I've been a fan of the Magic Lantern Guides since I bought one with my original digital Rebel. Much less boring than the manual, much less fluff than some of the other after-market guides. And the fact that this one covers both my cameras quite well makes me a very pleased consumer.

I have just bought a Canon EOS-1Ds and was interested in getting a book that would help with explaining the meaning and effect of some of the settings on the camera that are just glossed over in the Canon manual. I read the reviews here and, not unusually, found a dichotomy of views. Normally it is those who are unhappy with something that are the most vociferous, so I decided to give the book the benefit of the doubt. Mistake.



This book purports to be a manual for the the two most expensive camera bodies that Canon make. These bodies are aimed at professional or semi-professional photographers. You don't buy a $7,000 camera without already knowing what a Jpeg is, what depth of field is, what the difference is between zoom and prime lenses, and the dozens of other digital photography fundamentals that pad out this book.



Padding with trivia would be bearable if the rest of the book were packed with information that you couldn't get from reading the Canon manual. It isn't. While there might be one or two tips, like using the trash button to lengthen the image review time, major opportunities to expand on the manual, such as why you would pick particular options in the Custom and Personal Functions, are largely overlooked.



To make matters worse, there are typographical errors and even technical errors. Memory cards are not magnetic devices as the book claims.



Believe the negative reviews on this one. Save your money and your time, ignore this book.

I have just bought a Canon EOS-1Ds and was interested in getting a book that would help with explaining the meaning and effect of some of the settings on the camera that are just glossed over in the Canon manual. I read the reviews here and, not unusually, found a dichotomy of views. Normally it is those who are unhappy with something that are the most vociferous, so I decided to give the book the benefit of the doubt. Mistake.

This book purports to be a manual for the the two most expensive camera bodies that Canon make. These bodies are aimed at professional or semi-professional photographers. You don't buy a $7,000 camera without already knowing what a Jpeg is, what depth of field is, what the difference is between zoom and prime lenses, and the dozens of other digital photography fundamentals that pad out this book.

Padding with trivia would be bearable if the rest of the book were packed with information that you couldn't get from reading the Canon manual. It isn't. While there might be one or two tips, like using the trash button to lengthen the image review time, major opportunities to expand on the manual, such as why you would pick particular options in the Custom and Personal Functions, are largely overlooked.

To make matters worse, there are typographical errors and even technical errors. Memory cards are not magnetic devices as the book claims.

Believe the negative reviews on this one. Save your money and your time, ignore this book.

Very similar to the smaller sized original manual with a few more descriptive bits here and there. Better quick ref cards. Mixes in bits of general photo theory & teaching that makes the many settings more relevant. Good inclusions of what not to set (items not needed as these cameras exceed the usual reasons to use).

Almost mandatory if you want to use the many potential in-camera presets in a custom way.

Very similar to the smaller sized original manual with a few more descriptive bits here and there. Better quick ref cards. Mixes in bits of general photo theory & teaching that makes the many settings more relevant. Good inclusions of what not to set (items not needed as these cameras exceed the usual reasons to use).

Almost mandatory if you want to use the many potential in-camera presets in a custom way.

This book offers very little about these cameras that is not in the manual. What it does offer that is not in the manual are general discussions that any photographer owning one of these cameras would know. I had hoped to get an understanding of how and when to use the features that are unigue to these cameras, a discussion of the custom functions and personal functions for example. The coverage of these subjects is not much more than a list of the functions and what their default setting are, just what's in the manual. Canon has a white paper that gives some of this information. You can find it at Photoworkshop http://photoworkshop.com/canon/EOS_Digital.pdf

I purchased this book because I wanted more information about my 1Ds MkII than the Canon user's manual contained. I was pleased that this book did expand upon the user's manual, and was clearly written. It follows the format of the Canon user's manual and I would guess that this book adds 15% of new information to the Canon manual...not a lot, but it really is a valuable 15%. I'm glad I bought it. This book is not written as a "How-To" guide. I want one of those, too, and will continue looking.

I purchased this book because I wanted more information about my 1Ds MkII than the Canon user's manual contained. I was pleased that this book did expand upon the user's manual, and was clearly written. It follows the format of the Canon user's manual and I would guess that this book adds 15% of new information to the Canon manual...not a lot, but it really is a valuable 15%. I'm glad I bought it. This book is not written as a "How-To" guide. I want one of those, too, and will continue looking.

I read the previous ML books on the Digital Rebel that was reasonalbly infomative...THIS ONE IS NOT. If you have ever used an SLR camera before you will find yourself promptly throwing this book away. I have tried several times to look up functions in the ML book only to find myself looking it up in the owners manual.
This book makes the owners manual look like a work of art...and if you have a 1DM2 you know the owners manual is anything but.

Bottomline: Do not waste your money. Unfortunately, the best souce of info on the details of this camera can be found on the internet at http://photoworkshop.com/canon/. I really wish there was a good manual out there that explained the functions of the 1DM2 camera and when/where they are most useful (especially the custom functions but it just doesn't exist yet and this book doesn't even come close.

I read the previous ML books on the Digital Rebel that was reasonalbly infomative...THIS ONE IS NOT. If you have ever used an SLR camera before you will find yourself promptly throwing this book away. I have tried several times to look up functions in the ML book only to find myself looking it up in the owners manual.
This book makes the owners manual look like a work of art...and if you have a 1DM2 you know the owners manual is anything but.

Bottomline: Do not waste your money. Unfortunately, the best souce of info on the details of this camera can be found on the internet at http://photoworkshop.com/canon/. I really wish there was a good manual out there that explained the functions of the 1DM2 camera and when/where they are most useful (especially the custom functions but it just doesn't exist yet and this book doesn't even come close.

Magic Lantern Guides:Canon EOS 1D markII by Adam Christopher is really diappointing. Cover looks great but the content was below standard. Looks like a copy / paste job from the manual.I have two previous Magic Lantern Guides for Canon EOS. Loved it! but this EOS-1D MarkII were so uninforming and low budgeted and it show it was done in a hurry.
Mr Adam Christopher, I will never buy your books again and also advice my friends.

This book goes beyond the instruction book that comes with the camera. This book explains all the whys and wherefors of each control button and features. It is well written and easy to understand, even by this amateur. Where ever the camera goes the the book goes with it. I am now getting much more satisfaction from my EOS 1Ds Mark II.

Granted the author warned its readers that the first chapter is basic information (benefits of memory cards vs film, what is a histogram, what is ISO, what is noise..), but after reading 3 chapters down - I can't help but feel I am reading a re-hash of the instruction manual that came with the camera. Very little insights, very basic information - very disappointing.

Canon's Mark II came with 21 custom functions - and this guide manage to present that information in 9 pages which feels like a reprint of the instruction manual. If you are hoping for some insights or examples of how these are used - this magic lantern guide is not it.

To illustrate how basic the information presented in this book - I managed to read the whole book in one sitting - quickly reading through what I feel I have already read in the instruction manual.

The reviews speak about "packed with diagrams, instructions and tips." The only thing it really have are reprints of instructions. Diagrams are the same basic diagrams you get with the camera guide; and the tips are less than a dozen (most of which can be considered 'common knowledge' for anyone interested in buying a camera of this calibre). The sample pictures are uninspired with very little useful information for a new owner of the camera.

I have own and read many Magic Lantern guides in the past. This is by far, one of the least impressive ones. Too bad. I wish I could get my money back.

Very good little book, has been an excelent helping hand, nice job.