Learning photography

May 03, 2024

I think everyone should start with a bad camera.

Start with a used interchangeable lens camera (maybe your parents have one) and a manual focus prime lens (like those that are found on old film cameras, e.g., Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4).

The manual focus lens lens will teach you the importance of aperture, focus, and focal lengths. Manual lenses have aperture rings, so you can see the exposure and depth of field change as you rotate it. You obviously have to focus the lens on its own. And, if it’s a prime, you can experience the limitations (and benefits) of having a fixed focal length.

The camera body will teach you the importance of exposure, ISO, and shutter speed. Older camera bodies will be pretty sensitive to ISO changes (i.e., high ISOs will look pretty bad), so you’ll learn a lot about balancing shutter speed and ISO to get the correct exposure.

My favorite combo was an old Canon Rebel XTi + Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4.

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Thanks for reading :)

Last updated April 17, 2025