Geryugan

Hello everyone! I am Geryuganshoop, Geryugan for short lol 😝

I’m a brand new photographer I literally just started today. Here are a few of my goals:
Develop my understanding of cameras to enhance my photography skill
Use photography to capture unique and interesting images

I want to start very small with a simple film camera and slowly develop until I can use a powerful DSLR and capture incredible images
Any information about lenses, film, and other mechanical aspects of cameras is much appreciated. Also tips on cameras :)
Thanks guys! I look forward to sharing 😊

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Welcome to UHH Geryugan, glad you joined us. My humble opinion only, but I would start out with a entry level DSLR camera and not a film one. I started in photography in middle 70's with a Nikon F and a Nikkomat, both 35mm film cameras. Had the darkroom in the kitchen at night, windows covered, etc. Enlarger, chemicals, dodge and burn prints, the whole bit. In this digital age you can see your results in real time, see your mistakes and successes right away. You dodge, burn, crop, etc. on your computer. Think it just speeds up the learning process. Of course, I am 70 and may not have as much time as you!
Have fun, learn and enjoy the forum.

Don

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Welcome to the forum.
You can do a search on various topics to see what has been discussed here.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Welcome.
I too suggest starting with a digital camera. Unless you already have the film camera and are on a tight budget when it comes to getting another camera. Film and developing/printing can get fairly expensive also.

repleo Loc: Boston

Welcome Geryugan. A couple of words of advise.

1. There is nothing simple about shooting film. Many folks here cut their teeth with film and some hold-outs still prefer it to digital, but that is a function of age and habit. I know film is going through a romantic resurgence with young folks, but I see no benefit in starting your journey there other than you can get loads of cast off film cameras and lenses for next to nothing in any thrift store. Your foray into photography is likely to be short lived and frustrating if you start with film.

2. You will never 'capture incredible images ' if you think photography is ' about lenses, film, and other mechanical aspects of cameras'. Every newer digital camera, even a point & shoot, is capable of taking photos under normal conditions that all but the very best film photographers would have envied twenty years ago. Better cameras may let you push the envelope in terms of low light, rapid shooting, faster focus or bigger enlargements, but even the 'most powerful DSLR' won't find an interesting subject or creative composition for you. That takes study and practice.

I would recommend that you start with no more than a 'beginners' interchangeable lens camera (ILC) DSLR or Mirrorless and a good guide book for the camera - not just the useless 'Owners Manual' that comes with most cameras. Invest in a couple of good books or courses on exposure and composition and practice, practice, practice. Post your best pics here and ask for advice or feedback.

That's what worked for me.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Welcome to the forum!
Also, if you haven't found them yet, there are other sub forums you can subscribe to, if interested.
Here is the link.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/all-section-list
Pat

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Welcome to the UHH. I too strongly suggest you start out with a beginner level DSLR like a Nikon D3300 or a Canon T6 or an inexpensive bridge camera like a used Canon G10 or G1X. Reason being, you can experiment and make mistakes all you want with a digital camera and the only expense is the camera itself. On the other hand, film is not cheap and neither is processing. You will be far more hesitant to experiment and push the envelope shooting film thus detracting from the learning process. Also, get a few good books on the subject and read and follow them. Books are excellent learning tools. Best of luck...

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

Welcome!

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Welcome to the forum.

photophly Loc: Old Bridge NJ

Welcome to the Hog

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Hog Geryugan, happy to have you, enjoy.

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

Welcome. I started with film many years ago and have just recently started using digital after many years away from photography. Many photography schools will have you start with film for several reasons, but if you are not going to school I would suggest going digital. the big advantage to digital is after the initial investment it is basically free. You don't need a dslr but should have a camera that allows manual control of exposure and focus, there are many good used cameras available. There are many online resources as well as books to help you understand exposure andwhat the different settings affect, composition is often an after thought with many new photographers but should be studied along with the technical aspects.

Geryugan

Thank you Don, for your warm welcome and advice. Digital might actually be easier to start out with but I like starting from the beginning, yesterday I studied the history of photography all the way back to 1839 :). That’s why I want to start with film I feel like it will help me understand. Those two cameras sound good I’ll probably start with those. And I’m 29 so I guess I do have more time haha

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum!

Geryugan

Thanks for all the advice everyone, I really appreciate it. I still want to start with a film camera, not so much because of any trend, more because of the evolution of cameras and photography. It helps me understand something better when I follow its development hands on. I know it probably seemed like I had “big dreams” that will most assuredly get dashed. But that was just a simple explanation of my hopes for my journey in photography, I realize that having a better camera doesn’t “magically give me artistic talent”. I have a lot of ideas for the pictures I want to take and none of them have to do with having the best camera. I know I’m still really new, I’m just talking about picture quality. I’ve done a few videos on some cheap cameras and I realized that production quality is really important to support the heart of a great picture. The skill is going to come from practice, but it helps to get advice from more experienced photographers about equipment to speed up the process and help me understand the mechanical side. What I’ll probably end up doing is just get a cheap film camera, send the film in to be developed and then get my understanding from that. And then move on to digital. I’ll make sure to post pictures so I can get feedback. And ask any questions I have.