LindaChaplin Loc: South Dakota

Good morning UHH friends. I took the plunge and ordered a Canon 7D yesterday. Now I'm wondering if anyone out there has a recommendation for a good resource book on using this camera. I'm a "book" person and certainly intend to read the manual thoroughly, but I wonder if anyone has discovered an additional resource that made the learning curve a bit easier? Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

tlbuljac Loc: Oklahoma

Brian Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" is an excellent book

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

magic lantern guide for your specific camera. explains every button and function in plain english, plus book is small enough to keep in your camera bag. Ditto the Bryan Petersen recommendation to truly understand exposure. also written in easy to understand plain English. His book and also his "learning to see creatively" are 2 books every serious photog should own.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Hey Doc ..... here's a best seller for ya but it won't help with your new Canon ..... BTW enjoy your new camera

jenny Loc: in hiding:)

Wikipedia

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

I have found David Busch's guides to be excellent, or at least better than the rest.

His main book for the Canon EOS 7D has 475 pages and is full of useful information presented in a very easy to understand yet detailed manner with lots of illustrations. If you are a book person, this is for you. I really like it.
David Busch also has a "Compact Field Guide: for the 7D" which is good, and is primarily a distillation from his larger guide book, but not really small enough to be a real field guide (it is spiral bound).

I do NOT recommend Andy Stansfield's "Expanded Guide for the 7D." To many errors, and too much carry-over boiler plate form other Canon EOS models he has published guides for.

Hope that helps Linda.

Tina

Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide by Charlotte K. Lowrie. If you go to Barnes and Noble's website you can preview a portion of many of the books and look at their table of contents as well. The Digital Field Guides provide practical suggestions for camera set-up, in-depth instruction on using camera features and, advice on creative application. Blue Crane DVD offers camera specific DVD's but, as with books some are better than others for our specific learning styles and needs. Glancing at the reviews are helpful. Although, I was learning more information from the field guide than the manual, I have found that it is time to revisit and review the information because after practicing with my camera I have a better understanding of the necessity for certain custom changes like the back button AF-on focus. (It separates the shutter release and automatic focusing to two separate buttons.) Also, the more I learn the more I realize how much I don't know. I have a better foundation for understanding some of the technical language now. I don't take pictures regularly (as I should) but, I have come to realize that I would have retained what I learned and had a better understanding of what I read, if I just took a few minutes to snap pictures in my environment as I was learning the different concepts.
LESSONS LEARNED: In the age of digital photography it doesn't cost anything to take photographs and review them on the computer screen. We don't need a special environment and perfect weather to take pictures.
I own lots of photography books but, my biggest mistake was not practicing enough in my spare time and getting the pictures off the media cards because; you can't really judge the quality of your picture until, you enlarge it (beyond the LCD screen). I encourage you to get to know your camera and have fun. The 7D is an awesome investment.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

Linda,
One thing I have learned over the years is that you don't need more than one after market guide for your camera.
Pick one that looks good and others have recommended and read it. Then refer to it. Whatever it may be missing that others have you will pick up along the way. They all have 99% of what is in the OEM manual and then add some tips and hints to make things easier to understand and the camera faster to learn. Copious illustrations are always useful.

olcoach Loc: Oregon

Hi Linda, I agree on the Busch book as if it isn't in there you don't need to know about it. It's size is a bit overwhelming but by judicious use of the index you can limit your reading to the area you want to explore. I also looked at the Lowrie book and it's better than most of her's which tend to have too much rehash of her other books. This one actually works with the 7D. Have fun and keep shootin'. Mike

Tina

I have heard lots of positive things about David Busch and his books. In the past, I enjoyed going to the bookstore and glancing through the recommended books to find a style I preferred. I agree, you don't need a lot of different photo books on the same exact subject just one or two but, sometimes it does take a while figuring out what you need. At times, you just have to settle on one and move from there. I'm learning to start out and finish one book before getting several. David Busch is highly recommended.

bhfranklin Loc: Boston Area / Cape Cod

Another high recommendation for David Bush's books.

LindaChaplin Loc: South Dakota

You guys always come through...thanks to everyone for recommendations. At least I have a starting place now. I appreciate that you don't need 10 books on the same subject...I tend to "think" that would help, but I'm going to get one or two and really stick with those. Thanks again for the encouragement, too.

larrycumba

This is the one. Don't waste your money on cheap imitations.



http://www.amazon.com/David-Buschs-Canon-Digital-Photography/dp/1435456912/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1339642629&sr=8-5

LindaChaplin Loc: South Dakota

I have it in my Amazon "cart!" Thanks. Linda

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Magic Lantern Guides.