I highly recommend reading "Secrets of the Nikon Focusing System

grandpaw

Senior Member
I do not like reading anything, but this book by Steve Perry called "Secrets to the Nikon Focusing System" is outstanding!!!! It is simple to understand and easy to read, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading it!!!!!!!!!! It will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about focusing a Nikon camera. secrets-nikon-autofocus-system
 
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RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I do not like reading anything, but this book by Steve Perry called "Secrets to the Nikon Focusing System" is outstanding!!!! It is simple to understand and easy to read, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading it!!!!!!!!!! I will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about focusing a Nikon camera. secrets-nikon-autofocus-system

Steve does good work! I haven't read his books yet, but I do find his videos to be very helpful.
 

grandpaw

Senior Member
I like to think I know a lot about my cameras but it is surprising how much our cameras can do and how they do it that I am learning reading this book that I wasn't aware of. This is WELL WORTH reading!!!
 

tea2085

Senior Member
I can only find this book in PFD format- I would much prefer a book- does anyone have a seller of the book? Thanks, Paul
 

grandpaw

Senior Member
Well I started reading Steve Perry's book on "Perfect Portraits" and it didn't take me very long at all to to decide this was not my cup of tea. The book on the "Secrets to the Nikon Focusing System" I thought was outstanding but this book is totally useless in my opinion. I will say that the person that edited the book on focusing did a very good job but this thing was poorly done.

It also starts out telling how he set up five or six lights for the lighting and all the things he did to get the shot. In my estimation, anyone that had that much equipment would be far enough along in their photographic skills that they wouldn't need this book. To me it is like someone totally different wrote and edited this book. Maybe if I kept on reading I would change my mind but I just put this book on the don't bother to get it list.

"Secrets to the Nikon Focusing System" five stars

"Perfect Portraits" don't bother

I realize that others may find the book worth reading but in my opinion, spend your time and money elsewhere.
 
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tea2085

Senior Member
Grandpa, which book did you put on the don't bother list? I am confused- do you like the book on focusing or do you not. Couldn't tell which book you were talking about! Paul
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Well I started reading Steve Perry's book on "Perfect Portraits" and it didn't take me very long at all to to decide this was not my cup of tea. ...
I must be confused... Steve Perry (of Backcountry Gallery) has a book on portrait shooting? Could you post a link because the Steve Perry I know and love is a wildlife/landscapes sorta guy, I don't think he "does portraits". That being said, I'm willing to be corrected.

And yes, his book on the Nikon Auto-focus system is a must read. Really, really well done.
 

grandpaw

Senior Member
The book Perfect Portraits is by Kevin Ames not Steve Perry. I was given these three books as a present and mistakenly thought they were all by Steve Perry. That is why when I started reading it is said it was like it was written and edited by another writer I was actually right in that statement. Perfect Portraits is not by Steve Perry and is by Kevin Ames. However my opinion of the book is the same, I do not like it. Steve's book on the "Secrets to the Nikon Focusing System" is very good and well written. Sorry about the mix up.
 

tea2085

Senior Member
Will the book make me a better photographer. After Christmas I am completely broke. I understand that focus is one of the basics for a good picture and I have had focus issues in the past, will the book help me? I can come up with the nominal sum but want to spend my money wisely. I have the book "Mastering the 7100". Paul
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
Perfect Portraits? I've never seen that book, and it isn't on his web site. Where did you find that one, Jeff?

Steve's YouTube videos are excellent, too. He has quite a few on a number of topics related to wildlife and landscape photography. Check them out! :)
@grandpaw
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Will the book make me a better photographer. After Christmas I am completely broke. I understand that focus is one of the basics for a good picture and I have had focus issues in the past, will the book help me? I can come up with the nominal sum but want to spend my money wisely. I have the book "Mastering the 7100". Paul

Well, it will make you a more knowledgeable photographer.
He explains pretty much every aspect of the Nikon focusing system. He explains how to use the different modes, focus points, back button focus, etc. He is a wildlife photographer so, if you are having any difficulty shooting things that move around, you will get something out of this book. It is over 400 pages of good information. Not every page will pertain to the D7100 because he gets specific for different camera models, but maybe the information will be of use to you in the future if you decide to upgrade your camera.
He is a natural teacher. The text is easy to read, and he is funny. Great images with samples for you to look at are in there.

I think if you practice what he shows, I don't see how you couldn't improve. He explains how he uses the focus system with real life examples. He also shows what can go wrong and why and what you can fudge and still get a shot.

Watch his reviews and tutorials, and you will see what I mean. I learn something even when I watch his reviews.

https://backcountrygallery.com/understanding-nikon-af-modes/
 
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grandpaw

Senior Member
Perfect Portraits? I've never seen that book, and it isn't on his web site. Where did you find that one, Jeff?

Steve's YouTube videos are excellent, too. He has quite a few on a number of topics related to wildlife and landscape photography. Check them out! :)
@grandpaw

Woody, I was given three ebooks for Christmas and thought they were all by Steve Perry and I was wrong. They are "Secrets of Stunning Wildlife Photography", Secrets to the Nikon Focusing System", both by Steve Perry that were great.

The third was "Perfect Portrait" by Kevin Ames and in my opinion is not worth reading. It wasn't even edited very well, having words run together and just wrong. I couldn't even finish the first chapter.

Steve's book are very good but don't waste your time with the portrait book. Sorry about the miss information, I thought they were all by Steve and they weren't.
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
Woody, I was given three ebooks for Christmas and thought they were all by Steve Perry and I was wrong. They are "Secrets of Stunning Wildlife Photography", Secrets to the Nikon Focusing System", both by Steve Perry that were great.

The third was "Perfect Portrait" by Kevin Ames and in my opinion is not worth reading. It wasn't even edited very well, having words run together and just wrong. I couldn't even finish the first chapter.

Steve's book are very good but don't waste your time with the portrait book. Sorry about the miss information, I thought they were all by Steve and they weren't.

Great Christmas presents!

Yeah, that didn't sound like Steve. It's good that we now know to avoid the portrait book by Kevin Ames. Thanks for the advice.

One of these days I suppose I should learn how to use studio lights. Maybe... Nah, I'll be too busy hiking around somewhere looking for wildlife and using the sun as my light source. :)

Happy New Year, Jeff.
 

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
Will the book make me a better photographer. After Christmas I am completely broke. I understand that focus is one of the basics for a good picture and I have had focus issues in the past, will the book help me? I can come up with the nominal sum but want to spend my money wisely. I have the book "Mastering the 7100". Paul

Well, it will make you a more knowledgeable photographer....

He is a natural teacher. The text is easy to read, and he is funny. Great images with samples for you to look at are in there....

Watch his reviews and tutorials, and you will see what I mean. I learn something even when I watch his reviews.

https://backcountrygallery.com/understanding-nikon-af-modes/

I've been a photographer for a long, long time, and I greatly respect Steve and continue to learn new things from him. Part of what I like is that he suggests things about various settings in the camera that I tend to set and forget. Sometimes little changes in settings can make a significant difference.

Will the book make you a better photographer? I think any time you increase your knowledge base it helps to make you a better photographer. And, this book is pretty inexpensive compared to a lot of others.

I would check out his YouTube videos if you haven't, and this will give you a very good idea of the type of advice he gives, and shows his teaching style.
 
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