Photographer's Guide to the Nikon Coolpix P900
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Photography & Video
Photographer's Guide to the Nikon Coolpix P900 Details
This book is the larger-sized paperback version of Photographer's Guide to the Nikon Coolpix P900. This version of the book contains the same content as the earlier version, which was published in June 2015 with dimensions of 8.5 by 8.5 inches (216 by 216 mm). The new version of the book, which replaces the original version, is being published at a size of 8.5 by 11 inches (216 by 280 mm) in order to present more information on each page, which keeps related images closer to the text they illustrate and reduces the page count, making the book easier to manage. This book, by Alexander S. White, is a complete guide to the operation of the Nikon Coolpix P900 digital camera. The book explains all shooting modes, menus, functions, and controls of this superzoom camera, illustrated by more than 350 full-color images. The guide shows beginning and intermediate photographers how to get excellent results using the many features of the P900. The book explains topics such as autofocus, manual focus, HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, ISO, memory cards, and flash modes. It discusses techniques for using the P900's phenomenal zoom lens, with a maximum optical focal length of 2000mm, to full advantage. The book also explains the camera's features for remote control and image transfer using a smartphone or tablet with the P900's built-in Wi-Fi capability, as well as the camera's features for adding location data to images. The book includes sample photos taken with the creative options of the camera, including the Picture Control settings, which alter color processing of images; the Special Effects and Scene shooting modes, with settings optimized for subjects such as the moon, birds, landscapes, pets, sunsets, and action shots; and the Coolpix P900's features for burst shooting and time-lapse photography. In addition, the book provides introductions to topics such as street photography, infrared photography, and macro photography.
Reviews
Both the Nikon Coolpix P900 and this book are kinda hard to review and rate. The camera is so complex, and Nikon has decided not to include a paper manual in a $600 camera that is now selling at MSRP, which I think is really shoddy -- there is plenty of room in the large box, and the idea of using a downloaded pdf that is massive is preposterous. How you gonna lug a computer around with your camera stuff? Well, all the information about this massively flexible camera is included in Mr. White's book. Particularly in the beginning, I found it hard to follow. For some reason, he begins with short discussions of the camera as it comes out of the box with enough settings to go out the door and shoot. But he does not really explore the entire setup menu until something like chapter 7. I would have moved it up much closer to the beginning. His chapters on the menus and features, once he got going, were really comprehensive and well-covered. There is really not any other choice at this point, so if you are looking for a comprehensive manual that covers the mammoth features and the few questionable decisions Nikon made (no raw files, apparent restriction on panoramas to only wide angle, for example). So while not the best organized camera book I have read and not the easiest to follow, this really does cover everything and earns the five stars, I think.Addition 10/15: Many of the features and settings do not explain why Mr. White makes the suggested choices. Occasionally he does explain why, but, for the most part, this information is missing. This is in contrast to David Busch's books that always explain why he recommends his settings. Otherwise, this is a great book and essential for shooters who want to be able to make use of the amazing features of this amazing camera.
