The three stages of PotN (New Member Process)

If so let me explain to see how true this is.

Stage one - Digital camera bodies

Newbies rejoice! We finally found a "FREE" photography forum site. Well time to post away with our new canon xs. Hmmm my pictures don't look like the canon 7D ones..... well time to post should I keep my canon xs or buy a 7d that will give me better pictures...... I finally bought the 7D, but what is all this talk about full frame (I will stop here you guys get my point)

Stage two - Canon lenses

Now after the new member finally settled down with a camera a few months later after doing research etc. It's time for him to start getting rid of his apc sensor lenses since he/she finally thought full frame would make their pictures look better. They make a post, so I noticed i'm using the same camera as you guys, but for some reason I don't see the magical pop full frame has. I know it must be the lenses. Should I buy a canon 50 1.8 or 50 1.4. /enters Potn vet. Search they have over 100,000 post relating to those lenses.

Stage three - Lighting

The new member is rock solid with his gear/lenses now he want to over power the sun etc. "You guys get the point"

"You guys get the point"

Not really...I don't disagree with what you're saying - but is your point that this is just the natural process, or ?

I'm new to PoTN but have thousands of posts over several years on another (car-related) website, so I think I see where you're coming from - you see the same posts, the same types of questions, over and over, it gets old.

For me, as a relative newbie to photography, I've gone through some of these phases -though not in that exact order and also, I hope, with a bit more thought and planning (and lots of reading, online and in numerous books). Everyone starts somewhere, right ?

Being a newbie, I'd like to say this would have been better as a guide for newbies than as a post to poke fun of them. Remember, you were there at one point, if not on this forum, in life

Like this:

Newbies:

First, there will always be a camera that is better than yours. Before taking drastic measures and unnecessarily wiping out your bank account, use your camera until you get to be the best you can be with it. Learn what about that camera is holding you back. Upgrade cautiously (or quickly if there is a 15% off sale).

Second: Kit lenses are amazing. Nifty Fifty is amazing. Use them, love them, live them. See above regarding limitations and upgrading cautiously. Borrow, Rent, or Steal (just kidding don't steal) before investing (p.s. look at the archive threads with caution, the lens is only as good as the photographer, but at this stage you should know that already).

Third: Start saving money, start setting aside time to read, and start adding things to your amazon wish list. You have now entered the world of lighting and accessories. Good luck, it's where I'm at right now so I can't give much advice except, try not to feel bombarded with all the triggers and off/on camera flashes and umbrellas and reflectors and gels and filters and muslim backgrounds and strobes and clamps and rods and alienbees vs elinchroms and.... oh dear lord someone else needs to jump in here cuz I'm just making it worse lol.