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 0.7
ISBN: 047038087X
Dewey Decimal Number: 771.33
EAN: 9780470380871
ASIN: 047038087X
Publication Date: July 28, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: All orders ship same business day via standard shipping (USPS Media Mail) if received by 1 PM CST.
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Product Description
Your Digital Rebel XSi/450D, with its 12.2 megapixel resolution, 3-inch view screen, and the option for "Live View" shooting, is designed for simplicity without sacrificing creative freedom. This guide is ideal for helping you use that creative control and get great shots anywhere, anytime. If you’re new to dSLRs, it makes the transition easy. If you’re already comfortable with the various modes and settings, the book helps you make the most of every one. - Set up your camera and learn when to choose automatic, semi-automatic, and manual modes
- Understand the camera's controls, menus, and when to use different metering and autofocus modes
- Explore Canon Picture Styles and custom functions
- Learn to manipulate ISO, exposure, depth of field, and shutter speed
- Create intriguing night and low-light images, capture sports action, portraits, and get tips for better macro photography
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| Customer Reviews:
 Boilerplate tech stuff but no help for newbies September 4, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Totally agree w. Shortstack above, this is a fancy manual, more concerned about completeness and boilerplate than taking the time to select the 30 most useful things a newbie could use. Most owners of this entry-level SLR are stepping up fr. point and shoot, otherwise they'd buy a mid level "prosumer" model. Will someone tell me 10 quick tips to take a portrait. For Instance, how hard it is, and how complicated it is, and if it is worth it, to get a better portrait by just using the portrait button or instead by making real adjustments in say Program or Aperture mode? Two pix, side by side, one taken w. Portrait button, the other taken w. some quick and realistic changes using Program or Aperture mode. Is it worth it? How hard is it? At what point do you need to leave the buttons, and who can realistically do that. Stuff like that, and the same for landscapes, kids, sports, etc. and basically some down and dirty basics for the 99 percent of pics folks like me and Shortstack take. Then you can use rest of book for Advanced stuff, if someone has the time and energy. Scot Kelby's books attempt to do this, but are seriously annoying b.c. of Scot's juvenile and egotistical style,but at least he 'gets' it. When Scot, or someone like him, takes his meds and writes a book dedicated to one camera, like the Canon EOS, SIGN ME UP FOR THAT BOOK. AMAZINGLY, the great how to photo book for interested newbies is YET TO BE WRITTEN. Do you really need to adjust White Balance by having subject hold up a white card? And taking two test photos?? Can't you correct that in like Picassa, and how many serious amateurs do that? Stuff lkke that.
 Great Guide August 14, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Well written, excellent guide for the Canon Rebel XSi. Many of the features that were unclear in the user manual are clearly explained in this guide. After reading this book, I have a much better understanding of my XSi than before, even though I read the user's manual from cover to cover. This book is easy to understand and will put you in touch with all the features the XSi has to offer.
Less helpful than owner's manual August 6, 2008
5 out of 11 found this review helpful
I bought this book based on the reviews of the author's "field guide" on the XTi, which were quite positive, with only a few critics. Usually, that's enough to steer me away if there's another choice, but I thought since there were so many positive reviews, the book must be pretty good. I was very disappointed, however, and I agree with the analysis of those critics of the XTi book.
If you're looking for a version of the owner's manual that's larger and in full color, you might be happy with this "field guide", but if you're looking for something to help you take advantage of what the XSi can do (i.e. tips and techniques), you'll be disappointed too. It was actually less helpful to me than the owner's manual was. For example, I'm new to SLRs (as most of the audience for this book should be), and I didn't know very much about the 4 metering modes that this camera offers. Both the owner's manual and this book describe what they do, but only the owner's manual gives a recommendation (spot metering and center-weighted average are labeled "for advanced users"). Perhaps Lowrie wouldn't agree with that, but at least it's something besides the nuts & bolts.
I can't imagine how Lowrie went about taking up so much space without saying something valuable, or even subjective, about this camera. Perhaps it was all the "full color photos". I also can't imagine ever bringing this "field guide" into "the field". I'd much sooner stick the owner's guide in my back pocket. I found Lowrie's blog much more informative and useful than this book.
Excellent resource for the amateur photographer August 2, 2008
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I recently upgraded to the Canon Rebel Xsi (previously using a point and shoot) and wanted a book to help explain the many features on the Xsi and how to use them in different shooting situations. This book is exactly what I was looking for. It offers a good explanation of concepts and as well as showing me how to use the different features my camera offers.
The first half of the book details the different features and settings of the Xsi with step by step instructions on how to access the settings along with explanation for when and why you would use the different settings. For me there is just enough detail to help my understanding without being overwhelming.
The second half of the book focuses on more general photography fundamentals (light and exposure, using flash); discussion of canon lenses; and discussion of different subjects with tips for shooting each (action/sports; children; nature/landscape; night/low-light; portrait; travel; etc.)
There are color pictures throughout the book that illustrate most of the concepts being explained which I found to be very helpful. The chapters discussing the fundamentals of light and exposure are excellent, especially for the beginner without an understanding of aperture, shutter speed, ISO and how they work together to create exposure.
Here's the table on contents (at a glance) since Amazon does not yet have a preview of the book available:
PART I: USING THE REBEL XSI/450D
Ch. 1: Exploring and Setting Up the Rebel Xsi
Ch. 2: Using the Rebel Xsi
Ch. 3: Using the White Balance and Picture Styles
Ch. 4: Using Live View
Ch. 5: Customizing the Rebel Xsi
PART II: CREATING GREAT PHOTOS WITH THE XSI
Ch. 6: The Fundamentals of Light and Exposure
Ch. 7: Using Flash
Ch. 8: Exploring Canon Lenses
Ch. 9: In the Field with the Xsi
PART III: APPENDIXES
Appendix A: Downloading Images and Updating Firmware
Appendix B: Exploring RAW Capture
Glossary
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