Well, unlike conventional camera lenses which boast close focusing capabilities, flat field macro lenses deliver edge-to-edge detail of the subject in wider apertures, which is something many conventional lenses struggle with even in smaller apertures. You might get a decent close up with a conventional length, but macro lenses perform much better and therefore are used for capturing dramatic close ups. Macro lens photography is often used for shooting products. In product photography you will likely find a macro lens used to create images of jewellery, food products, beauty products, eye glasses, and fashion or hair accessories, as it involves taking photos of very small subjects.
Choosing the best camera lens for macro photography depends on the type of subject you will be shooting most frequently. For general macro photography, a 50mm to 60mm lens will suffice, but many photographers choose a focal length of mm to give a little extra working length between the lens and the subject. Depth of field can be very shallow when focusing in closely and you may find you need to use a smaller aperture than you first imagined.
This lengthens your shutter speed, so it may be a good idea to set your camera on a tripod. Tripod setups can help you achieve sharper images in macro lens photography. For the same reason, you should also try to release the shutter without touching the camera; use a self timer or remote release.
Another tip is that although they are used most frequently for close up photography, macro lenses are an excellent bit of camera kit for taking a variety of images.
For example a mm focal length can shoot close up or shoot from a distance and has a great depth of field, allowing for a blurry background and sharp foreground. Being able to use a longer shutter speed will also let more light in, which is useful when shooting in darker places e. A rail system can be attached to a tripod to help get more of a subject in focus when used with the focus stacking technique.
Another thing that will help tremendously in avoiding camera shake is not physically touching the camera before taking the picture. There are several ways to do this. The most common way is with a cable shutter release for example, the Canon TCN3. Shutter releases are inexpensive, easy to use, and plug right into your camera body so that you can fire the shutter without touching the camera. If your camera can be controlled by your phone via WiFi, that is another option available with most newer models.
If you are in autofocus, the lens may need a second to hunt for focus prior to opening the shutter. Good lighting is one of the most important factors in taking good photos and macro photography is no exception. But getting sufficient light in macro photography can be a bit of a challenge. When conditions are ideal, natural light can produce beautifully lit images. At times when the sun is low on the horizon, backlighting can look amazing as it streams through the wings of an insect or the petals of a flower.
But for all of its benefits, working with natural light can be exceptionally difficult in macro photography. The narrow apertures you need to keep your subject in focus can make it tough to get enough light on your sensor and you are always at the mercy of changing light conditions and movement of your subject.
Working with only natural light for macro photography can be frustrating and make things a little tough. Fortunately, there are some solutions! LED ring lights can be a simple and affordable solution to macro lighting issues.
They usually fit on the end of your lens, or around your lens, and can provide nice, even light over a subject.
While they are not as powerful as a typical flash, they are an effective continuous light source that is easy to use. Something to consider when using ring lights in macro photography is that the ring itself can often appear in reflective surfaces like a shiny shell or eyes of an insect.
While this effect can add some interest to a subject, it can also be distracting if it shows up in unwanted areas of an image. The long barrel of the Venus Optics Laowa 24mm Canon EF Mount Cine-Mod Probe Lens is useful for documenting habitats and the insides of products for compelling results without having to be too close to the subject. The 20mm diameter lens tip is small enough to not completely overshadow a small subject, making lighting a tiny object much easier.
The lens comes with a built-in LED ring light. You can also rent these in the non-cine version for Sony E mount and Nikon F mount. The Venus Optics Laowa probe lens is unique in that it not only can insert itself into habitats and water but it also has a built-in LED at its tip!
Another option for lighting in macro photography is to use a traditional flash, either on or off the camera. Flashes have the benefit of being extremely powerful, allowing you to very easily produce enough light to illuminate your subject. The downside? Sometimes they are too powerful. Diffusers can help cut down on some of that light and give you the effect you are looking for.
Using off-camera flash in macro photography allows you to control the direction from which the light is hitting your subject so that you have complete control of the image.
Both have sets of adapters rings for almost any sized macro lens. Due to the magnified nature of macro photography, nailing focus is incredibly important. A macro lens will magnify not only the tiny details of your subject but also any mistakes you make! When your subjects are this tiny, sometimes the smallest adjustment in focus can be the difference between a photo that is ready to be printed and hung on your wall or one that automatically goes to the trash bin. You will have a very small margin of error in focus for these kinds of shots.
Often a lens will hunt around endlessly while it tries to lock focus. Manual focus allows you to select, with extreme precision, exactly where you want your focus point to be.
This gives you more control when taking your photos. When relying on AF, make sure you know the difference between a Focus Area and a Focus Point — and how to set your point exactly where it needs to be.
It renders subjects up to 5x life-size magnification. On a full frame sensor camera you can fill the frame with a grain of rice in vivid detail. It is strictly manual focus only and comes with a tripod support foot for attaching to tripods and rail systems. This lens is designed for scientific imagery as well as creative macro applications. Since this is a dedicated macro lens, it cannot focus more than a few centimeters away from the front element, therefore it is not recommended for portraits or anything other than macro work.
An example of what the Canon 65mm MP-E can do. Butterfly wings taken by Alexandria Huff. This lens is ideal for close-ups, fine art, nature, and portraits. This lens has a minimum focus distance of It is also available in a Canon Mount. While they can be a little tricky to learn to use, the images they produce are downright stunning — plus they double as great portraits lenses with the exception of the MP-E, which is for extreme closeup work only.
Macro photography is great for people who have been doing photography for a little while but want a new challenge. This post has been updated to reflect recent macro recommendations. I just started following you on facebook. Thanks a lot for such a great article. I am so thankful that you took the time to create such a detailed post about macro photography. Macro lenses are great for any photographer, but I still have some learning left before purchasing one myself — your blog has definitely helped me learn more!
With that said, give Lensfinder a look and see if you can find the macro lens for you! Go through our Day Creative Eye Challenge and discover the long last secrets to finding awesome shots, anywhere, anytime with any camera. Looking for the best canvas prints? Check this out. ON Demand. Why Everyone Needs a Macro Lens. Facebook Twitter. Photo Repair Pro.
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