Are film cameras better for teaching photography?

My daughter wants to learn photography and I'm going to teach her.  She wants a brand new Sony mirrorless camera, however I told her I learned photography on a manual camera back in the film days.  That way, you just need to focus on shutterspeed, aperture and ISO.  Oh and manually adjusting focus and working for your shot. 

Now correct me if I'm wrong, I think this is a better way of learning photography and building a strong foundation.  

Do you agree with my direction on this?  

Ruby Grace wrote: My daughter wants to learn photography and I'm going to teach her.  She wants a brand new Sony mirrorless camera, however I told her I learned photography on a manual camera back in the film days.  That way, you just need to focus on shutterspeed, aperture and ISO.  Oh and manually adjusting focus and working for your shot. 

Now correct me if I'm wrong, I think this is a better way of learning photography and building a strong foundation.  

Do you agree with my direction on this?  

Anyone qualified to teach photography ought to know that one can focus on shutter speed, aperture, ISO and manual focus with a mirrorless digital camera as well as with a film camera. I fear the poor girl may not learn much.

Ruby Grace wrote: My daughter wants to learn photography and I'm going to teach her.  She wants a brand new Sony mirrorless camera, however I told her I learned photography on a manual camera back in the film days.  That way, you just need to focus on shutterspeed, aperture and ISO.  Oh and manually adjusting focus and working for your shot. 

Now correct me if I'm wrong, I think this is a better way of learning photography and building a strong foundation.  

Do you agree with my direction on this?  

I disagree with your premise. With film, you go through everything, then you have to wait until the film comes back to see what went right or what went wrong. With digital, the feedback is in the moment. Want to learn about DOF? Shoot 2 extreme f-stops and view the differences instantly. What does exposure compensation do? Try it and immediate feedback. The best way to learn is to see the result as you do it. Seeing a photographer in the wild used to be a novelty. Now everyone is a photographer because they always have their phone. That is one reason you can't make money at stock photography anymore. Everybody shoots.

Digital = Instant Feedback

I also agree. It's much easier to learn anything when you can see the result immediately.

Charley

Yes and no.  Film is going to teach the person to slow down and think about what they are doing, now digital as already pointed out will speed very valuable feedback loop

Photo Junky wrote: Yes and no.  Film is going to teach the person to slow down and think about what they are doing, now digital as already pointed out will speed very valuable feedback loop

I agree with doing composition, black&white film, limited exposures, self development/darkroom is a great way to learn, also if it is a Pentax K1000, everything manual, even a lazy person will have no choice than to get the good shot in limited frames.

But then I will go quickly to digital, but a 2nd hand cheap body to start with. Make her work for her favourite model. 

PS. I remember an exercise we did at the camera club in the nineties, we used a 12 exposure film, 12 topics. Action, night, self portrait etc. It was nerve wrecking, even though I was a professional for 15 years. It was all brains and planning before each shot. 

Use digital for most of the learning, then slap a film camera in their hands for part of the learning that involves thinking about their shots and to rush it. 

Film, digital or iphone, just get out there and learn the basics and don't allow anything to become a crutch. 

Ruby Grace wrote: My daughter wants to learn photography and I'm going to teach her.  She wants a brand new Sony mirrorless camera, However, I told her I learned photography on a manual camera back in the film days, which is why Cardailytips recommends focusing solely on mastering shutter speed, aperture and ISO.  Oh and manually adjusting focus and working for your shot. 

Now correct me if I'm wrong, I think this is a better way of learning photography and building a strong foundation.  

Do you agree with my direction on this?  

what is better quality digital or film photography? what do the professionals use nowadays? what would be my best choice for a quality camera in the $350 price range(im looking for specific camera recommendations)? i dont currently own a digicam and my current camera is 20 years old so i think its time to upgrade. my pictures are turning out fuzzy 50% of the time so its starting to cost me money in worthless prints. i ask all this because it is actually my dads money, and he seems to be certain that film cameras are still so much better than digital cameras, and im just trying to prove him wrong. thanks for whatever links, comments, etc that you provide. and again, really sorry for the noob question

I think digital is best for learning.  HOWEVER once you have that understanding of the basics and fundamentals, a film camera will be a good learning tool to slow you down and think more ABOUT what the basics mean to each shot.  

CharleyL wrote: I also agree. It's much easier to learn anything when you can see the result immediately.

Charley

Second this

Film cameras are just fun to shoot.

Film cameras are 'perspective'.  

Ziggy wrote: Film cameras are 'perspective'.  

Alot to unpack with that statement