What Is a Macro Lens?
Macro lenses are specialized camera lenses optically optimized to handle very close focal distances, allowing you to capture sharp, detailed images of microscopic subjects.
They typically have a magnification of 1:1 and a minimum focusing distance of around 30 cm.
Unlike other lenses, macro offers a high reproduction ratio.
This means that the ratio of the size of the subject on the sensor surface is equal to or greater than the actual size of the subject.
Macro lenses are primarily used for close-up photography.
Uses of Macro Lenses
Macro lenses can be used in a variety of situations.
It is ideal for photographing newborns to capture small details such as the baby’s eyelashes, fingers, and toes.
This lens is also ideal for product photography.
The macro lens can also be used as a portrait lens.
It captures details and maintains focus correctly, even when standing very close to the subject.
It can also be used for portraiture as it captures an ideal focal length for portraits.
Principles of Macro Lenses
Macro lenses also have a range of focal lengths.
Because macro photography is done at very close focal lengths, the best macro lenses are generally long-barreled, usually 40-60 mm or less.
45-65mm – The best macro lens focal lengths for product photography, small subjects that can be approached without fear, and scenes that require a natural background perspective.
90-105mm – Macro lens focal length ideal for shooting insects, small animals, flowers, plants, and other small subjects that can still be photographed from a comfortable distance.
150-200mm – This is the best macro lens focal length for capturing insects and other small subjects that need to be shot farther away while still maintaining the closest focal length.
Variable focal length – the best macro lens focal length for multipurpose macro photography.
Ideally, a macro lens should be primed. Macro lenses come in both zoom and prime varieties, but primes are better if you want 1:1 magnification.
Macro Lenses for Smartphones
Macro lenses are unique in their ability to capture the small world in large, clear images. Although smartphone camera technology has advanced remarkably in recent years, it still cannot compete with macro lenses for SLR cameras. But did you know that there are macro lenses that can be attached externally to smartphones as well?
Not only are they compact and portable, but there are also many models that can be easily attached with a clip. Not only that, but it is surprising that macro lenses for smartphones have recently appeared in 100-yen uniform stores as well.
There is a wide range of choices, and while the plastic lenses sold at the aforementioned 100-yen uniform stores are plastic lenses, glass lenses with a luxurious feel and high resolution are also available from various manufacturers.
All models can be attached to the lens with a clip, making it easy, but be aware that misalignment may occur. Misalignment may cause vignetting in the periphery, resulting in a darker image.
If vignetting occurs, it can be corrected by cropping the image, but be careful not to misalign the lens because the image size will be reduced.
Using a Macro Lens
Macro lenses are often misunderstood as lenses that allow you to get closer to the subject, but it is important to understand that a macro lens is a lens that allows you to take a large picture of the subject, not a lens that allows you to get closer to the subject.
One of the reasons for this misunderstanding is a lack of understanding of image magnification. Magnification is the ratio between the size of the image on the imaging surface (CMOS image sensors are the most common in recent years) and the actual size of the subject. Unlike telephoto lenses, most macro lenses have an image magnification of 0.5~1x. Serious photographers often choose equal magnification (1:1).
It is important to note that macro lenses can increase image magnification and are not lenses that allow you to get close.