Evaluation: 
Conclusion: Woefully outdated
Review: This is a great book.............if this were 1977, but it's 2007 and about as useful a book on tips for handling your LPs and 8-track tapes. Although this may a 5th addition printed in 2001, the book feels more like 1971. Obviously, the digital revolution has by now fully supplanted film to the extent you can hardly find a film camera to buy save eBay. As good of an intro this may have been decades ago, it today has zero value for any new photographer.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: If you aren't an Absolute Beginner don't bother
Review: I purchased this book on based on the numerous favorable reviews on how useful folks had found it, even those who had some photography experience, albiet minor. I thought I was in that same class, being someone who's had his 35mm SLR for a couple of years but only just did quick point and shoot stuff with it, never really using it to its capacity. If you are one of those people, avoid this book. I already know how to load and unload my film, I've figured out what film works best in my camera and for what situation and I've definately learned how to hold my camera. Unless you went out and bought your first camera just before reading this review I wouldn't bother with this book. Even then I'd be wary, you could probably pick up most of the techniques discuss just by using your camera, and I'm a firm believer in on the job training, though it can get expensive on the film. To sum up, use your camera, become familiar with it and then to refine your technique pick check out something other than this book.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: VERY BASIC
Review: First- the Positive: The book has very good pictures that helped to illustrate the points the author was trying to make. It is very basic. If you have never done anything with photography, this is a good book. It helps explain some concepts in very easy to understand terms. Next- The Negative: This book is VERY BASIC. If you read your owners manual that comes with the camera, much of what is in this book is covered in the owners manual.
I bought this book after I read my owners manual and took a simple photography course at the local college (non-credit for fun course!) This book was much more basic than I wanted. I found that I learned very little from this book because I had read the owners manual of my camera. However, I can see how this book might be helpful to a very beginner.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: "Basic" is an understatement...
Review: If you know nothing about 35mm photography; if you have never held a 35mm SLR in your hands; if you need the low down on "how to" in the simplest form, then this may be the book for you. Otherwise, skip it--"basic" is an understatement. I gave my copy to a needier friend. Nat'l Geographic's "how-to" and the Kodak guide to 35mm photography (although both on the heavy side) are better choices and are both packed full of more advanced information (and exciting color photos)for down the road.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: Start your introduction to photography here
Review: I started here and couldn't be more thankful. First, I must concede that to find any value in this book, you pretty much have to be totally ignorant about 35mm photography. However, if you are (like I was), it is EXACTLY what you need. To me, an absolute novice photographer is someone who has never shot a photograph using a camera other than a simple "point and shoot" model. You know you're this type of person if someone has ever asked you to take a photo for them with a non-point & shoot (e.g. a 35mm SLR) and you panicked because you didn't know how or didn't think you could. If this example doesn't suffice, then ask yourself this question: Do you know what "SLR" stands for and what it means? If not, then you need this book.All told, this book is something like 112 pages long. However, I was able to read it in about 30 minutes. The reason is because the author gives you only the absolute basics you need in three or four sentences per page, with one or two visually explanatory accompanying photos. As such, it's PERFECT for explaining (and demonstrating) the nuts and bolts that you absolutely must know if you want to step up into a camera in which you have some control over the camera functions.
Beyond that, you will admittedly learn little. However, what little you learn is absolutely essential. I recommend buying it too (rather than just reading it in a library, for example) because I still refer back to this book every now and then to make sure I'm correctly understanding the more advanced techniques I'm trying to learn in other books. I can't say enough about this book. If you want a small compact easy-to-read introduction to the bare basics of 35mm cameras and photography, this is the one and only book you will need. Enjoy!
