11 votes

Why there are so few lenses with small minimum focus distance?

Because most interchangeable lens cameras typically use larger-format sensors than 1/2.3"-format. The close-focusing capability of most small-sensored compacts comes from the fact that small sensors ...
inkista's user avatar
  • 52k
9 votes

Why there are so few lenses with small minimum focus distance?

The focal length of a lens is a calculation made when the lens is imaging an object at infinity. This is a distance as far “as the eye can see” symbol ∞. As we focus on objects nearer than infinity, ...
Alan Marcus's user avatar
  • 39.1k
9 votes
Accepted

Why there are so few lenses with small minimum focus distance?

I've found that for interchangeable lens camera lenses (at least for Olympus micro for thirds lenses) the minimal focus distance in the specs is measured from the sensor, while for compact cameras ...
Sergii Dymchenko's user avatar
7 votes
Accepted

What is the difference between a 100mm lens and 100mm macro lens?

You can get much closer to your subject with a lens designed as a macro lens. In your example #1, the 100 mm f/2 EF lens can only focus on subjects >3 ft away from the imaging sensor. In contrast the ...
PGnome's user avatar
  • 1,059
6 votes
Accepted

Tamron or Sigma 70-300mm for Nikon ?

Neither of those lenses are really what most macro specialists would consider a macro lens. For a lens to be considered a true macro lens it should be able to project a life sized image of the subject ...
Michael C's user avatar
  • 175k
5 votes
Accepted

Largest physical aperture lens that focuses to 0.5m

The 180mm F/2.8 EX DG OS HSM APO Macro has in fact the largest diameter among lenses which focus at 50cm or less. 64mm as you suggested. This search was done internally on my database at Neocamera ...
Itai's user avatar
  • 103k
5 votes

Macro photography of the human eye

From what I can gather, the average adult human iris diameter is about 12mm, so superimposing that onto your sensor size (about 22mm by 15mm) gives you an idea of what you'll get through a 1:1 lens ...
junkyardsparkle's user avatar
5 votes

Can we shoot normal pictures using a macro lens?

Macro lenses are optimized for close-up photography and small f-stops (because depth of field is reduced the closer you get to a subject, so small f-stops (larger numbers) are usually required). They ...
Andrew Sharpe's user avatar
5 votes

Can I photograph flowers with macro lenses shorter than 70mm?

When talking about macro lenses I think you'll find that they are most typically referring to using it at its highest magnification, typically 1:1. Simply, 1:1 magnification means your subject will be ...
Dan Wolfgang's user avatar
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5 votes
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Using closeup filter together with a macro lens

You can get pretty darn close to an object with 68mm of extension tube & a regular 50mm lens. Any shorter & the lens will actually appear to focus inside itself, so you end up pushing your ...
Tetsujin's user avatar
  • 23.2k
5 votes
Accepted

Why is Canon's 17cm focus distance macro, while 16cm focus distance is not macro?

From Canon's website, emphasis added by me. The 24mm EF-S f/2.8: Minimum focusing distance of 0.5 ft./0.16 m; maximum magnification of x0.27. The RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM: A 0.5x ...
mattdm's user avatar
  • 143k
5 votes
Accepted

What specifications does a macro lens need for a Thermal Seek CompactPro?

You need a ZnSe convex or planoconvex lens. Placing it in front of your existing lens will allow it to focus closer. Search for "ZnSe lens" on your favorite shopping sites. Many are listed ...
xiota's user avatar
  • 27k
4 votes

Can I photograph flowers with macro lenses shorter than 70mm?

You are right that it is possible to shade the flower but it's not that difficult to work around if that is what you have. You can always add artificial light or buy a lens with integrated LEDs such ...
Itai's user avatar
  • 103k
4 votes
Accepted

Does one get more detail beyond the minimum focus distance of a macro lens?

The reason that Maximum Magnification of any lens, including a 1:1 Macro lens, is at the Minimum Focus Distance is because that is as close as you can be to the subject and still be able to bring the ...
Michael C's user avatar
  • 175k
4 votes
Accepted

What can I expect with stacked lenses for extreme macro photography?

Take a look at this: What kind of lens to photograph a 1 mm object? In terms of the ratio you will get, I am posting @scottbb comment: A reversed 20mm mounted on a 200mm telephoto mounted on the ...
Rafael's user avatar
  • 24.7k
4 votes
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How to take macro photos of microscopy?

Consider using a microscope-camera adapter. You can search your favorite auction site for "microscope camera nikon adapter". I just wanted to double check my reducing set-up before I went ahead and ...
xiota's user avatar
  • 27k
3 votes
Accepted

Will a Canon MP-E 65 provide more depth of field than a reversed lens?

Can the MP-E 65 achieve a greater depth of field at the same magnification than a stopped down reversed lens? Probably not much in the center of the frame. Where the big advantage of the purpose ...
Michael C's user avatar
  • 175k
3 votes

Macro photography of the human eye

A 1:1 macro lens such as the EF 100mm f/2.8 IS Macro will get you very close, but might not get you quite all of the way to where you want to be. There's a unique lens that will give you much more ...
Michael C's user avatar
  • 175k
3 votes

Largest physical aperture lens that focuses to 0.5m

Your 85mm f1.4 can work in this close if you mount a close-up lens. These are also called close-up filter. They come in different powers. I think you should try a +3. You can test, go to the drugstore ...
Alan Marcus's user avatar
  • 39.1k
3 votes

What's the technique to take pictures of sea life at the aquarium, while avoiding flash?

The thick acrylic seems to do something optically... I had the best luck making sure I shoot perpendicular to the surface. If I shoot off 90 degrees, I had little hope of getting the focus right at ...
inkista's user avatar
  • 52k
3 votes

What's the technique to take pictures of sea life at the aquarium, while avoiding flash?

A few thoughts come to mind: higher ISO (I am not familiar with the Olympus, but my Canon is still perfectly fine at 3200) use a faster lens use a tripod (less/no motion blur) shoot raw so you can ...
Ray Oei's user avatar
  • 141
3 votes
Accepted

Do modern IF Macro lenses have true constant apertures?

When a lens is imaging an object that is that is an infinite distance away, we measure the distance, lens to film/sensor and pronounce this measurement distance to be the focal length. Thus if we ...
Alan Marcus's user avatar
  • 39.1k
3 votes

Macro lens: IF or Extending Barrel?

Keep in mind that the focus distance is measured from the sensor plane to the subject. The distance from the front of the lens to the subject is called the working distance. You might have two lenses ...
Michael C's user avatar
  • 175k
3 votes

How can I know if a lens can handle a camera's resolution?

By now, you've likely discovered that both lenses are capable of providing adequate image resolution on the D810. Only technique and execution are going to hold one back in this area. One thing not ...
meklarian's user avatar
  • 919
3 votes

Which DSLR macro setup to buy for scanning negatives?

One thing to watch out for - most lenses use a curved area of focus rather a planar one. For example, if you have your focus set at 1m, everything in 1m radius should be in focus, which is a curved ...
Jeremy S.'s user avatar
  • 563
3 votes
Accepted

Options for MACRO 1:1 with Built in Motor

Nikon's macro lens lineup lists the following non-DX (that is, full frame), 1:1 lenses with built-in motor (AF-S): AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED The ...
scottbb's user avatar
  • 32.7k
3 votes

Using macro lenses for portrait photography/videography IS

When doing portraits, working in too close induces facial distortion. What happens is, the nose reproduces too large and the ears too small. Some like this artistic approach however it’s unlikely that ...
Alan Marcus's user avatar
  • 39.1k
3 votes

Using closeup filter together with a macro lens

Most closeup lenses (filters) add some aberration, both chromatic and spherical. That said, most macro subjects are rarely completely planar, so some parts would always be out of focus. Extension ...
DrMoishe Pippik's user avatar
3 votes

Using closeup filter together with a macro lens

No real harm if you experiment and mount a supplemental close-up atop your macro. Most quality close-ups are two element achromatic lenses (free of color error). Close-up's get a bad reputation that ...
Alan Marcus's user avatar
  • 39.1k
3 votes

What are some tips for using a macro lens for non-macro photography?

If your lens can focus to infinity or a far far point, then the lens should also be usable as a normal lens. Since you want a big depth of field in macro you close the aperture and it is possible to ...
Horitsu's user avatar
  • 565

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