Home › Forums › Photography Q&A › Macro Lens
- This topic has 7 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 6 months ago by Allison Estabrook.
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August 12, 2022 at 8:30 pm #71787Allison EstabrookParticipant
Hi! This macro lens was given to me recently. It’s focal distance isn’t really much different than my regular wide angle lens, and I was wondering: is this a good macro lens? Would anyone suggest a different macro lens for extremely close up photography?
Thank you!
August 13, 2022 at 6:47 am #71788David FrazerParticipantTechnically that is not a macro lens, but as long as you shoot near the minimum focus distance I’m sure you can get some really nice close-up shots! I am curious just how close-up you mean when you say “extremely close up”. Here is a post by @buddingphotographer who takes amazing pictures of snowflakes. There you will find links to quite a few other posts with more explanations.
Getting a set of extension tubes is probably the cheapest and easiest way to get into “real” macro photography. The cheaper ones only allow for manual focus (which can be quite tricky when hand-held) or you can pay a bit more and get some that will allow for auto-focus and auto-exposure.
Here are some examples: Canon manual (15 US$) Canon auto (40 US$)
for Nikon: manual (15 US$) auto (80 US$)- This reply was modified 1 year, 7 months ago by David Frazer.
August 13, 2022 at 1:30 pm #71790Ezra MorleyModeratorYep, I can imagine a 24mm would be fun to play around with! @dfrazer’s suggestion is a good one if you want to experiment with macro. Another option if you want to go “super macro”, is to try reversing the lens! 24mm is wide enough that it should give you some pretty decent close-ups reversed. You might even be able to reverse and use extension tubes for maximum effect if you still need more magnification. 🙂 You can get a cheap reversing ring for Canon at B&H for example. (Make sure you get one that fits the filter ring diameter of the lens: 52mm in this case).
Have fun!
August 13, 2022 at 9:02 pm #71800Allison EstabrookParticipantThank you so much @dfrazer and @buddingphotographer! Woah! I didn’t realize you could reverse the lens. Would that be dangerous – could dirt get inside of the lens when it’s reversed?
August 14, 2022 at 7:07 am #71801David FrazerParticipantYes, there is definitely a danger of getting dirt inside the lens when reversed. I would only recommend doing it in a controlled environment and place a rear lens cap on when not in use.
August 14, 2022 at 7:49 am #71802Allison EstabrookParticipantOkay! That’s good to know. Thank you!
September 2, 2022 at 4:09 pm #72157Lydia BennettKeymaster@musicgal, James touched on this topic in this month’s webinar, and shared a link to an article that helps explain what makes a macro lens macro. 🙂 Here’s the replay if you didn’t catch it! Start at 01:16:20.
September 2, 2022 at 5:58 pm #72159Allison EstabrookParticipantThank you @lenspirationlydia!
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