Rating: 
Summary: Not a good start
Review: Although the book was revised and updated in 1997, the pictures and cameras used in the book are 1970's style. They have added just a couple of updates with new camera technology. You'd be better off just sticking with your camera's manual. For example, 10% of book talks about loading and unloading film. Most beginners even know how to do that!
Rating: 
Summary: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: A quick way to get up to speed.
Review: I bought this book because I hadn't used my 35mm camera since some photography classes in high school, and wanted to refresh myself with the basics. The book is quick and to the point, not mincing any words or going into much detail in any of the topics. It covers the basics of camera operation, illustrating the concepts of depth of field and shutter speed (and it's balance with aperture) quickly but clearly, using photographs to demonstrate them all. You can probably sit down and read the book in a half hour or so, but you'll walk away understanding what you need to in order to start experimenting and learning through experience. If you've done any 35mm photography before, this isn't the book for you, it will be much too basic and there aren't any great insights to be learned from it. It is aimed squarely at beginners and shines as a quick tutorial. I once read that photography is more about getting out and doing it than having 'talent' or even 'technical skills', I'd agree, and would recommend this book as the shortest route to get shooting.
Rating:
Summary: A quick way to get up to speed.
Review: I bought this book because I hadn't used my 35mm camera since some photography classes in high school, and wanted to refresh myself with the basics. The book is quick and to the point, not mincing any words or going into much detail in any of the topics. It covers the basics of camera operation, illustrating the concepts of depth of field and shutter speed (and it's balance with aperture) quickly but clearly, using photographs to demonstrate them all. You can probably sit down and read the book in a half hour or so, but you'll walk away understanding what you need to in order to start experimenting and learning through experience. If you've done any 35mm photography before, this isn't the book for you, it will be much too basic and there aren't any great insights to be learned from it. It is aimed squarely at beginners and shines as a quick tutorial. I once read that photography is more about getting out and doing it than having 'talent' or even 'technical skills', I'd agree, and would recommend this book as the shortest route to get shooting.
Rating:
Summary: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: "Basic" is an understatement...
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!
Rating:
Summary: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: great for beginners
Review: I teach basic and color photography. One of my students let me borrow her copy of the original(1989). One problem in explaining aperture, shutter speed, and depth-of-field is that photos would really help. This book does that, as well as having photos that address loading the film, types of lenses, light, and use of flash. Yes, there are people out there that don't know how to load film. Although modern cameras may have electronic gizmos to deal with aperture and shutter speed, this book helps the understanding of how everything works, as all cameras do the same thing.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for Adults New to Still Photography
Review: I teach still photography to adults who have no previous experience in the field. I have found this book to be an excellent resource for my course. It stays away from the point and shoot cameras and concentrates on the entry level manual/automatics, which I feel is very positive. I give it to my students and require that they read it before the first class session meets, then use its photos alongside adjustable cameras to teach the basics: aperature, shutter speed, film speed, depth of field, stopping motion, etc.
Rating:
Summary: Old information. Needs updating badly.
Review: I used this book in high school for a photography class. When I saw that it had been revised and updated, I bought a copy online to check out for offering at a seminar I would be doing. I couldn't have been more disappointed. To me, revised and updated means improving. This has the same old 70s (60s?) photos, and I am not sure a word in the book has changed. There is just more to it than this - basic photography is no longer only analog. Equipment has changed. This book does not reflect those changes. I subsequently returned my copy.
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