2007-09-04 Neither One Thing Nor Another

I was looking for something that expanded upon, and made more easily comrehensible,the instruction manuals that came with my SB-800 and macro flash systems. What I wasn't after was an idiot's guide to using flash. Unfortunately, the latter is what I got.
The book would be excellent for someone starting out to use a flash system for the very first time, needing advice and guidance on bounce flash, guide numbers, posing, ideas for subjects etc. I seriously doubt that there are too many people with an SB-600/800 who have those needs.
The book dwells at tedious length on composition and subject ideas. It does give technical detail about using the system, but it is both irritatingly moronic in its assumptions about the reader and lacking in adequate technical detail to do much to expand on the instruction manual.
The book deals, it says, with the Creative Lighting System. In fact, beyond a cursory mention a couple of times, it does not deal with the innovative macro-flash system at all. Users of D70/80/200 cameras with built in Speedlights fare a little better, but the emphasis is definitely on the SB-600/800 guns.
I'd recommend using the money you don't spend on this book on a few sets of batteries. Get used to the instruction manual and go out and experiment. The book is a waste of money for the majority of its supposed target readership.