New to DSLR

[Davy Jones]

Hello,

A family member who used to be into photography just gave me her older DSLR camera. It is a Canon EOS 50D, which i think is from around 2008 or so. It came with its standard lense and 2 telephoto lenses

I dont know much about photography, so what are some tips from you all? I understand that i should shoot in RAW, and that i should pick up a macro lense (suggestions). Will this camera be any good even? or is it too old?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Diamond1]

That camera is fine for getting into photographing your reef. The lenses will be your biggest limiting factor. The kit lens will be a good place to start learning about how the camera functions work. A good 100mm macro lens would be a nice match for reef photography.

I like to shoot in either A/V (aperture priority) or full manual mode.
If you don't have a tripod get one. It will keep you camera steady while taking shots.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Will this camera be any good even? or is it too old?

If you look back at the cover of time, and national geographic, Vanity fair etc. they were using digital long before your camera was made.
You don't need need raw. A well exposed image is more important than being able to fix a poorly exposed one.

For a reef head, you'll want to look at how high the white balance can be adjusted on your camera. Set it as high as itll go and take a pic of the tank. If its too blue, yea you may need to adjust in Lightroom. If its too too too blue. you want a filter, and to stop using 32000 kelvin on the tank

Test the close focus on your lens, the distance of an object to the lens. A macro has a much coser focus.

 

[Davy Jones]

If you look back at the cover of time, and national geographic, Vanity fair etc. they were using digital long before your camera was made.
You don't need need raw. A well exposed image is more important than being able to fix a poorly exposed one.

For a reef head, you'll want to look at how high the white balance can be adjusted on your camera. Set it as high as itll go and take a pic of the tank. If its too blue, yea you may need to adjust in Lightroom. If its too too too blue. you want a filter, and to stop using 32000 kelvin on the tank

Test the close focus on your lens, the distance of an object to the lens. A macro has a much coser focus.

I figured out the programable mode on the camera in terms of iso and aperature, and it has a custom setting for white balance as well as a kelvin setting however i havent figured out how to actually set those figures.

Looked at macro lenses and holy shoot are they spendy. Probably not gonna go that route unless i can pick something up around the $200 mark at the very top end, id rather spend the money on stuff to go into the tank at that point haha

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I figured out the programable mode on the camera in terms of iso and aperature, and it has a custom setting for white balance as well as a kelvin setting however i havent figured out how to actually set those figu

yup, thats just practice pokin the buttons.

Looked at macro lenses and holy shoot are they spendy. Probably not gonna go that route unless i can pick something up around the $200 mark at the very top end, id rather spend the money on stuff to go into the tank at that point haha

lol Right?
Tamron and Tokina are the lowest priced. you can also look at manual focus(if that camera will take one) and an adapter.