Understanding and Buying a Macro Lens
I guess I should make this a two parter. The first post trying to explain a Macro lens and the second on my experience buying one.
First of all, I am no professional. What I am writing here is based on my experience and meant to guide other newcomers.
So, whats a macro lens? In simple terms its a lens that will let you take a picture where the size of the image on the film, negative, or CCD (for digital camers) is the same as that as the size of the object. This is called a 1:1 magnification. Some people will say a 1:2 magnifacation is also a macro (purists disagree). A 1:2 means the image on film is half the real size of the object.
Now to clear any confusion about image and object size. Please focus on the size of the image on the film, negative, or CC. What this means is that if you take a picture of a coin that is 10mm wide then it will be 10mm wide on the 35mm film and it will be 10mm wide. Or if yu have a digital camera for example a Minolta 7D, then its CCD is 23.5 x 15.7. So the 10mm wide coin will take 10 of the 23.5mm of the CCD.
So the 10mm coin takes up 10/23.5 of the width of your CCD. So when you print this picture on a 4x6 you will see a coin that is (10/23.5)x6 = 2.5 (approx). So this way you see a 10mm object as being much larger when coverted to print media.
A macro lens specializes in giving you high quality 1:1 magnification.
Another aspect of a macro lens is its focal length. The shorter the focal length, 28mm, 50mm etc the wider the view, but also implies that you have to get that much closer to the subject. Maybe you dont want to be so close to a bee, or another critter that wont sting, but will simply fly away because of your proximity.
So in order to make your life a little easier gettng a Macro lens with a 100mm or more focal lenth is probably a good idea. Of course greater the focal length higher the price and also potentially slower lens.
Zoom macro lenses. Be warned about several zoom lenses out there that classify themselves as a macro lens. They are usaully like a 28 - 70 mm macro. But if you look at their specs you will see that the magnification on most of these lens are 1:2, 1:3, or even as low as 1:4. So don't be fooled. If you want a macro lens, make sure the specs say, magnification 1:1.
So now I am off to see out a macro lens with a 1:1 magnification and a 100mm focal length.
First of all, I am no professional. What I am writing here is based on my experience and meant to guide other newcomers.
So, whats a macro lens? In simple terms its a lens that will let you take a picture where the size of the image on the film, negative, or CCD (for digital camers) is the same as that as the size of the object. This is called a 1:1 magnification. Some people will say a 1:2 magnifacation is also a macro (purists disagree). A 1:2 means the image on film is half the real size of the object.
Now to clear any confusion about image and object size. Please focus on the size of the image on the film, negative, or CC. What this means is that if you take a picture of a coin that is 10mm wide then it will be 10mm wide on the 35mm film and it will be 10mm wide. Or if yu have a digital camera for example a Minolta 7D, then its CCD is 23.5 x 15.7. So the 10mm wide coin will take 10 of the 23.5mm of the CCD.
So the 10mm coin takes up 10/23.5 of the width of your CCD. So when you print this picture on a 4x6 you will see a coin that is (10/23.5)x6 = 2.5 (approx). So this way you see a 10mm object as being much larger when coverted to print media.
A macro lens specializes in giving you high quality 1:1 magnification.
Another aspect of a macro lens is its focal length. The shorter the focal length, 28mm, 50mm etc the wider the view, but also implies that you have to get that much closer to the subject. Maybe you dont want to be so close to a bee, or another critter that wont sting, but will simply fly away because of your proximity.
So in order to make your life a little easier gettng a Macro lens with a 100mm or more focal lenth is probably a good idea. Of course greater the focal length higher the price and also potentially slower lens.
Zoom macro lenses. Be warned about several zoom lenses out there that classify themselves as a macro lens. They are usaully like a 28 - 70 mm macro. But if you look at their specs you will see that the magnification on most of these lens are 1:2, 1:3, or even as low as 1:4. So don't be fooled. If you want a macro lens, make sure the specs say, magnification 1:1.
So now I am off to see out a macro lens with a 1:1 magnification and a 100mm focal length.
posted by Gussa Waala at 9:06 AM
5 Comments:
Hi, I am currently learning to improve my photography skills, and found your macro lens info really useful. Are you a pro photographer?
Hope to read more advise about photography on your blog.
thanks for sharing.
Nelly
I am as wel learning photography. Your blog helped me a lot to understand more about macro lens.
Thanks a lot.
-Roopak
Thanks dude. Nice job. simple to understand. straight to the point and very useful ;)
sbc.
Thanks for simplifying things. You made it where an old dog like me understood. Great Job! Keep the advice coming. It is appreciated.
Kudos, great way to explain for us that are startinh :)
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