Choosing a video or camera course book for craft maker photography can feel like a split-screen dilemma. Do you want a comprehensive textbook that walks through broadcast-style video production, or a compact guide that gets you pointing a camera at your workbench today? The four used books here range from a $6.33 copy of The Bare Bones Camera Course to an $85.49 edition of Video Basics, so budget and depth pull in different directions. A book that sits on a shelf won't help when your project is in motion, so the right pick depends on how you shoot.
Quick Take
If you want a concise, technique-first primer, The Bare Bones Camera Course is the go-to. If you need a thorough survey of video production, Video Basics (MindTap Course List) is the comprehensive option. The Complete Video Course lands in between as a practical paperback. Both Bare Bones copies share the same revised text, so the choice between them is mainly condition and price.
Listed-Price Comparison
| Book | Condition | Price | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIDEO BASICS (MINDTAP COURSE LIST) By Herbert Zettl | Like New | USD 85.49 | |
| The Complete Video Course By Keith Brookes | Very Good | USD 11.07 | |
| The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video by Tom Schroeppel | Very Good | USD 6.88 | |
| The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video by Tom Schroeppel | Good | USD 6.33 |
Decision Matrix
- Fast reference at a cart or workbench: The Bare Bones Camera Course, either copy.
- Structured learning and formal video concepts: Video Basics (MindTap Course List).
- Middle-ground paperback with broad coverage: The Complete Video Course.
- Lowest upfront cost: the lower-priced Bare Bones copy.
Product Notes
VIDEO BASICS (MINDTAP COURSE LIST) By Herbert Zettl **Mint Condition
Video Basics is the most comprehensive choice here, and the price reflects that. This trade paperback in Like New condition costs $85.49. If you want a structured tour through camera work, editing, and production concepts, this is the one that reads like a course in book form. The pages are crisp and unmarked, so it feels close to a new textbook. The limitation is the same price: it's far above the other three. Choose it only if you want a reference you'll return to for a long time.
The Complete Video Course By Keith Brookes. 9781852831332
The Complete Video Course by Keith Brookes gives you a broad, single-volume overview for $11.07. This paperback is a practical middle path: clean pages, no soiling, though the spine may show creases from previous use. The title promises a complete course, and the straightforward approach is easy to follow. The drawback is visible wear on the binding and edges because it's a used copy. If you want a comfortable overview without going to the top of the price range, this is a solid pick.
The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video by Tom Schroeppel
At $6.88, the Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video is the one to grab when you want a no-nonsense primer. Tom Schroeppel's compact paperback keeps the focus on essential shooting skills, and this particular copy has limited writing and unmarked pages. It won't delve as deep as a full textbook, but it gets you thinking in shots and sequences quickly. The tradeoff is scope: it's a slim course, not an encyclopedic reference. If you're a maker photographer who needs to film a process video this weekend, this is the book to carry to your workbench.
The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Video by Tom Schroeppel
The other Bare Bones copy, priced at $6.33, is the lowest-cost entry in this group. It's the same edition as the other Bare Bones copy, so you get the same content for less money. The pages may contain notes or highlighting, and the spine may show signs of wear. If you don't mind a pre-read copy and want to spend the least, this is the one. Its limitation is the used condition: you may find margin notes and a tired cover. For a compact field guide, that's a reasonable trade.
Final Recommendation
Decide by how you plan to use it. For a quick, portable guide to camera basics for craft maker photography, choose the Very Good Bare Bones copy. If you want to spend as little as possible and accept marginal notes, the Good copy is the same book. For a structured, text-heavy course companion, Video Basics is the one to pick. And if you want a practical middle ground with more breadth, The Complete Video Course is worth your shelf space.
