Book Description

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (6)

Worthwhile
This book really helped me figure out how to use this camera. If I hadn't bought this book it would have been a much greater challenge.

Very Helpful
I recently sold my Rebel 2000 camera and bought the Digital Rebel. Since the Magic Lantern for the 2000 was so helpful, I ordered this book and I am glad I did! This book was even better than the book on my old camera. It helped me figure out things about using a digital camera that I just didn't understand at all, like resolution, file types, what is best for what use, etc. The camera's instruction book did not explain these things in ways that I could get a grasp of and this book did a great job. I would highly recommend this to anyone from both the perspective of understanding the digital side to learning all about camera controls. It is well worth the money because it will add to your enjoyment of the camera

Great Guide for a Digital Rebel Owner
I just bought my first digital SLR, the Digital Rebel, and I am an enthusiastic amateur. I found this book seemed to be written for me, the photographer, and not the long-time digital pro. It gave me far more than the manual did, with a lot of really helpful photography tips beyond the camera basics. The author seems to really know the camera as he does more than simply report on the features but also comments on them to make them easier for people like me to use them.

Info the Manual Does Not Have
I don't understand why people can be so arrogant about books they don't like. I thought this was a tremendous help for me. It illustrates so much that the manual covers in such a basic way. There is stuff in here that evidently Canon doesn't even know because it is not in the manual, such as how to make the review image stay on screen regardless of the time set for review. This book saved me a lot of time in getting to know this camera and is well worth its low price. Plus it gives a lot of great how-to advice that I can't imagine any manual including.

Magic Lantern Guide: Canon EOS Digital Rebel
Don't buy this book. It has absolutely nothing to offer unless you don't have the manuals that came with the camera. There is nothing interactive and no hands-on lessons to help you to better understand the camera. Stick with what you already have and practice rather than buy this worthless book. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Little F3, lotta F4
In search of a new camera and considering the F3? There are better resources than this if the F3 is what you have in mind. The book breaks down to about 1/3 to 2/3 on F3 F4 content. Nice section on AF lenses.

Replacement for User Manual
Other than going over features, this guide told me very little the owner manual didn't already. A great replacement for lost owner manual, but that's about it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Saved me a bundle of money.
I just wore out my Canon A2 and am in the process of replacing my camera. I am moving up in price and wanted to check out the Canon 1V. When I went to buy the manual on the 1V, they did not have it, so I bought the 1N to see how it rated. I actually found that my A2 (although not as rugged) has some important features that the 1N doesn't have. I shoot a lot of action photography, and the A2 shoots faster. The only advantage (besides the rugged bodystyle) is that you can fine tune it to 1/3 stops up to +/- 3 stops. However, the 1N is more than double the price for the A2. So at this point, would rather seek the EOS 3 or 1V. (Will decide after I read their manuals). The manual is very extensive and a very good resource if you own the camera, and I am sure that anyone that owns this camera is still smiling, because overall is still a great piece of equipment.

Excellent reference manual - starts where Canon stopped.
Precisely written manual offering tips and procedures for the Canon EOS-1n not given clearly in the manufacturer's manual. I found this manual logically written and easily digested; the last few chapters offer tips on accessories dedicated to the camera and a few words on the RS model. ... Read more

Book Description

Quality users' guides help photographers get the most from their photo equipment. Magic Lantern Guides have sewn bindings and laminated covers for long life. Softbound. 5 x 7-1/2". Approximately 176 pp., fully illustrated in color and black and white.
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Reviews (9)

This book has been some of my favorite reading!
After I bought a used A2E, I bought this book to substitute for the owner's manual. I thought I would be using it as an occasional reference and be done with it. I was wrong. This is a very concise and informative guide to photography for both beginners as well as advanced amateurs and semi-pros. Even though I've used Canon SLR's for the last 22 years (along with my large format equipment) and have taught photography at the college level, I found that this book was a valuable refresher of 35mm skills as well as a helpful alternative to the owner's manual.

Excellent camera manual.
Is far more in depth than the manual that you get with the camera when you purchase it. Will teach you what everything on your camera does and how to do it. It is also a great resource to read if thinking about buying the camera, before making the investment. I have the A2 and enjoy it thoroughly. It compares well with much more expensive cameras.

I give this manual a thumbs up!
I found this book to be a great deal better than the manual that accompanied my EOS A2. It's clear, concise, easy to read, understand and a great book for the amateur or the professional. I like the way this book delved into specific areas and gave recommendations and tips for particular situations. For cameras like the EOS A2, manuals like this are essential for understanding its features and to make photography meaningful and rewarding. My only criticism would be the lack of an index. I've been involved in photography for 25 years and rate myself as an intermediate to advanced.

A Must Have If You Own This Camera or the EOS 5
Not only does this expand on the manual, it gives additional information. Elaborates on many functions the manual only touched on as well as mentioned others the manual ignored. Offers extensive information on lenses, flashes and other accessories. The EOS 5 is the international version of this camera and this book is entirely compatible with it as well (that is the camera I own). Buy it, you won't be sorry (even if you think you already "know" your camera).

Canon Eos A2E/A2 (Magic Lantern Guides Series) (P-1-M38F3)
This book also covers the Canon EOS 5 which is what I have. This book filled in the blanks or gave reasons why cerain things work the way they do. It also gave recomendations and sugestions from professionals who have used the camera. I have used single lens reflex cameras since 1954. I rate myself as an advanced amature photographer. ... Read more

Book Description

This best-selling Magic Lantern Guide is updated to include the new Nikon Photo Secretary accessory and new Nikkor lenses! With complete information on how to take full advantage of each feature on the Nikon N90s, it's a must-have for anyone owning or contemplating the purchase of Nikon's top-of-the-line N series camera. Sections cover the autofocus system, advanced metering system, exposure modes, and flash photography.Know your camera's body thoroughly--its LCD Panel, Button Cluster, Handgrip, High-Eyepoint Viewfinder, and the Viewfinder Display. Get full information on the power supply--including battery drain, testing, and tips--film handling, motorized film transport, exposure modes, selecting a lens, and programming your camera. There's even advice on compatible accessories! Photos, in both color and black and white with detailed captions, show what your camera can capture. You'll admire an incredible shot of a Scottish landscape; trees blowing in the wind as a storm rages; candid snaps of people taken during a trip; and a clear, crisp image of intricate architectural details. What a great accessory for every field trip and holiday!Silver Pixel 192 pages (16 in color), 50 b/w illus., 5 x 7 1/2.
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Reviews (8)

poor
the magic lanter guides are poor--they should be much better--they should get a better editor and a better tech writor from one of the photo magazines to work with them

Not only a bad translation!!!
I am from Switzerland and, of course, bought this guide in german. It is not due to the bad translation into english that the book lacks information, clarity and useful information. It is simply a rather hasty written review of an excellent photoworkhorse that had to be thrown onto the bookmarket as soon as poss. What a pity because the camera is fine!

Not worth the money!
It didn't provide any more information than the instruction manual that came with the camera did. Only advantage is the size and shape of the book which feels nicer than holding the manual.

Totally useless book
Subject material is explained poorly, probably due in part to an inadequate translation from the original German text.

The (mostly bland) pictures do not illustrate how camera features were utilized to get the 'ideal' image. Book is missing an index, and the table of contents is dense. Doesn't go beyond anything the manual covers, and obfuscates many points covered in the manual.

Poor coverage of camera interaction with SB-26/SB-28 flash units. Example: no discussion of usable metering modes when working with fill flash outdoors. Don't look to the SB-26 or SB-28 books by this author for any help either. An incredibly poor combination of books whose whole is dreadfully less than the sum of its parts.

Useless as a reference work, and dubious as a guide. Spend your money on slide film and learn from your own mistakes.

Unfortunately, I couldn't give this book less than one star -- it really should have negative 5 stars!

Rehash of the instruction manual
This book expands on the instruction manual in some interesting ways, but ultimately, the N90s instruction manual is written more clearly and, I thought, helpfully. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Great Place to Start
While the N-60 is now out of production, most people starting out in SLR photography will likely buy its kissing cousin, the N-65. The two cameras are similar, and since Magic Lantern hasn't written a book on the N-65, this is the most useful reference for the N-65 currently available.

The book gives clear explanation of the functions of the N-60, and how to make use of them. Better yet, the reader gets a good general description of photography technique, lens selection, and accessory equipment.

This is well worth reading, probably moreso for a beginner than an experienced photographer.

Magic Lantern Guides, Nikon N60/F60
An easily understandable book that explains all the functions of this camera and how to use them in great, yet simple detail. It fills in the major gaps that the owner's manual fails to address to those new to SLR camera operation. Once you read this book, you will be able to utilize ALL functions of this camera and know the expected outcome of using each function. It also explains the basics of photography while describing functions. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS who own the N/F60 or any SLR. Includes several photos to see the effects of different camera settings.

Oustanding Guide to the N60
This well-organized book will help you get the most out of your Nikon N60 camera. It takes you through each of the camera's many features, explaining the technical basis behind each one and how to use each feature properly.

The book also teaches you the basics of photography -- how aperture, shutter speed, focal length, etc., affect the pictures that you take. The author's points are clearly illustrated with many helpful photos.

The manual that ships with the N60 is a good one, but this book tells you all kinds of things that the manual does not -- such as the way the various "program modes" interact with the flash, and other useful bits of knowledge.

The structure of the book and the author's style make this an excellent guide for photographers of all skill levels. Professional photographers can skip the the sections on the basics of photography, and concentrate on the explanations of the camera's features.

All in all, this book finds a good balance between teaching you the specifics of using your N60 and the broader aspects of being a good photographer in general.

Definitive Guide to the Nikon N60, plus Basic Photography
It has been said of Nikon, the overwhelming choice of professional photographers, that you can buy a camera with more features, but you can't buy one that takes better pictures. The Nikon N60, known as the F60 outside of the U.S., is perhaps the best "snapshot" camera in the world today. And the Magic Lantern Guide to the Nikon N60/F60 is perhaps the best book available to learn about this unique camera, and Nikon photography in general.

The Nikon "system" is an extensive collection of lenses, flash units and accessories designed to work integrally with Nikon camera bodies. This book takes the reader step-by-step through the N60, from loading the batteries to choosing the right lenses and flash units. Along the way, the book covers virtually all aspects of basic photography, including depth-of-field, exposure metering, composition, perspective, contrast, creative effects, filters, choosing the right film and flash photography.

The book has value beyond understanding the Nikon system in general, and the N60 specifically. It covers basic photographic terms and concepts, and is filled with scores of black-and-white and color photos graphically illustrating the capabilities of advanced 35mm camera systems. Fully 50 percent of the book is dedicated to general topics and is not specific to Nikon. This makes the book an exceptional value for novice photographers seeking to broaden their base of knowledge.

I would also recommend this book to anyone considering becoming a Nikon owner. It provides an excellent introduction to the Nikon system, with much of the information applicable to the full Nikon line. Purchasing a Nikon is more than just buying a camera. This book will provide valuable information to make the right choices.

I found this book to be well organized, well written and extremely useful. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

The true Nikon user's bible, it's the only guide you'll ever need for getting professional results with any Nikon camera. Instructions, advice, and data for every setup gives you quick answers to any question about exposure, equipment, or shooting techniques. Master all your Nikon's most advanced features, without having to memorize steps and settings. Refer to it to protect your equipment when shooting under extreme conditions. Consult its troubleshooting tips to save a trip to the repair shop. Other expert advice helps you expand your horizons: tips on stalking and attracting wildlife, shooting aerial and night views, and mastering a broad range of special effects for making more creative photographs. Complete technical information covers daylight and flash exposure, reciprocity effects, and filters, plus concise operating instructions for Nikon F5, F4, N90s/F90X, N70/F70, and FM2n cameras and popular Speedlight flash units. The author lives in Breinigsville, PA.256 pages, 35 b/w illus., 5 x 7 1/2.
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Reviews (9)

The Nikon Field Guide
As an amateur photographer I found the book to be pretty much a complete waste of time. The author has given no creedence to readers who havn't invested heavily in purely Nikon gear such as lenses and flash units. Descriptions of shooting scenarios are too concise and again apply specifically to all Nikon apparatus.

I would have found it more useful if the author had concentrated his advice with information specifically on how to get best use out of the functions available on the camera body itself i.e. Aperature & shutter priority modes when shooting in different conditions. I found the glossary of camera's which takes up a good 100/150 pages to the rear of the book a waste as all this information is copied direct from the user manual of the associated camera's as anyone with the camera's reviewed will know.

All in all a very dissappointing read and one which I now never refer to.

Looks good but ensure that the equipment you own is covered
So far, the book looks like a great buy. However, I was sorely disappointed after purchasing it, it did not cover the Nikon N80 body which I had just bought. It covers in great detail the most popular but not all Nikon cameras/flashes. If you are thinking of buying this book, look at the sample pages (index) to ensure that it covers your camera!!!

A very informative book
This is a very informative and concise book, and packed with very useful technical and practical details and hints about filters, Nikon lenses, flashes, cameras and shooting tips.

I could have rated it 5* if it covered F100, the camera I like most. Some people may find the technical information overwhelming which is a minor problem. For those of you invested in Nikon equipment, this is a very useful reference book.

Good book to have!
Good reference book for field. The size and the weight of the book feels right but I find some equations confusing.

Lots of info , not all Nikon, aimed at a more advanced user
I don't have a camera yet but bought this book to gain information. It contains quite a bit about what I would assume to be the Nikons most likely to be found on the market but is NOT a how to book for the uninformed amateur. I found the lists and diagrams interesting but especially liked the tips about how to do and take care of things outdoors. Most books don't really cover the effects of cold on you and your equipment or how to deal with it or dangerous wild animals. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Very Helpful
This book covers all the camera controls plus tells you how various settings relate to the finished picture. I found it much more helpful than the instruction book which was rather cryptic. I would recommend this if you want to really get the most out of your camera.

Good guide...but could have been better!
I recently purchased this book as a gift for my mother-in-law (who owns a Rebel TI)...When the book arrived, I couldn't resist the temptation to rip open the shrink wrap and see how it compares to my Canon EOS 5 Magic Lantern Guide.

Compared to the Canon owner's manual this book is terrific and an invaluable resource. Compared to other Magic Lantern guides I have read...it's a bit of a let down.

The book gives a great, concise explaination of how to use all the camera's functions...however it's writing style is a bit stiff and not user-friendly enough to make a developing photographer want to keep picking up this book. Perhaps this book needs a collaborating writer to help it along. I think a revision of the text by a 2nd writer could definitely help this book reach out to its readers.

If you own a Rebel TI and want to better understand how to use the camera to take professional pictures...this book is a definite must...just be forewarned that it reads a lot like a textbook. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Content. Worth it?
This book is nothing more than the factory owner's manual with a bit more explination. This would be a great book to buy if you didn't have the original manual. It explains a few thing a little more clearly, but not much more for the money. It does also consist of an overview of Canon lens, but is not up to date.
Overall:
If you have the manual, don't buy this book.
If you don't, buy this book.

Good EOS-3 guide
Good complement to the sometimes ambiguous owner's manual: the different metering and autofocus systems are well explained, and allow you to learn how to get the best of this camera.

The worse part is, IMO, the flash operation: the book is really weak on this topic, and it disappointed me a lot.

How to understand EOS 3 and EOS SYSTEM.
I'm a CANON EOS user for almost one year and I've had: EOS 500 and A2. Now I have EOS 50e and 3. All cameras I've bought in the used market without owner's manual. The Magic Lantern Guides help me to understand all cameras I had. The authors of the books write beyond the camera. They write about Flashes, Lenses and History... I could quickly understand overall EOS SYSTEM and love it. ...

Magic Lantern Guide's Canon EOS-3, Great for Beginners
If you're familiar with the Magic Lantern Guides (MLG), you already know this book as they all follow a common pattern: the basics of photography intermingled with operational specifics about the camera.

Everything in Canon's EOS 3 manual is covered here, but in a more expository manner. Whereas the original manual lists features and how to turn them on and off, MLG tells you more of the how and why. Moreover, photos and diagrams are given to expand on important points.

Basic operational functions are covered first while advanced functions are introduced in a graded progression. Thus, you if need to get started fast, read the first few chapters and save the advanced features for a rainy day.

The final section of the book is a survey of selected Canon lenses. Again, they cover the basics--lens classifications & uses--while surveying the various models.

I have 2 negative points about this book: 1) Some of the images are second-rate stock photos; and 2) the text needs professional editing (wordy & grammatically incorrect at times).

Who needs this book? Not an experienced photographer--they should stick with Canon's manual. However, a beginner would benefit from MLG's complete explanations, equipment survey and novice photo tips. ... Read more

Book Description

Quality users' guides help photographers get the most from their photo equipment. Magic Lantern Guides have sewn bindings and laminated covers for long life. Softbound. 5 x 7-1/2". Approximately 176 pp., fully illustrated in color and black and white.
... Read more

Reviews (8)

Essential equipment for Elan II owners.
The most important part of photography is knowing your camera. This is far more informative than the basic manual that you receive when you buy a camera. It teaches you how to use the camera, and teaches a lot of concepts of photography as well. It also covers lenses and speedlites. It is a great resource for someone that is considering buying the camera.

Excellent resource for beginners and intermediates
The book does an excellent job of providing the amateur / intermediate photographer with the necessary knowledge to take fantastic photos. The camera is quite powerful and the book helps the user leverage its capabilities far better than the original manuals.

Better than the Canon manual...
If you are new to 35mm photography or just new to cameras with automated features this book gives much better explantations of the camera's features than the Canon manual. I keep the book with me whenever I'm using the camera, at least until I get thoroughly familiar wtih it.

spend your money on something else
not that helpful... u shouuld buy a photography book for the how to's not this one.

Lantern Guide for EOS not illuminating
While the guide is more useful than the included Canon instruction manual, it is a substandard users guide. Filled with marketing hype -- not enough practical examples of how each camera function works for my needs. No index (which in my book, is mandatory) makes the guide hard to use. A table that lists which features are avaialble in each mode would have been very useful and easy to do, but is not included. So, overall, three stars for trying -- and for adding to the meager user information provided by Canon. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Nice guide for a novice Pentax owner
I bought this book hoping for information specific to my camera (ZX-M) with tips on photography in general.Spending a couple of hours on photo.net and reading a book by Lee Frost provided far more useful information than is contained in this book.The manual that came with the camera does a very good job educating the user on the various functions of the camera.There were some useful tips on using flash and understanding the metering system.If you are a complete novice this will be a very useful book for you.If you are a complete novice and have spent some time doing research before purchasing your camera this will not be as useful.If you are an experienced amateur this book will be of very little use.

Not enough camera-specific information
I bought this book hoping it would be full of specificinformation on my Pentax ZX-M.Unfortunately, I found it consisted ofonly one chapter on my camera, one on the older K1000 (as advertised), and the rest general tips that you could read about in much more detail in a book like Grimm et al.'s Basic Book of Photography or Adams' series. I wanted information on lenses in the Pentax system, how my specific flash unit worked best, etc.Buy this book only if you're looking to complete your photo library and have extra $ you don't want to spend on film. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

If you have no other manual for your camera, buy it.
I bought this book because my used camera didn't come with a manual. I'd like to say this book is a collection of instruction sheets, but it's not even that good. It's more of a series of "let me show you a few things these cameras can do" passages as someone would say in the aisle of a store.

The part on my camera, the Minolta 7000, was cursory at best.

For example, the book barely explains how to set the Minolta 7000 to "stop motion" if you want to stop the motion of, say, a train going 60 mph down the tracks. No step by step instructions are given--or even clearly how to get the camera into that "sport" mode to "stop motion." I ended up taking the book and my camera into a Click Camera store and having someone show me how to do it, step by step. (I loved it when the person in the store looked in the book and said, "they didn't tell you how to do that".)

In another example, there are no easily found, step-by-step explanations of how to connect an external release to this camera, how to shoot a time-exposure of the stars or other moving objects or how to use a tripod-mounted camera to shoot pictures of moving objects.

If you pay more than five bucks for this book, you'll be disappointed with it. I did and I was.

If you really need a manual on one of the classic Minolta cameras, buy a used copy of this book, but also go to Minolta's web site, download the "pdf" file for your camera's user manual and take it to Mailboxes etc to be printed and bound with a plastic cover. That's what I did after I was so disappointed with this book. Betweent the two and the folks at the Click Camera, I'm learning how to use the camera.

A good summary
A good summary of the minolta line, but left me wanting more... I learned little of my camera (I dont have the owners manuals), and am left needing a more complete reference. ... Read more

Book Description

Quality users' guides help photographers get the most from their photo equipment. Magic Lantern Guides have sewn bindings and laminated covers for long life. Softbound. 5 x 7-1/2". Approximately 176 pp., fully illustrated in color and black and white.
... Read more

Reviews (14)

This book is an essential supplement to Nikon's User's Manua
If you have owned Nikon professional cameras before, you will agree that the manuals which come with them are usually iinadequate to explain all of the features of the camera. In the case of the F5 which represents a quantum leap in camera technology for Nikon, this book is indespensable. It contains details of exposure controls, metering and focus in all of the camera's program, automatic and manual modes. It also provides details of lens compatibility as well as the F5's place within the Nikon system. It presents a easily readable reference source for just about every application that the camera might face. The F5 is not a camera for novices, but this book will make it more user friendly for the professional and serious amateur alike.

Useful in one way...
I agree with the general opinion of those commenting on this book...I just purchased a new F5 and picked up this book at the register (it was shrink wrapped for obvious reasons). It is nothing more then a rewrite of the user manual, pure and simple. However, my wife has been showing a growing interest in photography and read this book cover to cover (where she never would have read the users manual) and benefited from it. It has a non-manual style and as such did have value to someone who traditionally won't or doesn't read manuals, but should. No value (or none I found) personally, but my wife did, by default, actually read a manual end to end ;-)

Nikon F5
General opinion and not really an review. I think this book is nothing more than a well packaged manual. In fact, I don't see anything more than what I can get from the provided manual.

A Book not worthy of the Camera
If your looking for in depth coverage on the F5 give this book a miss. The users manual covers all that is in it, and even that which it covers in not clear. I bought the book looking for deeper answers and descriptions of this great camera and was sorely disappointed in what I found. It seemed more of a general description of the camera and Nikon products, almost a sales book for Nikon!! I wish someone would write something worthy of this greatest of cameras.

Sounds great, less filling
This book was quite disappointing, in that it was written just after the Nikon F5 came out and has little information that cannot be found in the user's manual. It does attempt to be as sycophantic as possible to pro photographers ("Since the reader is undoubtedly a pro, I won't bother telling you how this part works..."). It does not cover the PC software, since it was not available when written. It desperately needs an overhaul, it is basically worthless in the present form. ... Read more

Book Description

If you have a classic Pentax, this invaluable guide has the information you've been searching for! Here's the lore, terminology, techniques, tips, and shortcuts for taking fantastic pictures with these vintage cameras--among the best ever produced. Even the original manuals didn't delve into the details so deeply. Get all the facts on speeds, apertures, focusing, depth of field, loading, flashbulbs, and camera maintenance. Then go through the individual series--including the Spotmatics, the Pentax K series, the M series, and the LX--learning everything from the batteries they need to lenses and flashes and a full assortment of accessories. No Pentax owner can do without this!160 pages, 65 b/w illus., 5 x 7 1/2.
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Reviews (1)

One Size Fits all... Almost.
The book includes a brief history of the company that made the classic, and some say, best cameras to come out of the 1960's. A sincere attempt to provide detailed coverage of the Spotmatic, K, M and finally, LX series of cameras is moderately successful for those who are familiar with these cameras. A good portion of the book is given over to general photography concepts and techniques. This provides a good refresher course and a handy reference. In many instances, tie-ins are made with various Pentax models, and overall, Pentax owners will find this book very useful. Collectors with considerable experience, both in making pictures and with these cameras will, however, be disappointed by the broad strokes used to describe the details of individual models. Many details, important to serious collectors and those making purchasing decisions, are overlooked. For example, the Spotmatic II is described merely as a Spotmatic with a hot shoe. Significant differences exist and are ignored. If you need every book written about the early TTL SLR Pentax cameras, then this book is a "must-have". If you need a book that is useful from a general standpoint and discusses early Pentax cameras too, this book comes with a good recommendation. If however, you want a definitive work about one of the most influential camera manufacturers and their products, you will do well to look elsewhere. ... Read more