Any suggestions on camera usage books

[Kayla]

I have had my DSLR camera for several years. Nothing big and fancy. A Nikon D40 (when they came out and were pretty popular). Since starting this project, I am getting more use out of the camera than just the normal picture taking when you go on vacation. I have never taken any classes which would help to better understand my camera and all its functions and how to use them. With that said, does anyone have any suggestions on books that are easy to understand and to help with learning the functions on the camera,( S, A, M, etc).. Thanks for you help.

[Mike Hamm]

Hi Kayla, I recently sold my D40 but really enjoyed it while I had it. I lucked into a free copy of the Digital Field Guide for D40/D40x by David Busch. It's a great book for D40 users. David Busch writes in a way that is easy to understand. There are sections on how to use the various features of the camera and also some basic photography lessons in the book. Such as how Shutter speed, Aperture and ISO interact. And there is also a section about taking pictures in various situations. Such as, at night, in the snow, etc. He gives the camera settings he used and also suggests a sort of "homework" for each of the situations. A good book. I learned a lot from it.
HTH.
Mike
PS: On top of that, I also recommend Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure book. That's not camera specific but more how to really get the great exposure you are looking for.

[Kayla]

thanks for the advice. I actually have the exposure book you suggested and have been reading thru it again.

[Vikdaddy]

The best photography book I ever bought was 'The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos'. I can't recommend it highly enough. It's not about using your camera better but about how to take better photos, so it might not be exactly what you're looking for but it is excellent. Otherwise books by Scott Kelby are usually very good at showing you camera technique.