What camera would you use to teach someone photography?

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Pirate

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I have a friend who wants me to teach her the basics of photography. She'd like to learn developing too, but that will come later. Right now she wants to learn the shooting side.

So I have a choice between using the Rangefinders (Leica M3, M4) or the SLRs (Nikon F, F3 or Mamiya 1000DTL, Yashica TL-Electro).

I list the cameras in pairs because she will have one and I will have one and I'd like to keep them similar.

Learning the shooting part would be easiest on a digital so I'll take my D700 for her and F5 for me, all in manual mode of course, just in case, but I think it would be easier to use the SLRs for learning the basics since you can move the aperture ring and see just what is being explained a little easier.

So, my own vote is for using the Yashica and Mamiya. They both have meters but I'll have my Gossen for that so she can see the numbers of all the parts.

I'm open to any thoughts, suggestions... etc.

Thanks
 
Well most taught with SLR's, bar p&s's beforehand. It does make sense, though I do wonder what learning on a RF will do for someones compositional skills...

Anyhow, I'd still stick with the SLR. I taught a friend with a Nikkormat and a 28mm and a 200mm. He was free to choose which lens he wanted to use at anytime. Naturally he preferred the 200mm when we were first walking out on the street. After a little while he gave it up and went around with the 28mm saying that it was far better. Getting in peoples faces and taking pictures straight off the bat. It took a good 30mins though to explain shutter and aperture. Sometimes he'd take a few minutes just to meter one shot. But towards the end of the day he got pretty quick in comparison.

Edit: oh I taught him how to use an external meter because the nikkormat's was about 4stops off being accurate.
 
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Definitely the digital for learning. The instant feedback will speed up the process. I used to advocate a manual film camera, something like the Pentax K-1000. But that doesn't make sense anymore. Why teach someone to use a slide rule when a calculator is faster and more accurate? I don't think an RF is a good learning tool. You can't learn anything about DOF that way. And most people don't like the RF experience in the end.
 
I feel that a DSLR is a good platform for her to learn as she can see the results of various exposure settings immediately. But before she gets used to "instant gratification" and when she least expects it, hand her a film SLR and tell her it is time for exams. :D
 
I do have 50mm lenses for the SLRs. No way I would give her anything bigger to start on.
 
You mean teaching photography, or how to set exposure/operate camera?
If it's the first thing than camera won't make any difference, if second - anything manual will do. :]
 
an all manual Pentax K1000 is my ideal choice for teaching film, they are still available in as-new old stock occasionally. For digital, any DSLR with all the manual functions for aperture, focus, shutter speed.
 
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My first SLR was a Yashica TL Super, and I have Yashica TL Electro X and FX 103. I sort of like Yashica (but love my Fujicas :D).

But it might be better to see what she prefers. Take an afternoon to let her dry fire as you explain their operation and give some lessons on DOF and relationship of aperture and shutter speeds. See what feels more comfortable to her. As to digital or film, I personaly prefer film. But if she is really serious, I suspect anything that lets her experiment with manual will work. But if you have access to a darkroom, I sure would give her a chance to do that as well, even if she prefers digital.

But face it, these days, digital is nearly as legitimate as film. As always, it has more to do with the photographer.
 
My daughter prefers my Minolta XG with aperture priority. She's in her 2nd film class. I think a camera with a match needle or lights like on a Bessa R would teach exposure better.
 
I think I'll stick with the Yashica and Mamiya, they are the basics and have the DOF preview so they should do well.

I'll take a couple others and give her the chance to get a feel for them, and I'll take the digital just in case.

Thanks
 
I would say a DSLR, then you can tell and then show. 'If you under expose this will happen (and show)'
 
A pair of Leica S2's. One for each of you. Nothing else will suffice.

And when you're finished for the day, you can send them to me so I can teach someone worthy of my attention.

And then I'll put them up on eBay so some others will have the opportunity to teach. That's just how nice I am. lol

Hey, I think you're original selection sounds perfect, actually.
Simple, unaffected and basically equal between teacher and student.

That way you'll be able to concentrate on the proper structural flirt (I mean focus) and technically technical techniques.

I never used a Yashica slr but I really like the Mamiya 1000DTL's S/A dual meter.
 
plus 1 for the DSLR

1) instant feedback/reinforcement of message

2) only way to learn photography is to take lots of pictures... this is free on digital but expensive on film


i might even start with the simplest p&S to teach basic framing and composition - then move on to things like DOF, exposure, ISO using a DSLR.

It really depends on where your pupil is starting from and where they want to go.

good luck - take it slowly and always show first and tell why afterwards

K
 
Any Pentax Spotmatic. If you have a wet darkroom you can develop the film right away. If not, there's always the one-hour photo service, so either way there's not much time lag to worry about. I appreciate Pickett's comments but I believe the film SLR with a normal lens is the best way to learn photography.
 
Start off with the DSLR for the instant feedback, to explain the effects of different shutter speeds and apertures, and how they work together to effect exposure. After that is understood, let her choose which of your film cameras to use.
 
My trusted Chinon Memotron CE-II has aperture-priority shooting, which is real nice to see the effects of changing apertures right away.

It also works the other way round, when setting a shutter speed on the camera, the meter will move when rotating the aperture, until set shutter speed and meter in the finder are correct.

I find it a very easy to use the camera and it is very easy for people to see the relation between shutter speed and aperture.

Once they get that, I tell them about film sensitivity. After that, backlight compensation.

That's about it.


Tell her to drag the unloaded camera along for a couple of days, shooting everything she sees at any time she can. Practise makes perfect in the end, but its also a good start to get going.
 
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