Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D For Dummies

I'm not usually too keen on the For Dummies books, but this book was extremely useful. Having taken a photography course at the local college and bought a 550D (so far having spent more than £1000 on the camera and accesories), it is absolutely critical to make good use of that investment, therefore a book which is aimed at the right level of reader, and explaining all jargon used, is essential. This book might not hit the mark for those more familiar with the subject matter, but for those, like myself, who were starting out, this book is strongly recommended. In fact, I'm now rereading it for the second time, as, having figured out how to fully control manual settings with ambient light, I now need to figure out all the settings for flash photograhy, and also brush up on more advanced settings which I had forgotten previously - my brain can only take so much in at one go!

I bought this and the Digital Field Guide for the same camera, and wish I hadn't bothered with the DFG. This Dummies book is what I thought the DFG was, with masses of information well-arranged. The best thing are the squillions of pictures of what the LCD screen should look like when you want certain things or to change something. The second best is a list of what all the icons are on the top of the main menu - doubtless I could find that out from the camera manual, but it is far better presented here and in colour. I find I am constantly dipping into it to check I'm on the right track. This is rather larger than the DFG but so much better. Now all I want is a half size version to slip into the camera bag, with only the essential out and about stuff included. An essential reference book for 550D users, in my opinion.

No dislikes great easy read explains everything about the camera and its uses in an easy to understand format.

This book is exactly the type of manual I understand, easy to use and in simple english. It will take me some time to fully understand the camera but with this book it will make life a lot easier.

As you'd expect from a dummies guide book. Well written, good advice. I was changing from 350d to 550d and knowing the standard canon guidebook to be drier than the Gobi desert in a heat wave I decided to purchase this book. Please I did. Ok, so some of it was too basic for anyone with even slightest amount of experience with a dslr, but this more than made up for by he rest of the book.

Very informative book and I consider myself an expert with the 550D and still learnt something

A superb illustrated practical easy reading book by an undoubted expert on this camera. Worth every penny for it has so much practical, besides the essential information to master this camera. Good value.

Does what it says on the cover and is easy to follow. It is a great supplement to the users manual supplied.

Good ones

Well explained

This is a nicely written overview for using your new Canon T2i. As with most 'for Dummies' books, it tries to cover a lot of territory in just one book, and I believe it does a good job considering the amount of information one could convey regarding photography. This edition covers all the settings on the camera, and touches on various photographic issues such as aperture, speed and ISO, and how those things work together. This is by no means an in-depth look at anything, but more of a general overview of most everything. I think this would be good for people who are brand new to their cameras and want to read something more entertaining, insightful and colorful than the dull and dry owner's manual that comes with the camera. If you are already familiar with your camera and you have a basic understanding of f-stops, speed and ISO this will probably be too elementary for you. While I believe this book serves its purpose and does what it should (provids you with an overview of your T2i camera), another book that gets into much more detail about features, about f-stops and speed, and about things like lenses and shooting for different environments (such as landscapes, portraits, etc.) is David Busch's Canon EOS Rebel T2i/550D Guide to Digital SLR Photography, and I'd highly recommend this book as a "next book" after reading the Dummies book. If you can only get one, then I'd go for the Busch book.

Dummies series is hard to beat. This one did what I needed it to do.

Ships fast. Definitely for people that have never used a SLR camera. Out of the 350 pages, I'm already on page 250 (in 5 days, really taking my time to make sure I understand everything before moving forward). Instead of going through the book with camera in hand, I first went through most of the chapters (until I finished chapter 5), and then went back to the beginning to setup the camera. Since I had never held a SLR before and have no concept of SLR photography, this exercise helped me a lot because the book explains everything to my level and the illustrations (photos) are all over the book. I recommend this book especially for beginners. When my husband bought the camera early December we got a free 2-hour class but they were booked all the way until February (our class in finally this Saturday). Not wanting to wait that long to use the camera, I bought the book and I feel comfortable with the camera now. I am very impressed.