Yes, I've asked this before. I bought a small little pamphlet on ebay that had a few bits, but wasn't good enough.
What is the best Transformers collectors guide featuring the original 1980's G1 toys? What I'm seeing on ebay is what I think I'd call a pocket book. I don't want a pocket book. The one I bought was like five page catalogue.
Looking for an in depth, full color BOOK!
Here's what I see on ebay, let me know what you think.
Warman's Transformers Field Guide: Identification and V - eBay (item 280473367089 end time Jul-01-10 16:25:07 PDT)

 

Go for the Cybertronian Field Guides. Spendy, but totally worth it! I've got all of the other guides, and these really are the best, IMHO. And if your patient, you can get them for somewhat reasonal prices.

 

The Bellomo guide is excellent, not perfect but does the job and is easily found and affordable, i got a copy on Amazon for less that $20 shipped. its larger than the Warman's guide and in my opinion superior even though they are by the same person.

edit: here is pic of the cover:

 

Just going to link back to the previous... my feelings haven't changed on these:

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/trans...294170-collectors-guide-book.html#post4612820

 

I've got the book by Mark Bellomo. The prices are sorely underestimated, but for some nice colour pictures of every American G1 TF, you can't go far wrong.

 

I have the Unofficial guide to Transformers by Alvarez and if you want a book with good photos, this one has several. However, it was written many years ago, and the prices are waaaayyyy off. You get a brief synopsis of each year and it's corresponding toy line. Not too bad over all.

I have just ordered this ----> Amazon.com: Cybertronian Index Unofficial Recognition Guide (0610721030134): Harold Tietjens…

When it arrives and I have poured over it, I will give you my thoughts if you are still interested.

End of Line

 

Accuracy of a price guide for anything/topic is subjective.

In terms of awesome info and pictures, the Bellomo guide is pretty good.

 

I'm interested in something that is NOT a pocket-book. Something that has ton's of colored photos. English would be nice but not required, even though English is the only language I can read.
Not interested in something for hard-core collecting, as I am not that involved with it. I just want to get those figures I like most and not interested in getting the ultra rare, super duper Japanese or Indian special figures.
I just want something that is more than a give-away type catalogue.
In other words, I don't want something cheap, and I don't want to donate an arm, leg, or kidney for one either.

 

The Cybertronians are definitely the best.

 

I got the Bellomo book.

I have to ask, why start a new thread? You're just going to get the EXACT same answers here.

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/trans...294170-collectors-guide-book.html#post4612820

 

1. Transformers Generations (2001) - sharp, stunning pictures, all Japanese
2. Cybertronians and Cybertronian Index - expensive and hard to track down, but incredibly meticulous details included
3. Beast Wars Transformers Unofficial Guide - the only book of its kind out there
4. Transformers First Series Complete - all Japanese writing, beautiful pics
5. Unofficial Guide to Japanese and International Transformers
6. Transmanuals Vol. 1&2 - great for ID'ing parts, but photos not as crisp and some toys in photos not in perfect condition

ams, I Never herd of of any of these. Can they be found on amazon?

 

Definitely Mark Bellomo's larger book. Cannot recommend it highly enough - beats the competition.

 

Agreed. Superb book. Just ignore the prices!  

 

No offense but Mark Bellomo's guide is fucking terrible. Actually, wait, that's a bit harsh. Let me rephrase: the photography is fucking terrible. Looks like they were done with a disposable camera and then scanned in. Blurry as all hell, awful lighting, terrible cropping work. Other than that it's good - cheap, covers pretty much everything, decent layout. Useful item to have at a convention or something if you need to ID stuff but don't have net access.

 

Well, each to their own. Maybe I just have low standards.  

 

Have to agree with llamatron on that. Chatted with Mark and he seems to be a really nice guy, but the pictures are awful. Just flipping through the first forty pages, I'd say at least half the pictures are out-of-focus or suffering from flash glare; certainly a far cry from the quality of many of the pictures I've seen posted by members here at TFW... and a long, long way from the crisp and uber-clear pics from the Generations book.

The toys in the Bellomo book are not always in mint condition (Mirage, page 20) and a few are even covered in dust/dirt (Warpath, page 38). Still, it's the cheapest and most readily available one out there.

 

It's a shame because all other aspects of the book are perfectly fine, the bad photos just sour the whole experience (for me at least).

 

This is the only book you'll ever need  



& hence forth you shall always be broke...  

 

The Cybertronian guides are hard to track down?

Cybertronain Guides @ Antarctic Press

25 bucks isn't what I'd call expensive either.

These are the best. I take them to every TFCon and toy show I go to.

 

Because A, I forgot.
B, after that thread, I had purchased a "booklet" from ebay and thought it was going to be what I wanted. But, it was too simple. So, there for...................