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An outstanding book - highly recommended!, June 5, 2005
Reviewer: Benjamin Gordon "A Desert Dweller"

I have no idea what the previous reviewers are doing comparing this book to the owner's manual, much less calling it a "re-hash." I guess they must have received a different manual with their camera than I did. I found the stock manual to be poorly written, vague and epidermal at best. Crappy photos and illustrations. Way lame, especially for a $1G+ camera. This book features clear and concise explanations, outstanding photos, and a far more comprehensive and lucid discussion of camera technique and use of controls. Plus, the author is unafraid to chide Nikon for certain decisions and provides useful work-arounds to most challenges. I purchased the book a week before I received the D70 and, boy, I'm glad I did. You will be, too. Highly recommended and well worth the double-sawbuck!
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Manual Rehashed, May 26, 2005
Reviewer: R. A. Levien

This book is nothing more than a rehash of the manual that comes with the camera. In fact, it's worse in many ways, since the concise and carefully formatted presentation of information in the manual is replaced by extended and sloppily arranged discussions of the same content, which makes it harder follow and much less helpful as a reference. Additionally the physical form of the book -- a stiff but cheaply bound paperback -- makes it less convenient to travel with and harder to keep open for reference while working the camera.

(A further note: the book you get will not be the one depicted here. Mine was a D70 only book. No mention of the D70s at all.)
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Help for a complicated camera!, April 13, 2005
Reviewer: G.M.

Finally got the help I needed. Maybe others think the instruction book that came with the D70 was fine, but I had problems figuring it all out. This guide really helped me and I highly recommend it. Mr. Stafford sure knows his stuff and adds lots of tips and hints and some things he does NOT recommend...all very useful.

If you really want to understand how your camera works, this is the book to buy.
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Excellent! Much better than the instruction manual., January 5, 2005
Reviewer: Me, Jane

The manual that came with the camera was impossilbe for me to understand. Thank heavens for this guide... I finally figured out how to operate the camera and what the different settings do. Maybe I need "remedial help" but this book certainly was worth the price. Love the camera too...thanks to the Magic Lantern.
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More or less a rehash of the D70 user's manual, December 28, 2004
Reviewer: Gadgester

It's really unfortunate that this Magic Lantern guide is nothing more than a better-written replica of the D70 user's manual.

On the plus side, it *is* better written than the half-Japanese, half-English manual that comes with your Nikon D70. The topics are covered more logically and explanations of the features are given more clearly. You also get a few sample photos (e.g., fill-in flash, multiple-flash) that give you an idea about what some of the features may do to your photographic work.

But beyond rehashing what's already covered in the manual -- and replicating exactly the same tables -- the book doesn't offer any practical advice. For instance, how exactly should we use the i-TTL flash to improve flash photography? What metering system *really* works? What settings can improve the image quality of my pictures? These are not explained at all.

If you are looking for a good D70 guide with practical advice, check out Thom Hogan's self-published e-book "Complete Guide to the Nikon D70," on his website bythom.com. (I'm not affiliated with Hogan or his website in any way.) Hogan's e-book is more expensive but also much more extensive, and he gives you concrete recommendations you can use (e.g., set sharpening to none, now!). Hogan's book is about 3.5 stars; if he had written and/or edited better and included a few real-world sample photos, I'd rate it 4 or 4.5. In any case, that e-book is better than this Magic Lantern guide.
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An extended Owner's Manual, November 9, 2004
Reviewer: Thomas P. Warner

This book seems to be an expanded version of the owner's manual for the D70. It could be that my expectations for this book were unrealistic; however, I found little in this book that was not already covered in the owner's manual that comes with the camera. The book is relatively devoid of examples as well as photos.

For someone who is a novice, there are very few step by step instructions. The explanations of the technical workings of the camera are good; however, for those who are looking for tips and insight into how to take photos in specific circumstances with the D70, this book seems to fall short. If you are someone who has lost their owner's manual and want a good (or better) replacement, this is the book to get.
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