Originally posted by jatrax Unfortunately the problem was that it was an introductory course. Guess who gets to teach those? People who just finished that course last semester. A real teacher would not have embarrassed anyone in class like that and would have done the research on the camera.
I took a class this spring and got an email from the teacher ahead of time with a list of gear needed and a request to know what camera I would be using so he "could research and be somewhat familiar with my gear" before the class. And he did, he knew what I was shooting and asked questions about it during the class to make sure I knew how to do on the K-3 what he was doing on his Nikon.
The people local to me that seem to teach those intro courses are also barely qualified to handle a camera, much less stand in front of a class and explain it and basic technique.
Just for kicks, a buddy of mine went to one of these a couple of years ago (him being around dSLRs for a couple of years and at the time fairly but not fully knowledgeable on how to operate one). The lady "teaching" (term used extremely loosely) barely knew which end was up. He asked several basic questions to which she had no correct response.. not even close. He got to attend it for free as a reviewer or consultant on the quality of the training... otherwise it was a good 50 or 60 bucks IIRC. In the end, he concluded he should have taught the class. /facepalm
I almost want to start attending these when they're free or really cheap just to make sure the teacher isn't throwing the class garbage info.
It is those same 'teachers' that offer (charge money) to take family/kid or senior photos and they turn out however the camera decided to make them (since the camera is doing the thinking for the person behind it pressing the button). But they're a 'professional' because they have a 'big' camera.
I suggested it once on here.. but I think Ricoh/Pentax really should donate and fund classroom training of their camera gear. Donate some Cameras and lenses to High Schools and Colleges and have them teach with a Pentax in hand. Can use any camera you want (with manual controls) as a student, but the course will be taught with a Pentax and with someone trained in how to use it (that won't bad mouth and say its a hunk of junk haha)
The school gets funding/equipment and Ricoh/Pentax get some brand exposure to some bright eyed, budding photographers who will remember the class was taught with a Pentax.
At the very least, even if they buy a Canikony or other brand.. they will at least see the Pentax is qualified for the job.
---------- Post added 08-04-14 at 07:36 PM ----------
On another note.. I actually sold my K-x to another friend because they told me they saw my photographs I took with it and realized it was capable (well with the proper technique).