10 Reasons Manual Film Cameras are Best for Learning
Jun 5, 2013 17:58:28 #
As Kai points out, learning photography with a fully manual camera can be the best way to learn for some. I agree with this theory because it really does force you to think. Yet, I'm sure the hassle factor in our instant gratification world may discourage people.
http://youtu.be/Psc3q0Qd6tE
Was going to post this on the links section, but then thought I'd ask a photography related question with it. How did you learn photography? No doubt the older generation learned like I did---with a fully manual camera and that toxic smelling stuff called film. :-)
http://youtu.be/Psc3q0Qd6tE
Was going to post this on the links section, but then thought I'd ask a photography related question with it. How did you learn photography? No doubt the older generation learned like I did---with a fully manual camera and that toxic smelling stuff called film. :-)
Jun 5, 2013 19:21:27 #
I read about the basics as a kid, and with every more advanced camera I owned, I got more experience. Last big step was learning diffraction limiting, which was last night when researching telephoto lenses and teleconverters.
I liked the smell of Ektachrome best.
I liked the smell of Ektachrome best.
Jun 5, 2013 19:38:07 #
Yep, I guess this makes me old.
My first cameras either didn't have a built-in meter or were "match needle" exposure. Automatic flash? Fuggedaboudit! My favorite manual flash was the Honeywell 800 which used a 510 volt battery pack. I had to learn the guide number with the different film speeds. My first auto flash was the Vivitar 283. What a breakthrough that was. I also shot medium and large format cameras, which I think is why I don't have any problem figuring out what a "crop factor" is.
As far as learning photography better by shooting film goes, it does make you slow down, because of the limited number of frames on a roll of film, cost for materials and getting it as right as you can in the camera. Try to imagine that Photosbop doesn't exist. A lot of what I shot in he early 90's was transparency film (slide film). You had to nail the exposure or it was pretty useless. The only adjustment you could do with that was push or pull processing.
The plus for digital is the immediate feedback (virtually free)
My first cameras either didn't have a built-in meter or were "match needle" exposure. Automatic flash? Fuggedaboudit! My favorite manual flash was the Honeywell 800 which used a 510 volt battery pack. I had to learn the guide number with the different film speeds. My first auto flash was the Vivitar 283. What a breakthrough that was. I also shot medium and large format cameras, which I think is why I don't have any problem figuring out what a "crop factor" is.
As far as learning photography better by shooting film goes, it does make you slow down, because of the limited number of frames on a roll of film, cost for materials and getting it as right as you can in the camera. Try to imagine that Photosbop doesn't exist. A lot of what I shot in he early 90's was transparency film (slide film). You had to nail the exposure or it was pretty useless. The only adjustment you could do with that was push or pull processing.
The plus for digital is the immediate feedback (virtually free)
Jun 5, 2013 23:13:46 #
I think I learned the most when I started doing darkroom work. Negative film (which is what I used) had a lot of latitude and your lab could get a fair picture even if you were off a couple of stops. In the darkroom you saw what you got and had to "fix it" in the darkroom. It was a lot better to work with a good negative. - Dave
Jun 5, 2013 23:26:09 #
Jun 5, 2013 23:38:35 #
twowindsbear wrote:
Which digital camera is MANUAL ONLY?
LOL. Oh, wait... are you serious? :-)
Jun 6, 2013 00:05:52 #
olcoach
Loc: Oregon
mdorn wrote:
LOL. Oh, wait... are you serious? :-)
Watch the wet-siders. It's hard to know what they are up to. You may have to be an Oregonian to understand this.
Jun 6, 2013 01:15:15 #
Jun 6, 2013 01:15:15 #
Jun 6, 2013 01:15:15 #
Jun 6, 2013 01:34:30 #
twowindsbear wrote:
Which digital camera is MANUAL ONLY?
A hassy 500CM with a Leaf back.
Jun 6, 2013 08:12:24 #
What I like of the digital cameras....Is no film to get developed, you can make all the mistakes you want an just erase them. On Film it doesn't happen.
Will ship my oldies to your guys out west.
Digital is live an learn at your own pace.
So whats so bad of that
Will ship my oldies to your guys out west.
Digital is live an learn at your own pace.
So whats so bad of that
Jun 6, 2013 08:22:38 #
bali wrote:
What I like of the digital cameras....Is no film to get developed, you can make all the mistakes you want an just erase them. On Film it doesn't happen.
Will ship my oldies to your guys out west.
Digital is live an learn at your own pace.
So whats so bad of that
Will ship my oldies to your guys out west.
Digital is live an learn at your own pace.
So whats so bad of that
Digital is fine, and film is fine. It's comparing apples and oranges. An apple will never be an orange and vice versa. Comparing Mars and Venus. Comparing men and women! A never ending comparison series.
Jun 6, 2013 09:14:36 #
Jun 6, 2013 09:33:54 #
mdorn wrote:
As Kai points out, learning photography with a ful... (show quote)
On a TLR...and I agree with your point...there are many questions asked here about shooting on manual...
When you shot film you had to at least know the "basics" of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO or ASA...or you just didnt get a picture. Those help a great deal when shooting digital.
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