Photography Course/Class

[shortie]

Hi all

I've checked out Objectifs and Photographic Society of Singapore, both have courses that look really good. Unfortunately I do not own a DSLR which is required by both courses.

My intention is to attend a course that'll help me understand better photography and to see if I want to further pursue this hobby.

So my question is, are there any courses/classes out there for a newbie that do not require a personal dslr?

Thanks!

 

[Yezrah]

Hi all

I've checked out Objectifs and Photographic Society of Singapore, both have courses that look really good. Unfortunately I do not own a DSLR which is required by both courses.

My intention is to attend a course that'll help me understand better photography and to see if I want to further pursue this hobby.

So my question is, are there any courses/classes out there for a newbie that do not require a personal dslr?

Thanks!

You can always join their classes if you want to and no one can force you to hold up a camera to take pictures if you don't want to. At the end of the day, the pros will tell you they can take nice pictures with just a pin-hole camera.

 

[Alankpy]

Hi all

I've checked out Objectifs and Photographic Society of Singapore, both have courses that look really good. Unfortunately I do not own a DSLR which is required by both courses.

My intention is to attend a course that'll help me understand better photography and to see if I want to further pursue this hobby.

So my question is, are there any courses/classes out there for a newbie that do not require a personal dslr?

Thanks!

PSS do have basic digital photography courses that all the participant need is a digital compact camera. Maybe u wanna check with them?

 

[Francis247]

PSS do have basic digital photography courses that all the participant need is a digital compact camera. Maybe u wanna check with them?

Yap, agree with Alankpy.

Check out the course outline here for PSS "Digital Compact Camera Basic Photography" starting 09 Jan 2007.

If not, simply given them a call or drop them an email to enquire more about the courses. Check out their website here.

 

[shortie]

Yezrah : Actually i've mailed them and they did state that participants are required to have their own camera from 3rd lesson onwards, that's why asking if there're any other courses that do not require one, but thanks for your comment

Francis247 & Alankpy : thanks for the info! I have mailed them and their reply is as above regarding owning a cam. My objective for this course is to learn more about DSLR photoghraphy and to explore if I want to go into it actually. Hence the leaning towards courses for DSLR's.

Thanks for all the input so far....pls keep them coming.

 

[blazer_workz]

Invest in DSLR first..course later..

 

[kzone]

So my question is, are there any courses/classes out there for a newbie that do not require a personal dslr?

We're on the same boat.

Quite surprised no one suggested the SLCC course... I'm waiting for them to announce their Jan class... I dont have an DSLR too, I think we should be able to survive the course with just a prosumer.. plus the 1st outdoor shoot will be using a film SLR which they will lend u if u don have one..

intend to get the D80 after the course.. hopefully I'll get a better idea on what lens to get after the course...

 

[shortie]

Invest in DSLR first..course later..

haha that's what i've trying NOT to do......just in case I regret later

 

[shortie]

We're on the same boat.

Quite surprised no one suggested the SLCC course... I'm waiting for them to announce their Jan class... I dont have an DSLR too, I think we should be able to survive the course with just a prosumer.. plus the 1st outdoor shoot will be using a film SLR which they will lend u if u don have one..

intend to get the D80 after the course.. hopefully I'll get a better idea on what lens to get after the course...

do you have a link for tihs SLCC course?
Cheers "boat mate"!

 

[blazer_workz]

I understand ur point of regret if u invest in a DSLR first..but then if u do not own a DSLR/SLR for a course, u will feel worse when attending the course..imagine ur course mates all trying out what they have learnt in class on their DSLR/SLR, and what u can do is only see them doing..u won't be able to understand fully without hands-on..furthermore, basic photgraphy can be easily self-taught and all u need is to shoot more to understand ur camera better..if u encounter any questions just post it in Clubsnap, i assured u, u will get valuable answers/solutions very fast..after u have build interest in photography, then u can start to take up courses to tackle more tricky issues like flash light photography..

SLCC has many courses and good instructors..:thumbsup: its like a big family to learn at SLCC..:bsmilie:
http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=149864

http://www.slcc.sg/

 

[opt1m4l]

Yep, SLCC is good. Just completed my course

 

[kzone]

I understand ur point of regret if u invest in a DSLR first..but then if u do not own a DSLR/SLR for a course, u will feel worse when attending the course..imagine ur course mates all trying out what they have learnt in class on their DSLR/SLR, and what u can do is only see them doing..u won't be able to understand fully without hands-on..

I agree... but on the flip side, going through the course would make u understand cam/lens and that will help u to make a better judgement on which one wud suit u better rite?

Playing with aperture, shutter speeds, ISO, WB etc.. can do it on prosumer or is the effect different?

Another reason for me delaying the purchase of SLR is I'm hoping for Nikon to increase the price gap between D80 & D200 soon...

 

[blazer_workz]

I agree... but on the flip side, going through the course would make u understand cam/lens and that will help u to make a better judgement on which one wud suit u better rite?

Make frens with the ppl in Clubsnap..join outings, ask for opinions and if possible ask them to let u try out their DSLR/SLR..read up reviews on the internet..u dun need to go through a course to find out right..in the end, u r the one paying for the camera equipments..

Playing with aperture, shutter speeds, ISO, WB etc.. can do it on prosumer or is the effect different?

Yeah..u can definitely try out stuffs like aperture, shutter speds, ISO, WB, metering modes using a prosumer..but then the results may not be significant..Borrow a book from the library to understand the fundamentals of operation for a camera..or u can even google for some articles over the internet..they are free..once u have doubts/queries, post ur questions in Clubsnap..

Another reason for me delaying the purchase of SLR is I'm hoping for Nikon to increase the price gap between D80 & D200 soon...

:think: increase the price gap? I think u mean narrow the price gap..yeah, D200 price will likely drop next year..heard that a new model is coming out next year..D80 is a good camera as an entry-level DSLR for anyone into photography..

==================================================

Note: These are only my personal views, if u think u prefer going through the course first, u can always go ahead with it.. as wat's most important is how u feel.. Welcome to photography!

 

[opt1m4l]

For the 1st class I went without any camera. Learnt the basics, played around with my classmate's cameras. So yeah.. I guess you can lend your classmates camera's! (GOt my 400D on 2nd lesson

 

[mynameisjizeng]

hmm..

photographic society of singapore does offer a course that'll be good for you.

did you see the Basic Digital Compact Camera Course? In fact i attended it in July this year. quite good. maybe you wanna check it out? you're not required to have a DSLR, but yeah a compact camera will help to.. enhance your learning experience. haha..

regards,
jizeng

 

[Xeonic]

My take on the different classes available, I am too using a proconsumer and recently am seriously considering to buy a dslr and take up photography for a hobby. Primarily I think I am spilt between the class @ PSS or class @ SLCC

SLCC - the classes are about 14 students max and not too expensive at 200 although they are trying to convince me to sign up for the individual class(quite expensive at 300). SLCC has 4 lessons in all.

PSS - the classes are about 30 students max and not too expensive at 144(Member) / 244 (Non Member) thou the membership cost $80 for 2 years. Effectively coming up to $224 for the first class. PSS has 12 lessons in all.

From the above break down, it seems that PSS seems to be more worth it although I think SLCC has better students to teacher ratio. I has spoken to SLCC and I think that they are quite friendly and accomodating.

I am kind of inclinded towards taking the SLCC classes if possible, the mass class else 1:1 class.

Anyone else can give any comments?

 

[opt1m4l]

10 max students iirc.

 

[Francis247]

My take on the different classes available, I am too using a proconsumer and recently am seriously considering to buy a dslr and take up photography for a hobby. Primarily I think I am spilt between the class @ PSS or class @ SLCC

SLCC - the classes are about 14 students max and not too expensive at 200 although they are trying to convince me to sign up for the individual class(quite expensive at 300). SLCC has 4 lessons in all.

PSS - the classes are about 30 students max and not too expensive at 144(Member) / 244 (Non Member) thou the membership cost $80 for 2 years. Effectively coming up to $224 for the first class. PSS has 12 lessons in all.

From the above break down, it seems that PSS seems to be more worth it although I think SLCC has better students to teacher ratio. I has spoken to SLCC and I think that they are quite friendly and accomodating.

I am kind of inclinded towards taking the SLCC classes if possible, the mass class else 1:1 class.

Anyone else can give any comments?

Besides the Basic Photography course, you may want to consider other courses too. PSS got quite a lot of courses to offer, so effective, if you take more courses, your membership cost is spread out even more.

The instructors at PSS are also very friendly and helpful too.

 

[blazer_workz]

My take on the different classes available, I am too using a proconsumer and recently am seriously considering to buy a dslr and take up photography for a hobby. Primarily I think I am spilt between the class @ PSS or class @ SLCC

SLCC - the classes are about 14 students max and not too expensive at 200 although they are trying to convince me to sign up for the individual class(quite expensive at 300). SLCC has 4 lessons in all.

PSS - the classes are about 30 students max and not too expensive at 144(Member) / 244 (Non Member) thou the membership cost $80 for 2 years. Effectively coming up to $224 for the first class. PSS has 12 lessons in all.

From the above break down, it seems that PSS seems to be more worth it although I think SLCC has better students to teacher ratio. I has spoken to SLCC and I think that they are quite friendly and accomodating.

I am kind of inclinded towards taking the SLCC classes if possible, the mass class else 1:1 class.

Anyone else can give any comments?

Wow, u've break down to such details..:thumbsup:
I like the way classes are conducted by SLCC, feels very warmly and friendly..its like a big group of frens discussing a common interest..its not like those normal classroom which gives u a very tense feeling or make u feel sleepy during lessons..

Not sure about PSS..any PSS students care to share ur experience..

 

[Xeonic]

Make frens with the ppl in Clubsnap..join outings, ask for opinions and if possible ask them to let u try out their DSLR/SLR..read up reviews on the internet..u dun need to go through a course to find out right..in the end, u r the one paying for the camera equipments..



Yeah..u can definitely try out stuffs like aperture, shutter speds, ISO, WB, metering modes using a prosumer..but then the results may not be significant..Borrow a book from the library to understand the fundamentals of operation for a camera..or u can even google for some articles over the internet..they are free..once u have doubts/queries, post ur questions in Clubsnap..



:think: increase the price gap? I think u mean narrow the price gap..yeah, D200 price will likely drop next year..heard that a new model is coming out next year..D80 is a good camera as an entry-level DSLR for anyone into photography..

==================================================

Note: These are only my personal views, if u think u prefer going through the course first, u can always go ahead with it.. as wat's most important is how u feel.. Welcome to photography!

To be frank, I kind of agree... I think that the D80 is a excellent DSLR the only problem is that I feel that it is too expensive. For someone who is on the fence, 1.8K for a D80 is way too much.

My own take to determine what is suitable for me.

I have a budget and I am very determined not to exceed my budget of 1.5K for a body and 1 lenses. I am probably going to be stuck with the default len kit at least for a while but it is ok as I truly do not know what is my take or what I need.

At the 1.5K budget, there is only Nikon D40, Nikon D50, Nikon D70, Nikon D70s, Canon 350D, Canon 400D or the Sony A100 that I can consider.

I quite like the Sony A100, in fact I like it so much that I went down to the showroom and try out the camera quite a number of times. I like the idea of Super Steadyshot and I feel that most camera producers will move towards having some form of image stabiliztion on the body sooner or later. But the ISO 800 and ISO 1600 is really quie noisy from the review in dcresource and dpreview and thus it is only my second choice if I can't find something else I like.

The Nikon D40, D50, D70 and D70s.
I think that Nikon has great lenses and to be frank, the feel of the nikon cameras are pretty good. But the D40, D50, D70 and D70s are only 6 megapixels DSLR(I know that megapixels are not a good comparison) and features wise not too bad thou they do have their flaws. D40 is defintely out for me thus am only considering either a D50, D70 or D70s.

Canon 350D and 400D
I am kind of inclined toward the Canon 350D and 400D although I think that the 400D is too expensive for its price and am much more inclined in getting a good second hand Canon 350D. A new Canon 400D is about 1.6K(with len kit) and a new Canon 350D(with len kit) is about 1.2K. A decent second hand 350D would cost me around $900 and to be frank, that is about comfortable for me.

Comparing 350D vs D50/D70
I find that Canon 350D has pretty good out of the box images and images are relatively sharp and comparing aganist what Nikon has to offer, I seriously think that the Nikon are standing at a disadvantage(However the D80 is a very very good camera, it is just that it is beyond my reach). Thus I end up with trying to get a good second hand 350D for my first DSLR and hope that I have made the right choice.