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Friedman’s book...opinions...Please

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ybsane View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote ybsane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Friedman’s book...opinions...Please
    Posted: 11 March 2006 at 08:30
Is Friedman's book on the Konica Minolta 5D and 7D as good as the hipe is and have you read it? Second, if someone has downloaded the ebook version, is it in color or B&W?

Thanx for your opinions!!!
 



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Saratoga View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Saratoga Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2006 at 10:40
In a word. Yes.

I bought it back in January. It was and is an incredible publication. I am still reading it, but that is simply how I am. He has laid it out in easy to read chapters explaining what he needs to and worthwhile to read.

If you download the book you can print it out.

What I've done is I've printed a few chapters at a time and then take the document to work to read in my breaks (I'm a professional driver). It is also handy to have the camera around you when reading so you can have an "ooh" and "ahh" whilst going through it ;)

I've a 5D. I've got as far as Appature Priority and the bits before it. I'm not a genius, but will plod along at my own pace. I reckon I'll finish the book in Summer :D :D
ex-KM5D, Sony A700, A55, A77ii Coventry UK. CovLtwt Flickr
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Diddlbiker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2006 at 13:34
I second Elwyn's advice. It's a great book, well worth the money. I did download it, and it is in color. I actually printed it in color as well (at work :-), but you need a [i[big binder to put it in - print it double-sided (if only I were so lucky...)

Gary Friedman is a gifted writer, the sample you can download is very much representative of the book. Although most pictures were actually taken with the Minolta A2 (he wrote a book about that as well) he will explain all options as found on the 5D and 7D cameras. Recommended!
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ybsane View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote ybsane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2006 at 15:34
One more thing...Does Friedman explain each and every dial,knob,and button...What they do and how they work?
The manual does such a bad job...First you start reading one page which tells you to go to pg 58...pg 58 points you to pg 24 and on and on...Poorly written imo!

Sorry Saratoga and Mr Friedman...I wae referring to the Minolta Manual. No slam about Friedman's book intended.

Edited by ybsane - 12 March 2006 at 09:09
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Saratoga View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Saratoga Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2006 at 21:15
The Book is not a manual.

It is an amazing peice of litterature that explains what each and every bit does. How it all fits together and how to get the best results under certain conditions.

It would not be fair on him to reproduce any part here, but suffice to say, you get to use apperture, shutter speed, iso levels and white balance in tune with each other.

Comes as just under 30mb PDF file so you can even read it on your PDA!!!!
ex-KM5D, Sony A700, A55, A77ii Coventry UK. CovLtwt Flickr
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Post Options Post Options   Quote lustron Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 March 2006 at 13:41
I would also like to praise the book (although I've only read a third of it so far). Mr. Friedman does not hesitate to indicate his preferences for settings and his reasoning. He also shares relevent experiences.

The first part deals with the basics with later chapters dealing with the more complex subjects.
lustron
 



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Post Options Post Options   Quote X-R-M Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 March 2006 at 04:51
I also recommend Gary Friedman's book.
I got printed black and white version for USD 29.73.
Book size is 7"x9" which is more comfortable to use than 8x11 printouts.
More opinions you find here
and here
Gary Friedman is preparing appendix to his book.
Check it here

Edited by X-R-M - 13 March 2006 at 04:58
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dranoel View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote dranoel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 March 2006 at 06:24
How much is that book?? Sounds like kinda expensive?? :p
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brettania View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote brettania Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 March 2006 at 06:31
Looked at our front page recently? It's US$19.95.
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dranoel View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote dranoel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 March 2006 at 06:35
Ohh US19.95 isnt expensive at all. I got mine earlier. :D

Thx bret for the reminder. ;)
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Post Options Post Options   Quote jeditim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 March 2006 at 15:41
Excellent book...I bought the color version a couple of months ago. While it isn't a manual it does explain a lot of the features. I also liked his insight into how he has setup his camera...whether it is for wireless flash or how he setup the custom profiles.

Recommend for any level of 7D/5D user.
Tim
Maxxum 7D and 7 (can't remember last time used); Minolta Lenses 24-105mm f:3.5-4.5 (D), 50mm f:1.4, 85MM f:1.4, 100 f:2.8 Macro(D), 100-400 f:4.5-6.7 APO Minolta Flash: 5600 HS (D)
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Post Options Post Options   Quote ajm80031 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 March 2006 at 15:52
I purchased the book (B&W print version) after having had my 7D for about six months. I didn't gain too much new information from it, having read the manual and lurked here and on the KM forum on dpreview, but even so it's worthwhile to have all of that information in one place. Gary also gives some useful reminders about basic photographic skills (composition, etc.). In short it will be tremendously useful if you're not too familiar with your camera yet, and is still a good buy even if you've got the camera pretty well figured out.

About the only complaint I'd level at it is that I think Gary spends a bit too much time being a Minolta cheerleader. It's good that he's enthusiastic about the cameras, but for me the number of times he says how wonderful Minolta gear is and what a good choice you made gets a bit excessive.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote jeditim Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 March 2006 at 20:14
Originally posted by ajm80031 ajm80031 wrote:

About the only complaint I'd level at it is that I think Gary spends a bit too much time being a Minolta cheerleader. It's good that he's enthusiastic about the cameras, but for me the number of times he says how wonderful Minolta gear is and what a good choice you made gets a bit excessive.


I guess I didn't notice the Minolta cherrleading as I am a believer in Minolta gear as well :)
Maxxum 7D and 7 (can't remember last time used); Minolta Lenses 24-105mm f:3.5-4.5 (D), 50mm f:1.4, 85MM f:1.4, 100 f:2.8 Macro(D), 100-400 f:4.5-6.7 APO Minolta Flash: 5600 HS (D)
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Post Options Post Options   Quote wheatridger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 March 2006 at 06:57
There's much I need to learn about the 7D, and I might buy a book to lead the way. There seem to be at least two choices. How does Gary's book compare to the Magic Lantern Guide? Class, compare and contrast.

What I wouldn't want to spend money on is page after page of basic information that explains how Aperture Priority works, or how to set the self-timer (as I saw in other Magic Lantern Guides). For me, there are several magic/mystery features on the KM Ds that are completely unique, and poorly documented. AntiShake and Zone Matching are my biggest realms of uncertainty. I'm appreciate as many details and results on these camera-specific features as possible, but from Gary's contents table, they seem to get no more ink than most features and settings that are shared with other cameras.

So far, my alternative to buying these books has been to scan the archives here and at dpreview on topics of interest. That gives a democratic, grassroots perspective that I enjoy, with a few bad answers thrown in with the good. Given the cost of printer supplies, I'll probably spend as much as buying the book.
Yes, I've gone digital. But I'm still not sure about this autofocus gimmick...
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