Guide book for DSLR Camera

knightstyle

Hi experts, I, with a little help from the kids, bought my wife a Panasonic fz38 for her birthday. Looking for a good book to help her use it but when I search all I can find is "The DVX Book" says it is a guide to Panasonic DVX cameras. Is the fz38 a DVX camera?
What book would you recommend for her. She knows very little about photography so must start with basics.

Rikki

This one has good reviews on Amazon. Click Here

There is this one too..Collins Complete Photography Course.

I have a tatty old book I found invaluable when I got my first SLR camera many moons ago. I can't put my hand on it at the moment. Although it's for pre digital slr's the principles are the same if you intend to use the digital camera manually.

Fifer

As far as I'm aware, the DVX range are broadcast standard video cameras, so no.

Tom Ang writes very good photography guides. Have a look on Amazon.

knightstyle

Thanks for the replies, have had a look but these and other books that I can review, most I can't, seem to assume a basic knowledge of photography and deal with taking better shots.
My wife knows nothing about F stops, shutter speed, depth of field etc. and then the camera modes, AP, SP, P, iA, CUST, SCN, etc. where are these and all the adjustments contained within each explained in the books?
Only one book on Amazon lets you see what is inside! Tried to find some reviews but they all seem to be for advanced books.
Next question, is there a monthly Mag. starting a regular basic photography course?

alanwjones

This is a great book for the beginner I believe -http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0817463003/?!!!!!googhydr-21&hvadid=5202586235&ref=pd_sl_8nep6sp5ri_e

Oneday77

Not wanting to sound patronising but the Dummies ranmge of books cater for starters.
It might also be worth looking up evening courses at the local college.

Lakeuk

Bought my dad last Xmas The Digital Photography Book volumes 1 / 2, he thought they were excellent

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Photography-Book-Step-step/dp/032147404X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260746704&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-Photography-Book-Step-Step/dp/0321524764/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260746704&sr=1-5

But I'd recommend to get her on a evening course at the local collage, my sis is currently doing one, she loves it and it's helping her understand her camera and the lingo

darich

knightstyle wrote: »

My wife knows nothing about F stops, shutter speed, depth of field etc. and then the camera modes, AP, SP, P, iA, CUST, SCN, etc. where are these and all the adjustments contained within each explained in the books?

The instruction book will list what these modes are for and how they work. Every camera I've bought, even 4 figure DSLR cameras, detail that in the instruction manual.

You might find the instructions give you enough to start and you could delay getting an independent book for a while to familiarise yourself with the camera and the functions

knightstyle

Thanks again for the replies. The instruction book explains how to set things like AP but not WHY! The book about exposure looks good but again you get no idea what the contents are! No reviews, no look inside. A course is a good idea but we move around a lot, in France at the moment, Cyprus in the New Year, then UK, then back to France and possibly NZ at Easter! The joys of making the most of retirement!
So will probably get the Collins book and the exposure book. Thanks again.

Fifer

What about a DVD? Jumpstart guides seem fairly well regarded. They don't do a specific one for your camera, but there's a general introduction to DSLR cameras here.

[Deleted User]

ok - you will not find a book about how to use your specific camera model AND why

First of all - the Panasonic FZ38 is not an SLR camera. It has manual focus but no interchangeable lenses. However, it'll have a good automatic mode and lots of scene modes so she could just use it like that to start with.

I actually found this book the most useful - http://www.amazon.co.uk/KISS-Guide-Photography-Simple-Guides/dp/0751334359/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260786652&sr=8-6