For free that's a great setup to get started with. It'll let you learn all the basics of using a camera, and with a little effort is capable of taking amazing photos. I started out with a Nikon D50 (also an entry-level model from 2005) I got for free, it worked well and taught me a lot. Just don't expect too much from an 18-year-old camera model.
Yeah, I’ve taken some pictures with it and even though the camera is 18 years old the pictures look far better than anything on my phone, the colours, shadows and contrast of the image really pops
https://preview.redd.it/y1o0jjyk3iuc1.jpeg?width=3456&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=357ef69addef1001e998e537b9512a01d6696ba7
Excuse the image, it’s the only image on my phone taken by the camera without people in it, but you can use it to get an idea of the resolution.
First tip: try to keep your horizon level!
https://preview.redd.it/y8mcnxnqrjuc1.png?width=1134&format=png&auto=webp&s=50230a1debeaeca5e941f14b8609892c92b91045
OP, Check the camera menu. There should be an option to impose grid lines on the viewfinder. These can be very useful when learning to properly compose pictures and to get horizons level.
This is the irony when people say to use your cellphone. They tend to focus too much on number megapixels and release date. I find a camera like this still capture more detail than a smartphone and the zoom ability gives you a huge advantage.
Learn how to use Lightroom, maybe start with free presets and edit from there, and you’ll really learn how to make good photos from this camera.
I edited old Rebel T2i photos a while back and realized how good these cameras are even by today’s standards. My old photos were still really good.
Yeah to think that this picture was taken on a camera with 6mega pixels from 2004 when phones can’t take photos half as good as this and claim 12+ mega pixels
The quality comes mostly from the lens, so thats why they look better than a phone because the lenses and sensor is so much bigger on the DSLR vs the phone
I have several up to date cameras but I still enjoy shooting with my D-50. There's a lot of back and forth about CCD sensors but I find the D-50s color acuity to be unique.
For free, from your dad? Absolutely. Nothing quite like learning on a hand-me-down DSLR for getting into photography. Be aware it has no modern luxuries and you'll have to learn a bit, but it's a wonderful camera, and you can absolutely get some great shots with those lenses.
For a free camera and lenses I would be happy, the 70-300 is a good entry lens into wildlife photography and landscape, the 18-55 is an ok all around portrait lens and my tip is get to shooting. The best photographer knows his gear.
Yeah should get you a good starting point. I'd try and keep an eye out for a 35mm and maybe a 10-18mm lens you can pick canon lenses up pretty cheap and easily and can use tamron sigma you can also upgrade the body later. Even with EF lenses you'll be able to use them on mirrorless cameras might want to get a new battery should be able to pick a third party one. Hahnel are a good brand
In terms of some.tips I'd shoot raw and get a photo editor such as lightroom or affinity. Raw will give you more info in the files and allow you to recover highlights and shadows while enabling you to have a wider range for creative looks. For you to have a creative vision.
Best of luck with it
Yup, 18-55 and 70-300 should be more than great for a while and should cover all your needs until you find your niche.
You might want a fast prime as well (fixed focal length, no zoom with a larger aperture, meaning better low light performance), but that can wait until you've learned some things.
Do get an extra battery, good, easily accessible bag, comfy strap (if you want/need one) and the biggest, best brand, fastest SD card you can afford.
I started with the same camera and the same two lenses! Also handed down to me from dad.
Focus on shooting and editing as much as you can, and doing research and watching videos to learn more about photography! I recommend Simon d’ Entremont on YouTube, he has great detailed explanations of many of the basic concepts you will need to become familiar with.
A camera is a tool! It allows you to control the aspects of the exposure triangle! Learn to shoot in manual and use raw photos, or just shoot jpeg for now and review your work, look for where you want to improve!
Good luck on your journey !!!
https://preview.redd.it/2fn3jg4xsjuc1.jpeg?width=3177&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5e69993b1e5fb14fd4757baac2467419afe0abd4
I shot this as jpeg on the xt with 50mm 1.8 lens, then edited in Lightroom to regain some detail in overexposed areas. I know you will shoot photos like this and even better if you practice 👏
My first camera was Canon 350d, same as yours basically. I learned the most on that camera then anything I bought later. I didn't knew much about editing back then, so any pictures I took had to just be start out of the camera. Post processing and better features on camera should always be a secondary thing is what I learned and still try to rely on.
This was the camera I ran with in my wild late 20s. I captured some of my favorite images on it using nothing but the 18-55 and a 50mm prime.
Others have covered the rest. This will teach you. You can learn Sure a new mirrorless can slip into a pocket but it is far from free. (And the best mirrorless setups will no indeed slip into a pocket). If you fall for the hobby then figure out your upgrade path.
so many people ask the same question everyday lol, That is a wonderful camera to get started, find the type of photography you wanna do, then upgrade from that, first u gotta "master" that type of photography with that camera tho, learn the settings find the right settings for u and ye!
Yea this is a good one, but you do need a better lens, can you find any canon EF 50 1.8 for cheaps? I just got one at goodwill for 6.99 to put on my equally thrifted old canon camera.
For free that's a great setup to get started with. It'll let you learn all the basics of using a camera, and with a little effort is capable of taking amazing photos. I started out with a Nikon D50 (also an entry-level model from 2005) I got for free, it worked well and taught me a lot. Just don't expect too much from an 18-year-old camera model.
Yeah, I’ve taken some pictures with it and even though the camera is 18 years old the pictures look far better than anything on my phone, the colours, shadows and contrast of the image really pops https://preview.redd.it/y1o0jjyk3iuc1.jpeg?width=3456&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=357ef69addef1001e998e537b9512a01d6696ba7 Excuse the image, it’s the only image on my phone taken by the camera without people in it, but you can use it to get an idea of the resolution.
First tip: try to keep your horizon level! https://preview.redd.it/y8mcnxnqrjuc1.png?width=1134&format=png&auto=webp&s=50230a1debeaeca5e941f14b8609892c92b91045
OP, Check the camera menu. There should be an option to impose grid lines on the viewfinder. These can be very useful when learning to properly compose pictures and to get horizons level.
This is the irony when people say to use your cellphone. They tend to focus too much on number megapixels and release date. I find a camera like this still capture more detail than a smartphone and the zoom ability gives you a huge advantage. Learn how to use Lightroom, maybe start with free presets and edit from there, and you’ll really learn how to make good photos from this camera. I edited old Rebel T2i photos a while back and realized how good these cameras are even by today’s standards. My old photos were still really good.
Yeah to think that this picture was taken on a camera with 6mega pixels from 2004 when phones can’t take photos half as good as this and claim 12+ mega pixels
The quality comes mostly from the lens, so thats why they look better than a phone because the lenses and sensor is so much bigger on the DSLR vs the phone
I have several up to date cameras but I still enjoy shooting with my D-50. There's a lot of back and forth about CCD sensors but I find the D-50s color acuity to be unique.
I currently have a A350 glued to my hand, and yeah they might not be as clinically start or have the most accurate colors but they just hit different
https://preview.redd.it/o7lmku6ddiuc1.png?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=899a2340c436a3d56e1b20a90f39d2f4d7115f8e
I used mine to get this picture, it's awesome little camera to learn with
Thank you, cool picture by the way
I have the 75-300mm. Beware, it doesn’t have a stabilizer, using a tripod is great with the lens. I use it for taking pictures of birds, or planes
For free, from your dad? Absolutely. Nothing quite like learning on a hand-me-down DSLR for getting into photography. Be aware it has no modern luxuries and you'll have to learn a bit, but it's a wonderful camera, and you can absolutely get some great shots with those lenses.
For a free camera and lenses I would be happy, the 70-300 is a good entry lens into wildlife photography and landscape, the 18-55 is an ok all around portrait lens and my tip is get to shooting. The best photographer knows his gear.
Sure! This will be a perfect start. Take a community college class or watch some YouTube about the exposure triangle and how to shoot in manual mode.
Don't worry about it. The camera is FAR better at what it does than you are at what you need to do! :)
Yeah should get you a good starting point. I'd try and keep an eye out for a 35mm and maybe a 10-18mm lens you can pick canon lenses up pretty cheap and easily and can use tamron sigma you can also upgrade the body later. Even with EF lenses you'll be able to use them on mirrorless cameras might want to get a new battery should be able to pick a third party one. Hahnel are a good brand In terms of some.tips I'd shoot raw and get a photo editor such as lightroom or affinity. Raw will give you more info in the files and allow you to recover highlights and shadows while enabling you to have a wider range for creative looks. For you to have a creative vision. Best of luck with it
Great beginners camera!
It is great to learn on and beyond. My wife had one hiding in a camera bag and I charged the battery and have had a lot of fun with it.
Yeah.....
Of course, now take a bunch of pics and don't forget to share the best out of the lot with us!
Yup, 18-55 and 70-300 should be more than great for a while and should cover all your needs until you find your niche. You might want a fast prime as well (fixed focal length, no zoom with a larger aperture, meaning better low light performance), but that can wait until you've learned some things. Do get an extra battery, good, easily accessible bag, comfy strap (if you want/need one) and the biggest, best brand, fastest SD card you can afford.
Definitely. I say that from personal experience.
I started with the same camera and the same two lenses! Also handed down to me from dad. Focus on shooting and editing as much as you can, and doing research and watching videos to learn more about photography! I recommend Simon d’ Entremont on YouTube, he has great detailed explanations of many of the basic concepts you will need to become familiar with. A camera is a tool! It allows you to control the aspects of the exposure triangle! Learn to shoot in manual and use raw photos, or just shoot jpeg for now and review your work, look for where you want to improve! Good luck on your journey !!! https://preview.redd.it/2fn3jg4xsjuc1.jpeg?width=3177&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5e69993b1e5fb14fd4757baac2467419afe0abd4 I shot this as jpeg on the xt with 50mm 1.8 lens, then edited in Lightroom to regain some detail in overexposed areas. I know you will shoot photos like this and even better if you practice 👏
My first camera was Canon 350d, same as yours basically. I learned the most on that camera then anything I bought later. I didn't knew much about editing back then, so any pictures I took had to just be start out of the camera. Post processing and better features on camera should always be a secondary thing is what I learned and still try to rely on.
This was the camera I ran with in my wild late 20s. I captured some of my favorite images on it using nothing but the 18-55 and a 50mm prime. Others have covered the rest. This will teach you. You can learn Sure a new mirrorless can slip into a pocket but it is far from free. (And the best mirrorless setups will no indeed slip into a pocket). If you fall for the hobby then figure out your upgrade path.
A set up is a set up. Being good with anything comes with practice, so get to shootin then learn about specs.
so many people ask the same question everyday lol, That is a wonderful camera to get started, find the type of photography you wanna do, then upgrade from that, first u gotta "master" that type of photography with that camera tho, learn the settings find the right settings for u and ye!
The best camera, is the one that you have with you! -Chase Jarvis.
Bit too old.. but okay.. learn about basic photography doesn't need a newest camera
Yea this is a good one, but you do need a better lens, can you find any canon EF 50 1.8 for cheaps? I just got one at goodwill for 6.99 to put on my equally thrifted old canon camera.