 Heather Harpel |
Questions About Macro Okay, I am a beginner with digital photography, I've had a Minolta Dimage Z2 for less than a year. I went from a point and shoot 35 to the Z2 and there is a lot that I don't know. I feel dumb admitting this, but there was a lot in the manual that I didn't understand. Particularly everything about Macro. I read a lot about it here at BetterPhoto, and I know that there is a Macro setting on the Z2, but I also read about buying Macro lenses. I don't understand any of it. Can someone explain what Macro is in easy to understand terms?
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Karma Wilson |
Macro just means "really close" basically. It is all a bit confusing. First of all, lenses can only be changed on a SLR type camera where you can swap out your lenses depending on what your needs for a photo might be. True Macro lenses on an SLR camera can focus quite close and achieve what is called 1:1 magnification. This means that the size of what is being photographed will be true to life on the negative. In other words a penny would be the size of an actual penny on the negative (not the print but the film itself). On cameras that are not SLR (like your dimage Z2) there is what is called a "macro mode". If you put the camera in this mode it will allow you to focus more closely. Usually with non-slr cameras the working distance is very close. That means you have to get RIGHT NEXT to your subject--sometimes inches away--to get a macro shot. This can make composing a macro difficult and it can make photographing insects VERY challenging. The Dimage Z2 has 1:2 macro capability. This means that the final picture will be 1/2 life size on the negative (actually the sensor because this is a digital camera). In other words--pretty close but not quite as close as "true macro". Now you can't change lenses but you might be able to use screw on filters. These are little circles of glass that screw onto the front of your lens. You have the option of getting a "close up" filter to put on your lens. This would let you focus even more closely in your macro mode than you can now and get perhaps a 1:1 life size macro. I don't know if the Dimage Z2 accepts filters or not. My Fuji Finepix S5000 could. These aren't optimal because your image quality goes down a little, but they are used and loved by many and can get good results. With the Fuji I needed to order a special type of close up filter made specifically for my camera. Your camera probably offers something similar. Does this answer your question? The best idea for you now is plop the camera in macro mode and check it out! Macros are very fun and can offer hours of photo entertainment. Karma
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Heather Harpel |
Thanks so much, Karma! I really appreciate the help. You explained it so clearly, I understood everything and ran outside at once to try! I don't have much around right now to try to shoot in Macro mode, but I took a few shots of some flowers and leaves outside in my yard and it was fun. Thanks for opening up a whole new aspect of photography to me.
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