Camera Buy - Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K200D

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Manufacturer: Lark Books

Average Evaluation:

Binding: Paperback
Brand: Magic Lantern
Dewey Decimal Number: 771.31
EAN: 9781600593789
ISBN: 160059378X
Label: Lark Books
Manufacturer: Lark Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 240
Publication Date: 2008-08-05
Publisher: Lark Books
Studio: Lark Books

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Editorial Reviews:

With easy-to-understand tips and advice, this Magic Lantern Guide will have owners of the new Pentax K200D taking great pictures in no time. Learn which file and resolution settings give the best image quality from the camera’s impressive 10.2 megapixel CCD image sensor. Find out how to get sharp, blur-free photos with the camera’s autofocus system. Discover when to use AUTO Pict, and which Scene modes work best for various subjects. Or try the more advanced creative modes to freeze action or isolate your subject for pictures that pop. Finally, hints on using the camera’s built-in flash and choosing accessory flash units and lenses help make mastering digital SLR photography fun, easy, and rewarding.

Reviews :

Evaluation:

Conclusion: Magic Lantern Guides: Pentax K200D

Review: Excellent guide for inexperienced or non pro SLR users. Answers questions in a well laid out plan. It works for me.

Evaluation:

Conclusion: Learning curve made easier

Review: The book was much more reader friendly than the manual. It had plenty of anectdotal tips and situations. It is most helpful to those folks, like me, who have previous film SLR experience but no serious digital SLR experience.

Evaluation:

Conclusion: Just Short Of What I Was Looking For

Review: I recently purchased the Pentax K200D, my first foray into digital photography. The camera is great. The manual was as expected. I was after a book that would take me through getting the most out of the camera and how to best set it up for different photographic scenarios, e.g. low light, landscape, portraiture, etc. This book fell a little short.

However, it does work on expanding from the manual. It covers all settings and functions of the camera, expanding on them, and explaining their affect or purpose in very easy to understand language. This would be great for someone new to photography who is a little bewildered by the jargon and too-the-point manner of the manual.

The photos are black and white but they serve their purpose.

In that respect, I give it four stars. It does achieve what it was intending, just not what I was wanting.

Evaluation:

Conclusion: Magic Latern Guides - Pentax K200D

Review: I recently purchased the book Pentax K200D by Magic Lantern Guides and it is an excellent publication. The user manual that came with the camera is good but basically gives one the bare facts about the camera. The Guide goes into much more detail plus it is in a language that is easy to follow. I recommend this book to anyone who has a Pentax K200D as it will help them in getting the best out of a great camera.

Evaluation:

Conclusion: Great Companion Book

Review: I was unsure about buying this book. I've found the K200D manual somewhat readable and have gleaned other info, such as using manual lenses, from the internet. I have never read a Magic Lantern Guide, and the reviews for other camera guides are generally positive but also sometimes mixed.

That said, I am extremely pleased with this book. It is exactly what I was looking for. To start with, the photos are all black and white, but they are very effective at demonstrating the point--much better than Pentax's drawings and photos. I don't know how much of the book is boilerplate with other guides, but it definitely seems to be tailored to the K200D.

I haven't read this book in detail yet, but I've already learned about the different Pentax series lenses as well as filter types. In addition, I've learned about its dedicated flash (AF-360FGZ). The instruction manual for the flash is full of tables and cryptic modes. This book makes it easier for me to understand and apply.

One thing that may be missing is information on using older Pentax lenses, specifically manual lenses. It's mentioned briefly in the aperture ring section, but that probably isn't sufficient information by itself. For me this is important because one of the reasons I went with this camera is the huge lens availability. Other than that, it's a great book that I'm glad I bought.

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