John Carucci

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I begged my parents for DSLR specifically because of its capabilities to capture high-quality still images and high-quality video. So, when I saw this at BookExpo America last year, I made a point to pick it up. DSLR Video & Filmmaking for Dummies is a user-friendly reference book brimming with helpful information to make any video a success. As an amateur who wants to try her hand at making videos with her new fancy camera, I found this book to be incredibly helpful.

Carucci gives a comprehensive overview of just what's involved with using a DSLR camera to make a video. For the most part, I read the book straight through and found it easy to follow along. The information is presented in a logical format, with straight-forward chapter titles and headings, so it's easy to guess which information is covered where. And he covers pretty much anything you need to know, from the basics on how to use the correct shutter speed to how to edit the video using Adobe Premiere Elements. I especially found the audio and lighting section helpful, since I don't really know what I need, or how to find the best equipment for my limited budget.

What impressed me the most was the fact that this book doesn't even just cover the technical aspects of shooting a movie on a particular type of camera -- there are also sections about how to plan a movie, which I found to be a huge bonus. Carucci goes over the basics of writing a script, making a shooting log, and putting together a schedule. I really think that there's something for everyone in here, and for amateurs, it contains pretty much all the basics that you'll need to know.

It's hard to say much more other than: This book covers all the basic information you need to make any type of video you ever want with your DSLR. Want to make that home video using your new fancy camera? Read this book. Want to take your book blogging to the next level by becoming a BookTuber, but you can only afford a DSLR for shooting your videos? Read this book. Want to make a short film on your DSLR? Read this book. There's a lot of good information in these pages, and I feel more confident in my abilities to make a video knowing that I'll have this on-hand to reference.… (mais)