Nikon D5100 Digital Field Guide

The book has a few sections that I found helpful, things that I didn't locate in the user manual PDF file or the rather lean and insufficient printed user guide that came with the camera. The section explaining the details of how the camera focuses was helpful.However, most of the book just feels like a re-write of the user manual in places, with the same omissions. So, buying the book to fill in the gaps left by the user manual will leave you disappointed. For example, the HDR section and the multiple exposure sections fail to mention that these only work in the P-A-S-M modes. The color sketch special effect isn't really discussed. The things that are barely mentioned in the PDF user manual file are also just as badly written and lacking in detail here.Much of the book is generic clap trap filler on how to compose nice photos, etc. that could be included in any camera book. Not much that solves the puzzles of a new camera and how to get the best exposure and focus.I just got the feeling that the author has sort of a generic book written on Nikon DSLRs and just swaps in reworded stuff from the user manual file, but that he has not actually used this camera more than a few times. I have no way of knowing. The photos used as examples are not labeled as having been actually taken with this specific camera. They include information on the lens, exposure, etc. but I really doubt they were D5100 photos.If you were expecting information on how to avoid puzzling overexposure in contrasty light (as sometimes happens with the D5100, ways to optimize HDR, recommendations for setting up the P, A, or S modes in different conditions to get optimal results, or additional information on the built in special effects specific to this camera model, this is not the book for you.For me it was worth $13 for the handful of things that it taught me, but the information that you couldn't find in the user manual PDF file would probably fit on a 3x5" index card. It is not a horrible book, but a far cry from a book written by someone who actually uses this camera a lot and who anticipates the most common questions not answered by the printed manual or PDF file user guide manual. I bought it because the other D5100 books that show up in a search are apparently vaporware, not yet released for publications. Hopefully the not yet released books are delayed because they are taking the time to actually write about this specific camera rather than generic advice on holding the camera steady or the history of Nikon lenses.Better than nothing, but not the book you are expecting.

Great little book! It gives you all the info you need to learn about your D5100!

Well written and easy to understand. Great resource.

Great manual tho it is lacking in areas. I was trying to find out how to use and change f settings. The manual talks about that BUT doesn't tell you HOW to change settings. A drag, had to keep asking my photo buddies (new camera) Had point and shoot for years now back to a 'smart' camera and needed a lot of help. Manual okay but those looking for a more complete guide, this is not it.

I especially liked the chapter about real world applications where the author gives nice advice about various types of photography. The book begins with an overview of all settings you can make, and later on explains things in more detail. I didn't always felt that this was the best ordering: first it tells you how to set a certain option, and much later it explains why it is and how to use it.

I bought this book for my husband and he has raved about this field guide. Even though he has used many digital cameras for the past twelve years, he is still learning tricks from this field guide. He takes his camera out with him everywhere he goes just in case he sees something worth photographing. The guide is easy to read, compact and to the point. My husband has read tons of photography books and he claims that this one is by far the best.

Modern SLRs (aka. DSLRs) are so much more complicated than the most sophisticated "Pro" film cameras ever were. These Field Guides explain everything in terms that anyone (even the most raw newbie) can understand. Loaded with pictures (aka. visual aids) that better facilitate your learning. I've been a "newer technology" photographer for many years, always buying the latest gear. I wouldn't think of buying a new camera without also buying Dennis' book on it.

Perfect gift for our daughter. Great experience!!

awesome

Anyone who has used a DSLR can quite quickly get used to another DSLR. But if you're changing horses mid-stream, as I did in going from the Canon 40D to the Nikon D5100, sometimes the manual doesn't go far enough or even leaves things out. This is where the Digital Field Guides come in handy. Everything is there but in more detail. So even if you've got the manual, you will probably find that you'll learn how to use your camera faster with this book.

Best camera I have ever had, two cameras in one a good video camera and a good still camera with some good fixed Sean's added. Lots of menus to explore and if you get it wrong it tells you how to put things right, so you cannot take a bad photo with this camer even in near complete darkness as the iso goes up to 125,000 iso and without flash. And good value for your money, looking forward to summer with it. Top camera.

If you own a Nikon D5100 throw away the instruction manual that Nikon provide and buy this now. Well dont actually throw away your manual as this serves as an accompaniment to that manual, piggybacking the information provided by Nikon and then going on to explain in real world terms what each thing actually means. Very easy to understand, and well written, with great example images. Well Done Mr Thomas!!!

I bought thie Field Guide prior to buying the D5100. Knowing the user guide that comes with a camera is not very good I decided I needed a guide to give a me a good preview of the camera and also be a useful guide afterwards. I was a little dissapointed at first that it did not give step by step actions but on further reading and on purchasing the camera it became clear this was the perfect pairing.