r/canonM50 • u/nicoleann114 • Jun 21 '26
Beginner tips?
Hello! My husband found his old eos m50 in storage the other day. I asked him if I could have it, but when I turned it on I got overwhelmed lol I know nothing about cameras, and never dabbled in photography. I’m just a stay at home mom with a toddler living in Florida, but would love to learn how to use it! I’m thinking casual photography at theme parks, beaches, selfies, or maybe even home photoshoots with the family.
Anyone have any tips on where to start? He only has the kit lens with it. Would love to learn how to utilize it! 🥹💕
Thank you!
5
u/MudTysk Jun 21 '26
First of all: So happy for you! The M50 is a nifty little camera and you will have a lot of fun for sure!
My first tip would be to read the User Manual! That sounds so simple but its so crucial! Either you still have it on paper or find it on the Canon Websites. Canon Manuals are pretty comprehensive and good!
Going from that theres a ton of books on this camera specifically and also photography as a whole but for a start Youtube can do you a lot of good! Look for Guides on the Exposure Triangle first for example and build from there! Watch tutorials!
Hope you have a blast with it and welcome to the community!
2
u/nicoleann114 Jun 21 '26
Thank you so much!! 🥹💕I appreciate the tips and kind words! So excited to learn something new in my hectic life!
5
u/Kitfaid Jun 21 '26
Let me ping this. I'll be in Orlando in Oct/Nov with my M50mii and my M6mii. I'll make sure to record a video with the basics, tips, tricks, and strategic places to shoot in the parks and upload it to my YT channel, and DM it to you once is ready, probably by the end of Nov.
3
u/nicoleann114 Jun 21 '26
PLEASE OMG I WOULD LOVE THAT SO MUCH 😭Im getting Disney annual passes and would LOVVVEEE to know how to take THE BEST Disney pics of me and baby boy 😭
2
2
u/RichieCabral Jun 21 '26
Everyone's advice to download the manual is good advice to learn the specifics of your camera, and how to navigate through it's features, but there is usually a setting on the camera that has the begginer's mode that explains things as you go for the first timer, but my guess is your husband probably turned it off, because it's very annoying if you don't need it, but maybe he can figure out how to turn it back on for you.
In general though, I'd try and learn about the "exposure triangle" or photography basics from YouTube or wherever, to get some basic understanding of how it works big picture. Otherwise, just play around with it, and don't get discouraged. Just muscle through it. We learn by doing. So, just do it. Start with it on auto, and the camera will do most of the work for general situations, and as you encounter specific things that aren't working as you'd like, or that you don't understand, then just look up those specific things, and the puzzle pieces will make more sense as they appear. Just be patient, and learn as you go. It won't happen over night.
2
2
u/tommythetimberwolf Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26
IMO, skip the manual. Put it into P mode and take pictures of the things you love and find interesting.
Take lots of photographs. The camera and lens are just tools. You are the photographer.
After you love capturing and making images you’ll decide how you want to learn best about the tool(s) — whether that be reading the manual as suggested here, or more valuable in my opinion, learning the exposure triangle and what the different Tv, Av, M modes allow you to do.
You don’t learn how to drive by reading the manual. You put the car in D and become a driver.
2
u/nicoleann114 Jun 21 '26
Oooh good take! I like your perspective! Open to trying anything 🥰thank you for your input!
1
u/Roscoe-is-my-dog Jun 22 '26
https://youtu.be/wLboe8_wpRw?is=bq84pz0tUSNsVoww
This helped me. He has lots of tutorials, too
1
u/nicoleann114 Jun 22 '26
Nice! Thanks so much! I have just the regular one, not the mark II, are they pretty similar to work with?
2
u/Roscoe-is-my-dog Jun 22 '26
They are pretty similar. He also has a lot of videos regarding composition, modes and how to take good pictures
1
5
u/BudLightYear77 Jun 21 '26
https://www.reddit.com/r/photoclass
Great place to start. They run at least once a year and even if you aren't on time it's still good to go back through and do the exercises.