David Busch's Quick Snap Guide to Using Digital SLR Lenses

It’s a book with good information for beginners

This is my first "Quick Snap Guide" and I have found it extremely well-organized and informative. It goes into just enough depth, not technical, but thorough and well-explained both in the text and in the many well-captioned photographs and illustrations. Not only does it describe each type of lens (its function, design, strength, and limitations) but it goes into detail about how the size and type of lens is a factor--but only one factor--for the qualities you might want in your photographs. So, for example, depending on the depth of field you want, you choose a certain type and size of lens, and then a certain aperture and shutter speed combination. The relationship between your choice of f stop, your ISO, your shutter speed, and available light are all as important as your choice of lens. So, with relatively few lenses you can cover just about any effect and any type of photograph.It should be noted that this book is aimed at owners on non-pro digital slr's (in other words, owners of cameras which don't have a full 35mm sensor) since, in his recommendations and guidelines for the lenses are already based on a multiplier of 1.5 or 1.6. This takes some adapting for those of us used to taking a lens labeled 50mm and automatically thinking of it as a 75mm lens, or that if we want 50mm we have to buy a lens marked 35mm. There is no need to do that, it is already factored in, which threw me at first.Lenses are also explained: their construction; all the little markings, scales, buttons, and controls usually found on lenses; filter types, uses, and threads; tripods; zoom and prime types and the benefits of each; optional controls such as vibration reduction; optional attachments for lenses such as adapters, close-up attachments, extension tubes, and bellows--regardless of manufacturer, if it has anything to do with lenses, it's here.Photography pointers are also given, both general in nature and specifically related to lenses. You will want to know general tips on how to get good bokeh (and what lens qualities contribute to it); how to avoid lens flare (which lenses are most likely to have it); what general camera settings are the most likely combinations when you want a specific feel; types of focusing; types of optical aberrations (chromatic, vignetting, barrel & pincushion distortions and what you can do about them); the difference between DX and FX lenses and crop factors (multipliers) of non-pro digital cameras.Really, almost everything is here. I say "almost" because there are a couple of things I would have found useful that weren't here. Speaking generally, I would have welcomed side-by-side comparison pictures in which the same scene was photographed with different lenses to give an even better feel of the strengths and limitations of different focal lengths. Yes, each focal length is illustrated in its own section, but not directly compared to other options. Speaking specifically for my needs, I would have welcomed a bit of information on which lenses would be best for photographing geometric subjects with strong edges (such as architecture, and two-dimensional artwork such as a painting), both of which are difficult to get "square". Portraits, sports, landscapes, closeups, candids, etc., are all well-covered, but no mention of architectural photography. From my own experience, I find a zoom lens with a focal length between 28mm and maybe 45mm (figuring full-frame) to give the best result, but I would have loved to have some professional guidance on the subject because my observations are hit-and-miss.On the whole, however, the book is outstanding. It is clear and pleasant reading as well as a well-indexed reference source. Not only is this book a definite keeper, I plan to get other David Busch books as well based on this experience, starting with his "Quick Snap Guide to Photo Gear".

As with the other Quick Snap Guides The Explanation's of how and why something works or doesn't work is Outstanding easily understood and to the point.Topics are shown with an outline, Highlights, Photos and written description.Easy to follow easy to understand and as with David's other Books there is Something for Everyone if You ever wanted to really know Why and How rather than just how to do something this is for You.I give this 5 stars the reason Most books tell how and that's nice But this teaches why and how. Give a Man a fish He eats today Teach a Man to Fish he can eat forever. a Pie is Nice Teach me Why and How to Bake I eat hot for a lifetime This is what its about]

I really love this book. I have learned more in 2 days of reading this than I have in the past 2 semesters in Photography class. This book, simply and easily explains lens, controls and features, filters and attachments, image quality, and the different types of lens like telephoto, wide-angle and macro. He explains what the lenses can do, how to choose, when to use which lens, etc. I am highly satisfied.My only complaint is that a link in the book for [...]is incorrect. I cannot fin the chart.gif on the website he refers me to in the book. I have looked on his website also.

Every book has some hints and tips you won't find elsewhere. However, some books are chalk full of them and some books do not include very many new things. I understand this is a basic primer, but it really didn't include what I was looking for. I needed a lot of hands on examples of how to use lenses. The author, by his own admission, sticks mostly to nikon and canon products because they are the most market prevalent. In this situation, I have a Olympus and could not relate to the examples of this book. Waste of cash for me, but I still kept it because the graphic design/layout of the book is good and it is written clearly, I just didn't really learn as much as I'd hoped but I would still recommend this book to someone who has never seen a DSLR lens, even though the book talks more about cameras than lenses.

After checking reviews, reading tables of contents on Amazon's "look inside" feature, checking out library books, perusing used bookstores, and wasting some money on other books, this is the one that has what I was looking for--specifically, information that will help me choose what lenses I may want to purchase to add to what I already own. Helpful info about constant aperture/macro/wide angle lenses as well as extension tubes, filters, and reversing rings.

This is exactly what I have been looking for. I am not new to photography, but I have been away from it for a long time. I needed a refresher course on a few things and this was it. It did not go in to long drawn out descriptions, but had just the right amount of information.

Excellent book. Well written and easy to understand. Being a beginner in the area of digital SLR's, this book gave me the information I need to understand the different types of lenses and what to look for when I buy new ones. The information in this book makes it easy to determine which lens to use for which purpose. My photography has improved greatly after reading this book.

Glossy, well written and highly informative. Pretty well sums up this book which whilst being a bit expensive really nails the subject of lenses if you want more information in your photography.Whilst the author is American the overall style is international and avoids any over hype that some US based authors tend towards. The writing style is clear and straight to the point.I was slightly concerned that in this digital age a book a few years old would be out of date but of course the reality of lenses is based in physics which are unchangeable regardless of how much processing power moves on. Don't get me wrong - this book is fairly up to date with the technical information that DSLR cameras is heavily reliant on, the actual physical attributes of a lens is what it is no matter what age or era we are talking about.Anyway, highly recommended if you want to learn about the endless subject that is photography.

Best to read this with the camera in front of you, so you can play along with the camera as you read. This is a very good introduction to the complete amateur who wants to know their camera better. I found this very useful in getting to know my camera and spur me on to learn more via tutorials on the net. Overall a good first start and something that's easy to digest... I've bought a few other books since this one that are much more detailed.. but they're also almost impossible to read (very dry, with poor explanations and far to technical). This book isn't any of those things and is aimed at the complete beginner.

Excellent book well written and a good reference

I can understand this book as some books are more for the professionals and I am anamateur. I am really getting into understanding what it is all about.

excellant product