The Camera BookGet the book

The Camera Book.

A free book that explains your camera in plain words. No jargon, no lectures. Read it online, download it, or print only the pages you need.

Explore the book
22 chapters14 shooting cheat sheets30-day challenge
The Camera Book
THECAMERA,BOOKMaster your camera.
Take better photos.
Cover photograph
22 chaptersAcross five parts
14 cheat sheetsReal shooting situations
30-day challengeOne small step a day
For every cameraAny brand. Any model.
The book

One book. Every setting that matters.

The Camera Book is a free book for beginners. It explains the camera you already own — in simple words and short sentences. Twenty-two chapters across five parts, from first-day setup to editing and troubleshooting.

22 chapters in five parts. From unboxing to editing, one small step at a time.
14 shooting cheat sheets. Portraits, kids, sports, travel, night — with settings you can copy.
Brand quick reference. Quick-reference help for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic and OM System.
Yours in every format. Read online, download the PDF, or print only the pages you need.
Picks up where you left off. Your reading position is saved every time you open the book.
Inside the book

Everything you need. Nothing you don’t.

Part 1 — Getting started

Part 2 — The three settings that matter

  • The exposure triangle
    05The exposure triangle
  • Shooting modes: which dial position, when
    06Shooting modes: which dial position, when
  • Aperture (the f-number)
    07Aperture (the f-number)
  • Shutter speed
    08Shutter speed
  • ISO
    09ISO
  • Focus: getting sharp where it counts
    10Focus: getting sharp where it counts
  • Metering & exposure compensation
    11Metering & exposure compensation
  • White balance (why photos go orange or blue)
    12White balance (why photos go orange or blue)
  • RAW vs. JPEG and image-quality settings
    13RAW vs. JPEG and image-quality settings
  • Lenses: focal length, zoom vs. prime, crop factor
    14Lenses: focal length, zoom vs. prime, crop factor
  • Composition: five rules worth knowing
    15Composition: five rules worth knowing
  • Light: the thing you're actually photographing
    16Light: the thing you're actually photographing

Part 3 — Cheat sheets by situation

  • What are you trying to photograph? — 14 situation cards
    17What are you trying to photograph? — 14 situation cards

Part 4 — After the shot

  • Getting photos off the camera (and keeping them safe)
    18Getting photos off the camera (and keeping them safe)
  • Basic editing in 10 minutes
    19Basic editing in 10 minutes
  • Care, cleaning and storage
    20Care, cleaning and storage
  • Troubleshooting: “why does my photo look like this?”
    21Troubleshooting: “why does my photo look like this?”
  • The 30-day challenge
    22The 30-day challenge

Part 5 — Brand quick-reference

  • Brand quick-reference
    23Brand quick-reference

Also inside

Chapter 1, First day: unbox, charge, set up, is free to read without an account — so is the short version, the whole book on one page.

Compatible with

Works with virtually every camera

DSLR  ·  Mirrorless  ·  Point & shoot

Canon  ·  Nikon  ·  Sony  ·  Fujifilm  ·  Panasonic
Olympus / OM System  ·  and more

Camera lineup

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