learning a camera

[WillCAD]

I think a lot of people get it backwards these days.

You don't "learn a tennis racket" or "learn a running shoe", you learn how to play tennis and how to run. Once you know how to play the sport, you can play it with any equipment. While you're learning, you just need a sturdy racket or comfotable shoes, and once you get the hang of the sport, you'll decide which racket or shoes best fit your playing style. But the racket doesn't hit the ball - YOU hit the ball. And the shoes don't run - YOU run. The racket and the shoes are just tools you use to play the sport.

Photography is exactly the same thing. Instead of "learning a camera" or "learning how to use an SLR", you should learn photography. You will need a camera capable of manual overrides while you learn, which means an SLR or a bridge camera. But the camera doesn't take pictures - YOU take pictures. The camera and lenses and flashes and meters and all of that stuff are just tools you use to play the sport.

Once you learn the basics of photography (i.e. exposure and composition), you'll be able to decide what kind of camera and what lenses best fit your photographic style and habits.

So don't think about "learning the camera." Think about learning photography. Get yourself a book like Photography for Dummies or Understanding Exposure, and learn the basics of the sport. Any entry-level SLR with a kit lens will act as your learner's camera while you get comfortable with the basics. If you outgrow the camera later, you can always upgrade, but you need to learn how to drive before you go out and buy a Porsche.

 

[boBQuincy]

...but you need to learn how to drive before you go out and buy a Porsche.

Seeing how poorly a lot Porsche owners drive, you may need to rethink that idea! Still, your point is clear, we do not need the very best equipment starting out and indeed most beginners would not notice the subtle difference between good and excellent equipment.

Today's entry level dSLRs are good, very good! That is one reason I did not feel like I would be missing much when I went from a mid-level dSLR to an entry level model about a year ago. After almost 6000 images (I know, pretty slack for a whole year) I still do not feel like the entry level camera (Canon Rebel Xsi) is limiting me.

I am one of those who does get a lot out of reading about photography, and then trying what I have read. As equipment goes, books are probably one of our lowest cost but most effective accessories, right up there with camera supports. As for books, I still refer to Ansel Adams series, exposure hasn't changed much since then.

 

[ColleenG]

I started out with a super zoom P&S and took a photography class through an adult education course. The course taught me the terms and how shutter speed, ISO and aprerature (f-stop) work together. With my P&S I could see on the LCD screen how the image would be affected. Then I quickly learned the limitations of the P&S even in manual mode. Then I took the dive this summer into the world of DSLR. I think you are smart to want to learn what things mean before spending the money on a DSLR. Having the background knowledge, for me, made using the DSLR a lot less fustrating and I was able to shot in manual and the semi-auto modes (shutter priority and aperature priority) right out of the box, not always successfully. I'm also an impatient learner so this worked well for me or I would have been too frustrated with the DSLR, that I could easily see myself just using auto mode.

If you find photography is something you really want to have fun with a DSLR is a great tool to do that. Hope that helps.

 

[C&B Young]

I started out with a super zoom P&S and took a photography class through an adult education course. The course taught me the terms and how shutter speed, ISO and aprerature (f-stop) work together. With my P&S I could see on the LCD screen how the image would be affected. Then I quickly learned the limitations of the P&S even in manual mode. Then I took the dive this summer into the world of DSLR.

I took pretty much the same route as Colleen. A lot of DSLR owners will tell you to jump in and get a DSLR, because they're already comfortable with their DSLR. And once you've got the DSLR bug it's hard to go back! I started with a super zoom (with manual modes) P&S, and it was a good step along the way, as it eases you into learning. Plus it provides you with a large range of focal lengths, so that you can discover what type of photographs you enjoy taking. And if you end up liking photography and get a DSLR later, you've still got a decent P&S camera that cost less than a new lens for your DSLR (another side effect of the photography bug, you think of all things financial in terms of lenses )

 

[zackiedawg]

I'm pleasantly surprised how many people took a similar route as me, and generally agree with my post. I thought for sure the 'get a DSLR' chant would be overwhelming. Maybe there is hope yet!

 

[cpbjgc]

To the OP,

If you want to learn the lingo and understand the basics using a more advanced PnS (which is how I started as well), go to the library and take out the book Digital Photography for Dummies. This is a great nut and bolts book written with a true beginner in mind.

Do not start with Understanding Exposure - this is a great book (I have it myself), but if you are just starting to use something aside from auto on your PnS, you may find it a bit too high level. He assumes you do know some of the basics (like how to check exposure with your camera, or how to adjust exposure compensation). I think the Dummies book does a better job at getting you up to speed (as it is pretty detailed) and better prepare you not only in learning your camera, but letting you get the most from Understanding Exposure and a lot of the other books you will see people around here recommend.

The most important thing is not to get to hung up on the lingo, and have fun with your camera! Photography is definitely a hands-on experience where trial and error is a big part of the learning process.

 

[dmccarty]

I have been using SLRs and DSLRs for 25 years and I am still learning. No one book or webpage/site is going to fully educate you. That statement is not to scare you at all. I am still learning. To learn photography you need a camera and lens, some book(s)/website(s) for basics, and time to use the camera to see what happens.

I started learning photography by buying a 35mm film SLR that included a 50mm lens, read a few books, and spending a small fortune on film and print costs.

You have the advantage of being able to see your photos on a computer immediately after taking the shot. I had to wait days or weeks.

The basics of photography are using the lens aperature, which impacts DOF and shutter speed. Shutter speed is impacted by the the lens aperature and ISO/film speed. Picking which aperature and which shutter speed depends on what you are trying to photograph. Taking photos of a fast paced sports event will require different film/ISO speed, lens aperature, and shutter speed compared to taking close up photos of flowers.

Which lens you use depends on the circumstances as well but regardless of the lens, you have to figure out which aperature, ISO/film speed, and shutter speed is required for your photo.

How do you know which to use? You read and you do to see what works and which fails.

Since you want to learn I would recommend finding a good photo store near you that sells used equipment. Hopefully you have such a business. Buy a relatively old 3-4 year old DLSR but buy a very good lens. A good lens optically and financially is a 50mm or maybe a 35mm.

Remember this. Cameras are just computers to which you attach lenses. The camera like any PC will have a better model tomorrow for the same or less money. Lenses do NOT change that much over time price or performance wise. Spend money on the camera but spend more on the lense. A decent 50mm lense is only a few hundred dolalrs new. Buy a camera system with the idea that if you don't like photography you can just sell it and get out. Buying used would minimize your "losses" if you want to get out of photography.

I have lenses that I bought in the 90s that I could sell used for as much or more than I paid for them. My original camera I sold for $25.

Get a single 35mm/50mm lens with the camera and starting taking photos. Have fun.

Course then you have to start talking about photo processing software.... And different lenses... There is always a new and better camera for more money.... How about a tripod? With the new lenses you need a new camera bag....

That is not meant to scare you either but it is fair warning!

Later,
Dan