Craig_Cunliffe
newbie
Reged: 28/04/2008
Posts: 3
|
|
Hi
I'm a teacher in a high school and we are running the photography element of AQA GCE Art and Design for the first time this autumn.
Can anyone who has experience of this course (or similar) give me some advice on the kind of equipment to buy? At the moment we're looking at Canon G9's and a couple of EOS 450's.
Any advice welcome.
Craig.
|
Fen
BAD WOLF
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 19533
Loc: Currently Unknown!
|
|
I'd of thought the people who write/design the course could advise on that?
Not being sarcastic, just surprised.
--------------------
Fen.
- Fen's Flickr Fotos -
"One good photograph does not a photographer make."
|
Roger_Provins
Made-it Man
Reged: 22/10/2005
Posts: 2620
Loc: Gloucester, UK
|
|
I'd let the students use whatever they have (and most will have some sort of camera - even if it's on their phone) but have a small stock of digital SLRs to loan when more appropriate.
--------------------
Rog
|
Craig_Cunliffe
newbie
Reged: 28/04/2008
Posts: 3
|
|
I have spoken to the exam board but understandably they cannot recommend specific makes and models. More surprising is that they do not specify, or could be drawn on, whether compacts, bridge or SLR's are the most suitable. Naturally DSLR's would be the first choice but the cost is prohibitive. From my reading of the syllabus, advanced compacts or bridge cameras with full manual would suffice but there's no substitute for experience.
I have to place an order soon and don't want to make an expensive mistake.
Regards
Craig
|
NorthernMonkey
enthusiast
Reged: 01/05/2007
Posts: 270
|
|
I started an A level course in Sept, but had to leave after 3 months because of work. A lot of people were just using compact cameras, with manual functions, such as the canon A series, and there were a couple of dSLRs that people could use when they needed one for something specific.
IME, a 450d may be a bit more than is required, the Samsung would allow you to get 3 cameras instead of 2 of the Canon.
I can't see any advantage in using bridge cameras. They just seem to be compacts with a big lens on the front, and I can't see any advantage that an 18x zoom would give on such a course. No one was using one on my course.
Of greater advantage would have been a larger selection of CF/SD cards so peoples work didnt get over written, and an even larger still collection of charged batteries.
I used film for nearly all the course that I did, using an Eos1n, a 24-70 2.8 zoom, a 70-200 f4, and a 400d for when i wanted to use digital. This was probably a little more than was required, but I like shiney kit 
|
NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 5302
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
|
|
Quote:
I have spoken to the exam board but understandably they cannot recommend specific makes and models. ... I have to place an order soon and don't want to make an expensive mistake.
In that case then, the Nikon D40 is cheap as chips and yet gives you all the advantages of using a DSLR. There's currently a Nikon cash rebate on this model too, plus you might be able to get a discount for bulk.
Cheapest price shown at CameraPriceBuster is £230 (Dixons with discount code), with £30 rebate that's £200 for a DSLR and kit lens. Can't go wrong!
--------------------
www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
|
OakR
newbie
Reged: 26/11/2007
Posts: 40
Loc: London, England
|
|
Hi Craig
Well I've not done the course, or any course for that matter and am pretty new myself to photography - maybe I should get on the course. Anyway...
Instead of the 450Ds why not go for some 400/350/300D or 10D(or Nikon etc equivalent) which will be cheaper but I assume would give you enough functionality for the course. If the course has certain modules eg macro then with the money saved you could get a macro lens / tubes etc, lowlight / fast lens / studio set-up or whatever else might be needed.
Good luck
al
|
Overread
addict
Reged: 17/01/2008
Posts: 574
Loc: UK; Suffolk
|
|
My sister did A level and from what I saw I have this to say:
I would get only a few DSLRs and focus on making sure you have a decent supply of digi cams for the students. Most will have digi cams of thier own, but have the option of hte school kit there for those that don't (or have weaker models).
As for the DSLRs I would get some of hte cheaper models (a 400 or even the 350) and focus after that on getting decent lense to go with them (the lenses being more important at this level than the camera body).
After that I would teach them to use the DSLR and how it works as they will give a better understanding of photography than the digicams will - but don't force them down the using DSLRs at this level (leave it for the student to have the interest and time to have the interest in the DSLR). I say this because at the end of the day they are out for a good grade and (especially for those newer to the course) chances are that they can get better shots with simpler kit than they can with more expensive kit.
(though I accept that "good shots" are not always the best and an artistic skill can be shown in technically poor shots, but the students also have ot have confidence in themselves and some good clear sharp digicam shots can do wonders for this
--------------------
My photography blog
http://overread.wordpress.com
|
Nod
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 08/04/2006
Posts: 4063
Loc: Devon, UK.
|
|
It might be worth contacting a decent local camera shop and asking them about factory refurbs direct from the manufacturers. At worst you'll get a "No" and you might strike it lucky and get a good deal on a job lot of DSLRs and other cameras.
--------------------
MATWSIJ.....
To avoid being offended, please insert apropriate smiley.
|
sjaszczak
A Real Gentleman
Reged: 08/06/2005
Posts: 930
Loc: York
|
|
Quote:
and focus after that on getting decent lense to go with them (the lenses being more important at this level than the camera body
I'm inclined to disagree with you a bit here. For the purposes of the course, what is the most important aspect...the art/skill in composition an eye-catching shot, or the technical quality of the final image produced?
Obviously I am not speaking from experience, but although I'd usually be inclined to agree in saying the lens is more important than the body, for the purpose of a course I'd say it's the other way round.
I'd first and foremost look at the level of manual control that the camera offers...this would ensure that you give the student the ability to be truly creative.
Then I'd make sure you provided a focal length range to ensure a wide variety of subjects could be capture...I kit lens would probably offer you enough if you go down the DSLR route.
Then you get them to go nuts and be creative with it!
--------------------
Steve
My Flickr
|
Overread
addict
Reged: 17/01/2008
Posts: 574
Loc: UK; Suffolk
|
|
I don't know - the bodies (350 - 400 - 450 being those mentioned so far that I know about) are all about the same when it comes to manual control features offered, so the students will get similar skills to learn with on any one. I think to get any more control you are looking for 40Ds and higher - and then the bodies will be most likley outclassing the students by a large degree (and the cost will certainly be getting very high)
though I do understand you point with focusing on skills over ease of aquiring shots - tricky kit makes you learn
--------------------
My photography blog
http://overread.wordpress.com
Edited by Overread (01/05/2008 00:59)
|
kiko
journeyman
Reged: 18/01/2008
Posts: 50
Loc: UK
|
|
my old art teacher popped into my shop the other day and they've just started a photography course (started it the year after i left, after i'd asked for 4 years running) and they are using several 400D's tho you may need to get lots of memory cards and batteries as they are nicked right left and center.
--------------------
- Kiko on Flickr -
|
beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 4239
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
|
|
Quote:
you may need to get lots of memory cards and batteries as they are nicked right left and center.
Which can be a serious running expense for a school or FE college. There might be something to be said for using film cameras ... the "expendables" are a lot more likely to be still present at the end of the term.
|
Bettina
Kein Titel
Reged: 12/02/2004
Posts: 3994
Loc: London
|
|
Should Photography be an A'Level subject in the first place?
When I took A'levels (in Germany, obviously), we had to take either German or a foreign language (okay, I opted for English, I know, I know ...), Maths or a science (I went for Maths) and the other two subjects we could choose at free will ... (and I ended up with Economics and Spanish).
But back to the main question, a manual film camera like the Pentax K1000 or MX should suffice.
--------------------
Bettina
http://www.vibrantpictures.co.uk
Vibrant Pictures on Flickr
|
beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 4239
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
|
|
Quote:
Should Photography be an A'Level subject in the first place?
Good point.
As a subject, photography does at least have the potential for rigour which e.g. media studies seems to be entirely lacking in. It's also a good crossover subject for those who want to mix science and arts. On the whole, I think it's reasonable to have an "A" level course in photography ... especially since the old City & Guilds system of vocational qualifications seems to have been dismantled.
|
ermintrude
Hinkypuff
Reged: 30/06/2003
Posts: 12166
Loc: London, UK
|
|
The point, as you know, in A level photography is to be understanding things such as aperture, shutter speed, dof, ISO, composition, history. Making very long exposures, very short exposures, experimenting with aperture to find out what dof you can get out of it. Lighting, shadow, texture.
It doesnt matter what camera or lens you have as long as these manual aspects are there. I did my A level photography on an OM10 with a 50mm 1.8 lens. It may be useful to use zooms/longer lenses when studying angle of view or something, but you can zoom with your feet and the dof aspect is more useful at the short end, so you will learn more on a plain old 50mm lens than on anything 'special'. We didn't even use tripods, just make do with what's around. I think you learn more from your mistakes than from buying anything special. I would get something cheap with at least aperture priority and a good wide aperture.
--------------------
  
Further, longer, higher, older...
|
beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 4239
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
|
|
Yes, Erm, I agree with all that.
Quote:
It may be useful to use zooms/longer lenses when studying angle of view or something, but you can zoom with your feet and the dof aspect is more useful at the short end, so you will learn more on a plain old 50mm lens than on anything 'special'.
Except I'd rather have a fast (f/2) 35mm lens than a 50mm - 50mm just seems a little long to me (on a full frame camera). Not really important, and probably more to do with the way I look at things. In any case, good 50mm f/1.8 standard lenses are dirt cheap, even new!
|
Learning
Ethelred the Ill-Named
Reged: 26/09/2006
Posts: 2039
Loc: Nottingham
|
|
Quote:
Should Photography be an A'Level subject in the first place?
That might be a good subject for another thread.
As to the original subject, might we be cheeky and ask our Mr Gary McNamara for an opinion? Doesn't he teach photography to young people?
|
Eamonn
newbie
Reged: 09/05/2008
Posts: 1
|
|
Hi Craig,
I'm in a similar situation in a college in East Sussex. We haven't decided which board to go with and I would be intrested to know why you went with AQA.
As for which camera we're going for a few cheap film slr some cheap Canon dig compacts and one Eos D40 on the understanding the students need their own eqipment to do the course.
I would be intrested in having a lonthreg chat about setting up the A level with you, what part of country are you in?
|
aiwa_yamaha
veteran
Reged: 09/03/2006
Posts: 1237
Loc: Devon, England
|
|
I thought A level photography was mostly using the darkroom. Well that's what they do at Exeter college. And yes photography to me should be an A level it gives those wanting to get into photography and expand their photography get better. You can't expect everyone to go straight into higher education photography all from learning by yourself. You need a basic structure of photography to learn.
Getting back to the point, Canon 350d, 400d. Nikon D40, D50, D60 and film cameras. I don't know film cameras so I'll leave that to the rest.
--------------------
James
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
