Paul Mo wrote:
But the T4i is a crappier camera. If they want to learn photography the 5DC would go a long way.
In objective terms, neither the specific claim (\"4ti is a crappier camera\") nor the general conclusion that a beginner will go farther starting with the original 5D stand up to scrutiny in the context we are talking about here.
Paul Mo wrote:
It would be most beneficial to learn manual photography first.
I agree the gimmicks could detract from ISO, aperture and shutter speed (chosen exposure; over/under), composition and point of focus.
Have them make 500 acceptably \'great\' images manually, and then give them a \'modern\' camera like a T4i.
I\'ve also taught in the arts field for some decades, so I think I also know a bit about how young students learn. (Though mine are college age.)
The notion that learning should be based on depriving the student of both fun and flexibility is an old-school notion that seems to stubbornly stick around for reasons I can\'t quite figure out. (Though there are elements of the higher education world who cling to it.)
The fact is that restricting students by telling them they cannot use tools that they already know about, that everyone uses, and which are just darned useful and creative tools... until they \"master\" the use of some arbitrarily limited subset of the tools is a recipe for discouraging them. In the majority of cases, the precise opposite approach often works beautifully, and it actually mirrors the way that the majority of students (and adults) actually learn. Rather than fully mastering some very limited set of skills, humans often prefer to plunge into a thing and experiment and engage in \"productive play.\"
If you give 20 kinds fully manual cameras with restricted functionality and give another 20 kids some sort of fun and versatile (though not expensive) camera, the latter group will generally become more enthusiastic about photography and among them there will be a larger number who become so passionate about the medium that they eventually seek out information about how to shoot manually and much more.
Take care,
Dan
Jan 08, 2013 at 08:52 AM
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