How To Learn Photography Using An Old Sony DSLR

[JohnMeletar]

I have an old Sony Alpha A200 DSLR camera that I bought more than a decade ago. With a busy life and few vacations in between, I could hardly find time to engage in photography other than taking a few random shots every now and then.

Now that I am semi-retired, I have more time to pursue photography as a hobby. But the problem is that I don't know how to use a DSLR properly for taking good photos. I don't want to be stuck in Auto mode forever!

Is there a course or a YouTube channel which will help me learn DSLR photography, given that I have a nearly vintage camera? I think most courses will teach photography using more recent cameras, with most of the features missing in mine. At least, that's what I discovered after I did a search on YouTube.

I'm not specifically looking for free content. I am willing to pay for a course that teaches photography using an old DSLR similar to what I own.

I know, the most obvious solution would be to buy a new camera with the most up-to-date technology available. But, aside from being a conservative spender, I am one of those people who becomes attached to old gadgets and gizmos and refuses to let them go, at least if they are still functional and do not require a software update or a new operating system.

 

[AlbertTheLazy]

Now that I am semi-retired, I have more time to pursue photography as a hobby. But the problem is that I don't know how to use a DSLR properly for taking good photos. I don't want to be stuck in Auto mode forever!

Commendable

Is there a course or a YouTube channel which will help me learn DSLR photography, given that I have a nearly vintage camera? I think most courses will teach photography using more recent cameras, with most of the features missing in mine.

The main things you need to know are common to all cameras -- 90% of the skills and knowledge I apply to my photography is stuff I learnt over 50 years ago when even built-in lightmeters were considered innovations,

At least, that's what I discovered after I did a search on YouTube.

I'm surprised. I haven't investigated any structured online courses but most of the You Tube videos I've seen relating to photography have not asumed ownership of the latest and greatest, unless they are spcifically tutorials on using a particular camera.

To start with you need to know what happens when you change the most basic settings on your camera:

Aperture

Shutter speed

ISO (light sensitivity of your camera)

Focus.

I'm not suggesting that you should aim to shoot 'in manual' but that you need to know when to shoot in Aperture or Shutter priority, when you might want to change your ISO setting, or what the value of auto-ISO is for your purposes.

Learning on an older camera can be easier because you don't get bogged down in the complexities of things like all the auto-focus modes that modern cameras (especially the more expensive ones) have available.

If you want to learn the basics try looking at Cambridge in Colour https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/

I know that purists find fault with how some aspects are taught, but it will give you a reasonable grounding on how to use digital camera. Just be aware that sometimes things are simplified to the point where someone who really know stuff will start quibbling, so you may need to learn in more depth later.

Start here:

https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-exposure.htm

Yes, the experts will say (quite correctly) that the 'exposure triangle' is at best a flawed concept but, believe it or not, it helps a lot of beginners understand what they are doing.

 

[D Cox]

Now that I am semi-retired, I have more time to pursue photography as a hobby. But the problem is that I don't know how to use a DSLR properly for taking good photos. I don't want to be stuck in Auto mode forever!

Commendable

Is there a course or a YouTube channel which will help me learn DSLR photography, given that I have a nearly vintage camera? I think most courses will teach photography using more recent cameras, with most of the features missing in mine.

The main things you need to know are common to all cameras -- 90% of the skills and knowledge I apply to my photography is stuff I learnt over 50 years ago when even built-in lightmeters were considered innovations,

At least, that's what I discovered after I did a search on YouTube.

I'm surprised. I haven't investigated any structured online courses but most of the You Tube videos I've seen relating to photography have not asumed ownership of the latest and greatest, unless they are spcifically tutorials on using a particular camera.

To start with you need to know what happens when you change the most basic settings on your camera:

Aperture

Shutter speed

ISO (light sensitivity of your camera)

Focus.

I'm not suggesting that you should aim to shoot 'in manual' but that you need to know when to shoot in Aperture or Shutter priority, when you might want to change your ISO setting, or what the value of auto-ISO is for your purposes.

Learning on an older camera can be easier because you don't get bogged down in the complexities of things like all the auto-focus modes that modern cameras (especially the more expensive ones) have available.

If you want to learn the basics try looking at Cambridge in Colour https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/

I know that purists find fault with how some aspects are taught, but it will give you a reasonable grounding on how to use digital camera. Just be aware that sometimes things are simplified to the point where someone who really know stuff will start quibbling, so you may need to learn in more depth later.

Start here:

https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-exposure.htm

Yes, the experts will say (quite correctly) that the 'exposure triangle' is at best a flawed concept but, believe it or not, it helps a lot of beginners understand what they are doing.

Just call it the Exposure Trio and you're OK. The problems come from trying to force aperture, shutter speed and "ISO" number into a triangular arrangement. They are just the three main controls.

Don

 

[stretchman]

For me, learning the camera was the easy part. Learning post processing, that's the real trick. ;-)

--
“A good photograph is knowing where to stand.” – Ansel Adams

 

[PhotoTeach2]

I have an old Sony Alpha A200 DSLR camera that I bought more than a decade ago. With a busy life and few vacations in between, I could hardly find time to engage in photography other than taking a few random shots every now and then.

That is not an unusual situation ...

Now that I am semi-retired, I have more time to pursue photography as a hobby.

Welcome aboard ... but always remember that COMPOSITION is the most important element to a good/great image.

That is possibly harder to master than exposure-technique.

But the problem is that I don't know how to use a DSLR properly for taking good photos.

Well dSLR's are a 60+yo technology that has now been surpassed by MirrorLess (ML) --- and "bridge" type cameras, that I specifically recommend to many, (aka FZ1000-II).

But you can still use/learn your A200.

I don't want to be stuck in Auto mode forever!

Why NOT ??? It works just fine when appropriate, Manual is best only for specific situations.

There is a great deal of misunderstanding about "Manual" (exposure-settings), and there are two separate definitions of "M".

The original interpretation of "M" was to pre-set specific A & S & ISO for a specific (known) lighting condition, (aka SUNNY-16 RULE or STROBE/FLASH).

In other words NOT USING the camera METER as a reference.

However, it seems that many (gurus) here interpret it here as setting (both) A & S, but then still use their camera-metering as a reference to "manually" set ISO (or rely on "auto"-ISO.

Is there a course or a YouTube channel which will help me learn DSLR photography,

Setting-wise, there is little difference between dSLR and ML cameras.

given that I have a nearly vintage camera? I think most courses will teach photography using more recent cameras, with most of the features missing in mine.

There are newer options and features, which you may not need, (but "bridge" cameras actually have the most newer options and features, AT A LOWER PRICE).

At least, that's what I discovered after I did a search on YouTube.

This is going off-topic, but you might want to look at You-Tubes of FZ1000 and RX10-IV

I'm not specifically looking for free content. I am willing to pay for a course that teaches photography using an old DSLR similar to what I own.

You may not need that ... we can help, (but that is beyond what we can cover in this specific thread).

And there are YouTubes that teach more "basics", (albeit some are not 100% accurate).

I know, the most obvious solution would be to buy a new camera with the most up-to-date technology available. But, aside from being a conservative spender, I am one of those people who becomes attached to old gadgets and gizmos and refuses to let them go, at least if they are still functional and do not require a software update or a new operating system.

You can still use your A200 for learning the basics and most things.

 

[Mark S Abeln]

You asked for videos, so here is a university level video course in photography:

https://www.youtube.com/user/marclevoy/playlists

But if you like books, there are some great ones online. This is the previous version of the standard textbook of photography. It's very technical:

Manual of Photography : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Manual of Photography

archive.org

Here is a well-regarded book about composition in photography:

Learning to See Creatively Desing, Color and Composition in Photography : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Learning to See Creatively Desing, Color and Composition in Photography

archive.org

A general background in visual arts helps a lot in photography. Here is a standard textbook introduction (you need to register a free account):

Introduction to art : design, context, and meaning : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

1 online resource :

archive.org

The Internet Archive has very many books on photography, and just about everything else. It's worth spending time looking for what you may need there.

 

[lehill]

Is there a course or a YouTube channel which will help me learn DSLR photography, given that I have a nearly vintage camera? I think most courses will teach photography using more recent cameras, with most of the features missing in mine. At least, that's what I discovered after I did a search on YouTube.

There must be a bazillion different things you could call a "camera feature". Each camera model has a different subset of features so it's pretty much impossible to create a beginner course to cover all of them.

As everyone else has said, beginner courses concentrate on the three things all cameras have had in common since the very beginning of photography - shutter speed, aperture (or the modern f-number), and some kind of sensitivity to light (or the modern ISO concept). The better courses also include instruction modules on light and composition.

If you want to learn about features specific to a camera model, then read the user manual for that camera or buy a book dedicated to that model (A200 example).

Before you take any course, you'll be way ahead of the pack if you read the first 1 or 2 chapters of your user manual just to learn what all the buttons, dials, and blinking lights actually do or mean. Here's an introductory course on YouTube.

--
Lance H

 

[D Cox]

For me, learning the camera was the easy part. Learning post processing, that's the real trick. ;-)

I agree. I was never really satisfied with my darkroom work. Computer processing is a bit easier, but still takes years of practice to master.

Keep your original raw files so that you can revisit them in later years when your skills have improved. Even JPGs can be improved somewhat, but I know of no way to undo the crude noise reduction and the sharpening halos that afflict so many out-of-camera JPGs.

Don

 

[Tom_N]

Is there a course or a YouTube channel which will help me learn DSLR photography, given that I have a nearly vintage camera? I think most courses will teach photography using more recent cameras, with most of the features missing in mine. At least, that's what I discovered after I did a search on YouTube.

Many books and courses have valuable information.

Most of the technical aspects of photography are applicable across many cameras, and types of cameras. Your camera may have controls and menus arranged a bit differently than others, so you might use something like the manual or a third-party equivalent of one of the Magic Lantern guides to supplement more generic technical course material.

A camera is just a tool for recording light, so practically all of the well-designed material about learning the artistic side of photography is useful, even if it came out before there were such things as digital cameras.

I'm not specifically looking for free content. I am willing to pay for a course that teaches photography using an old DSLR similar to what I own.

One book that I'd recommend is The Joy of Photography by The Editors of Eastman Kodak Company. This is an old film-era book, but still contains a great deal of useful stuff about the technical and artistic sides of photography. You can find used copies fairly cheap on Amazon Marketplace.

I would also recommend some of the books by John Hedgecoe.

 

[JohnMeletar]

Thank you for providing all of this information. These will keep me occupied for several weeks, if not months!

In my zeal, I also purchased a few more books, as if the above wasn't quite enough. They are Bryan Peterson's Understanding Composition Field Guide and Understanding Exposure, and Alan Hess's Field Guide for Sony Alpha A200.

My life has changed for the better because I now keep my DSLR next to my desk and rush out to try out something new that I recently learned. I discovered that even when I make mistakes, the images turn out quite well.

 

[Klaus dk]

[…]
I discovered that even when I make mistakes, the images turn out quite well.

To really see the mistakes clearly, transfer the picture to a PC and see them at 100%.

OTOH, as long as you stay in the automatic modes and within the camera's limits, it's not easy to make substantial blunders :-D

Good luck and good light.

 

[PhotoTeach2]

Thank you for providing all of this information. These will keep me occupied for several weeks, if not months!

In my zeal, I also purchased a few more books, as if the above wasn't quite enough. They are Bryan Peterson's Understanding Composition Field Guide

I am glad you mentioned that book "first" because composition is indeed the most-important element to a good/great image.

and Understanding Exposure,

You can start in "P" (Program) mode, (and "auto"-ISO), and it will work for 90% of any situation.

For the other 10%, study Exposure-Compensation (EC) for when scenes are overly white or black, (aka SNOW or NIGHT-SKY). Use +1 / +2 if shooting a "white" scene to keep it from looking gray, and use -1 / -2 when shooting dark/black scene (because it will also tend to be "gray").

When you need a specific Shutter-Speed or Aperture (f/stop), you can use either "A" or "S" priority.

Manual (M) is only necessary when you need a specific BOTH SS and A-f/stop, or when you have a known amount of light, (aka consistency in SUNlight, or w/ FLASH). Note that "M" will not get you "better" exposures, (if the exposure-settings end up being the same anyway).

and Alan Hess's Field Guide for Sony Alpha A200.

That will help learning your specific controls and menu-options.

My life has changed for the better because I now keep my DSLR next to my desk and rush out to try out something new that I recently learned.

A great way to absorb something better.

I discovered that even when I make mistakes, the images turn out quite well.

And there will be fewer and fewer mistakes, (at least that is what I keep telling myself since 1959) !!! ...

 

[Bob A L]

Sounds like you are headed in a good direction. Study what you have, and watch what might be offered on forums for help and explanations. Many times things get into technical details that are not a prerequisite for making good photos and usually lead to disagreements. Stick with the basics and enjoy your camera. The A200 appears to be a good very capable camera, so don't go jumping up to the newest, latest and greatest too quick. Your camera has an optical viewfinder which seems to be quickly disappearing in digital cameras, but is much preferred and highly valued by many users. And image quality of the latest is not necessarily day and night better than what your camera can provide under normal family and hobby use unless you want to make 24" x 36" prints from most of your images.