Gift Book on Nikon D3400 for Granddaughter??? (Page 2): My opinion is that YouTube videos complement the books. If she is serious about learning photography she needs to read books on...

Boris Ekner Loc: From Sweden, living in Guatemala

bsprague wrote:

This week my granddaughter was given a Nikon D3400 with two lenses for her 16th birthday. She is a good photographer using various phones and P&S cameras. She has a lot of fans on Instagram. She has never had a DSLR.

I know nothing about the camera or how good the included Nikon instructions are. Amazon has books from Julie King, David Busch, Jeremy Baston and others. Julie King seems to have the most reviews.

Can anyone recommend one of the books?

Thanks.

My opinion is that YouTube videos complement the books. If she is serious about learning photography she needs to read books on the subject. That said, here are my favorites.

- “the-camera-model” For Dummies

- Stunning Digital Photography, by Tony Northrup.

- Secrets To The Nikon Autofocus System, by Steve Perry. This one is my favorite!

- Understanding Exposure, by Bryan Peterson.

All books, but “Secrets to...” are available at Amazon.

Steve Perry’s book is found here:
https://backcountrygallery.com/secrets-nikon-autofocus-system/

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

bsprague wrote:

This week my granddaughter was given a Nikon D3400 with two lenses for her 16th birthday. She is a good photographer using various phones and P&S cameras. She has a lot of fans on Instagram. She has never had a DSLR.

I know nothing about the camera or how good the included Nikon instructions are. Amazon has books from Julie King, David Busch, Jeremy Baston and others. Julie King seems to have the most reviews.

Can anyone recommend one of the books?

Thanks.

She is probably very used to U-tube. There are a lot of tutorials on using the D3400. She can simply do a google search, "simple operating instructions for the Nikon D3400". For your viewing pleasure, here are a FEW.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=A0LEV0FwczJa3ZkAWohXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyZ2lodXBkBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjQwNzlfMQRzZWMDc2M-?p=simple+operating+instructions+for+the+Nikon+D3400&fr=mcafee

inclinerr Loc: South Carolina, United States

Well as an old F@rt, I found the book "Nikon D3400 for Dummies" by Julie Adair King as good quick reference for my D3400. I can quickly look up a topic, guide, explaination when I need some quick help on using my camera. No i don't carry the book around with me but use it as a reference when at home.

John T. MacF. Mood Loc: Columbia, SC

I think your gift was a wonderful choice, but the leap from simple film cameras is kind of like putting a seasoned Chevy driver into a Formula One racer. Look at the books and pick the one with the best reviews that say "easily understood"...

B&H Camera in NY City has a series of laminated cheat sheets on most of the popular DSLRs and they don't cost an arm and a leg. One good book & that cheat sheet will get her off to a great start. A a good seminar on the use of DSLRs will certainly be a great help as well. BTW, B&H closes late Friday afternoon, and doesn't reopen until Sundays in observance of the Jewish Shabbat (Sabbath). You can order online, but it's a bit better to call and ask for someone in the DSLR/Photography department. They offer good advice and decent competitive prices. They may have an opinion on which book would be best.

John

RKL349 Loc: Connecticut

bsprague wrote:

This week my granddaughter was given a Nikon D3400 with two lenses for her 16th birthday. She is a good photographer using various phones and P&S cameras. She has a lot of fans on Instagram. She has never had a DSLR.

I know nothing about the camera or how good the included Nikon instructions are. Amazon has books from Julie King, David Busch, Jeremy Baston and others. Julie King seems to have the most reviews.

Can anyone recommend one of the books?

Thanks.

I have always found the David Busch Compact Field Guides for a particular model camera very helpful. Sometimes they are out of print for older model cameras. They are usually available on Amazon and I like that they are small enough to fit in most Camera bags.

John T. MacF. Mood Loc: Columbia, SC

Nikon manuals read as of they were written in Japanese, translated into the native American Hopi tribe language, then into English. The stink, I agree...

KLambar Loc: New Jersey

Dave Busch & Steve Perry

dyximan

bsprague wrote:

This week my granddaughter was given a Nikon D3400 with two lenses for her 16th birthday. She is a good photographer using various phones and P&S cameras. She has a lot of fans on Instagram. She has never had a DSLR.

I know nothing about the camera or how good the included Nikon instructions are. Amazon has books from Julie King, David Busch, Jeremy Baston and others. Julie King seems to have the most reviews.

Can anyone recommend one of the books?

Thanks.

You might look into local camera stores the one I purchased my Camera from offers classes, hands-on person instructions I think are the best she may even look into a nice photo club or something at her school or night school

fotogk Loc: Tuftonboro, NH

I agree with David Busch's if video are better check to see if the local library has a subscription to Lynda.com then she can view a ton of videos all about photography

rayclay Loc: Arab, AL., USA

I am a 82 year old novice. When you buy a Nikon they assume you know everything about the camera, its functionality, limitations so all they give you is a for diagram of the button names. Nikon For Dummies for my particular camera was fair and helpful but the one for my camera by David Busch was far easier to use and helped me a lot.

Bear2 Loc: Southeast,, MI

bsprague wrote:

This week my granddaughter was given a Nikon D3400 with two lenses for her 16th birthday. She is a good photographer using various phones and P&S cameras. She has a lot of fans on Instagram. She has never had a DSLR.

I know nothing about the camera or how good the included Nikon instructions are. Amazon has books from Julie King, David Busch, Jeremy Baston and others. Julie King seems to have the most reviews.

Can anyone recommend one of the books?

Thanks.

Do not know about Julie King, but I have a David Busch book for all my Nikon’s, and highly recommend them.
Barns & Nobel has them.
Duane

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Wow. I've been logged off for awhile and found lots of help. Thank you all.

Update: I drove her to school this morning. A teen's workflow is substantially different. The idea of using a Nikon is to take pictures you can't with a phone. But, the goal is the same. Get the good ones to Instagram. Prints? Never. The are too expensive for a teen budget. Best photos are "real" in that they need no post processing. If they do, the chosen software is VSCO, a phone app. Photos will be shot and reviewed on the Nikon. Only the best will transfer to the phone via Bluetooth. Only if necessary, VSCO will be used. Then straight to Instagram for peer review and enjoyment. Anything shot last week, or even yesterday, is too stale.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I'd vote for Busch too. Although she won't read it cover to cover, it will be a great reference for when she wants to do more. also a good intro to buttons and dials.

Allie

I have a D3400 new book that I can just give to you. I sent a private message. Allie

toxdoc42

At her age, she probably won't read the book, and if she is like my grandkids, will figure out the camera in 24 hrs or less. I enjoyed the book Nikon D3400 for Dummies. It is cheap and thorough. Then. All she needs is to use the camera.

By the way, don't let anyone disparage the camera. I went from a Nikon F2 film camera, to this and find its light weight and features meet my needs completely so far. I used it for a year and just recently added a couple of lenses to extend. The capabilities I felt lacking with the 2 lenses included in the package. So far, I am not dissatisfied at all.