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Photography Question 

Leah M. Valenzuela
 

What is macro


Hello I am very new to this and was wondering if anyone can help me understand what macro is? thank you


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March 28, 2007

 

Peter W. Marks
  Hi Leah. A Macro lenses is a special close-up len that is sometimes described as one that will focus so closely on a small object (a bee on a flower for instance) that it will appear as a life-size image on a 4"x6" print. These lenses can be very expensive but there are other ways of obtaining a similar effect using 'close-up' converters, 'extension tubes' etc.
Hope this helps. Do a google search on "what is a macro lens" and you will probably get more information than you need!

Pete


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March 28, 2007

 

Leah M. Valenzuela
  thank you very much pete


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March 28, 2007

 

Leah M. Valenzuela
  do the macro attachment lenses do a good job?


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March 28, 2007

 
- Dennis Flanagan

BetterPhoto Member
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  For the most part, if you buy cheap, you get cheap. If there is one part of photography not to scrimp on, it's your optics. I fixed focal length lens if you want to shoot a lot of macro (micro) work.


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March 28, 2007

 

Christopher A. Vedros
  Pete's explanation is very close, but actually, a true macro lens will give a life-size, or 1:1 reproduction of the subject on the negative (or digital sensor).

So if you were shooting 35mm film, and you took a 1:1 macro shot of a penny, then placed the penny next to the image on the developed negative, both pennies would be the same size.

Not all macro lenses are very expensive. You can get a very good macro lens like the Sigma 105mm f/2.8EX for under $400. Like Dennis said, if you buy cheap, you get cheap. The cheapest option, closeup attachment filters, will give the lowest quality. Next would be extension tubes, which are a little more expensive and can give very good results when used with a good lens. True macro lenses are the next more expensive option, but will give the best results.

Many zoom lenses will say that they have "macro capabilities", which usually means that they can focus closer to the subject, but they usually will give a 1:2, or half-size reproduction, rather than a true 1:1 life-size reproduction.

Chris Vedros


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March 28, 2007

 

John H. Siskin
 
 
  Acusative
Acusative

John H. Siskin

 
 
Hi Leah,
If you really want to get close you can attach your camera to a microscope: http://www.betterphoto.com/article.php?id=185. One other thing that I find interesting is that there are some old large format lenses that can be adapted to the digital camera, since they have the same threads as microscope lenses. Some of them are quite good and some are reasonably priced, few are both. You might check out the Micro-Tessar from Bausch and Lomb, available in a couple of focal lengths. These are cheap, pretty good and threaded for the microscope. There are adapters for microscope lenses to Canon and Nikon mounts.
Thanks! John Siskin


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March 28, 2007

 

Leah M. Valenzuela
 
 
 
First off thank you gus for you comments and sec im goign to try and post a picture of soemthign I have been wonderign what they are?


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March 28, 2007

 

John H. Siskin
 
 
  Susan's Bottle
Susan's Bottle

John H. Siskin

 
 
These are diopters, they are like reading glasses for your camera. The allow you to take pictures of significantly smaller things than you otherwise could. They have some optical problems, but on the whole do a good job easily and cheaply. You need a set that fits into the threads on the front of your camera lens. There are quite a few sizes of lenses. You can also use them as lenses on a large format camera, check out: http://www.siskinphoto.com/magazine1a.html.
Thanks, John Siskin


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March 28, 2007

 

Michael A. Bielat
  I bought a set of those as a cheap alternative to macro...

Even though mine cost about $50, it was enough.
I use them very little... but they DO come in handy when I do need them. I often throw them on when I am at a wedding and get some close ups of the wedding rings and little details such as that. Also good for a little flower pic here or there...

If you want to be a flower photographer then do not skimp out and get a decent macro lens


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March 29, 2007

 
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