Better Camera, Better Photos
My cousin told me that she intends to buy another camera because the Canon 40D her dad gave her was not ‘powerful’ enough for her to use. She asked me if a Powershot is better than the 40D. I sighed and asked her what made her think that way. Her reason was simple, she could not get the shots she wanted with her 40D. It became clear that perhaps she was uncomfortable using a slightly more technical camera, and would be better off using something simple. An advanced compact camera like the Powershot may be what she needs, but maybe she should get her basics sorted out. On second thought, I don’t see her being a serious hobbyist. A camera to her may just be a device to record events, or a gadget to have fun with.
Her issues with her camera became apparent during a recent family dinner when she complained to me she can’t switch off her flash. I tried helping her, and it was then that I realized that she did not know how to operate her camera. I had wanted to change the exposure on the camera but I was unfamiliar with her camera. So I asked her how and where do I fiddle with to get my desired exposure. And then she replied me… “What’s an aperture? What’s shutter speed? What’s ISO?”
It was then that I realized why she doesn’t get the shots she wants… She doesn’t know how to operate her camera! To add on, she doesn’t know nothing about using a DSLR! It doesn’t help that my Uncle, a self-professed “expert” with his camera chimed in that he still takes great photos on his camera despite knowing nothing about changing his exposure setting: ISO, aperture and shutter speed. His advice: keep things to Aperture Priority.
I was really hoping to figure out how to use his camera, but instead I received a rude shock. He too didn’t know how to use his camera. How has he been shooting for the past 4 years with that camera? Don’t tell me he is so lucky to get “lucky shots” all the time??
It just bedazzles me that he moved on to the 7D without knowledge on how to use his 40D, and now his daughter is following suit! I felt like telling them to hold back their horses and go back fiddling with their old camera. There is so much they have missed without truly understanding how their camera works. But I doubt they will bother… They’re probably one foot into the camera store to get the new 600D for my cousin… Who till now does not understand the basics of the exposure triangle. :|
