What is Macro Photography?

Macro photography is also called "close-up" photography. This genre of photography includes ratios that are the same size or larger than the subject really is.
Finding out your individual lens'macro ratio is fairly straightforward. Focus as close as you can on something and measure the measure the area you can see in the viewfinder. Next, calculate the number of times a slide frame (or negative - or digital sensor size) fits into that area. If the number is 10 then the macro ratio is 1:10.

Equipment

Fortunately, there are tons of different options available to photographers who want to try their hand at macro photography. Some are affordable enough for even the most tight budgets while others will deplete your bank account in two seconds. I'll go over all of your options in this article.

Lenses that have 'macro' capabilities

Not all of these lenses are "honest" macros, but many of today's lenses (particulary longer zooms) will allow you to zero in on smaller subjects. The math may not add up to "pure" macro photography; but the results are the same regardless. Supplementary Close Up Lenses. You can purchase a generic brand 70-300mm zoom lens that has a "macro" capability. This means that you can take pictures far away and then use your zoom (at the highest focal length -- i.e. 300mm) to focus on closeup subjects. When using these telephoto-macros, you'll want to pay attention to how far you should be away from the subject to keep the subject in focus. Some lenses will allow you to get inches from a subject while others require you to be at least one foot away to ensure maximum focus.

Filters

You can buy close-up filters for reasonable prices -- from about $20USD to $100USD, depending on the filter size. These "close up filters" work just like a regular filter (they screw on the top of your lens) and they respond like amagnifying glass. You can usuallyo purchase them in sets of three -- 1, 2 and 4. The great thing about closeup filters is that they don't interfere with camera functions such as auto focus and exposure. The one thing to note is that adding filters to any lens will decrease the amoutn of light reaching the film/digital sensor. There can also be a slight loss in image quality (which is the case with the majority of filters).

Extension Tubes

Extension tubes are just like the name implies -- they are tubes that go between the camera and the lens and they extend the lens' focal distance. You can find them in various lengths, including 12mm, 20mm, 25mm and 36mm. Like most accessories that come between the light and the lens and the sensor/film, they do lose light (usually between one to two stops). The advantage is that they are very affordable -- between $25 to $100USD.

Teleconverters

Using teleconverters is similar to extension tubes, only the amount of light loss is sometimes a little bit more.

What is Macro Photography?

Macro photography is also called "close-up" photography. This genre of photography includes ratios that are the same size or larger than the subject really is.
Finding out your individual lens'macro ratio is fairly straightforward. Focus as close as you can on something and measure the measure the area you can see in the viewfinder. Next, calculate the number of times a slide frame (or negative - or digital sensor size) fits into that area. If the number is 10 then the macro ratio is 1:10.

Equipment

Fortunately, there are tons of different options available to photographers who want to try their hand at macro photography. Some are affordable enough for even the most tight budgets while others will deplete your bank account in two seconds. I'll go over all of your options in this article.

Lenses that have 'macro' capabilities

Not all of these lenses are "honest" macros, but many of today's lenses (particulary longer zooms) will allow you to zero in on smaller subjects. The math may not add up to "pure" macro photography; but the results are the same regardless. Supplementary Close Up Lenses. You can purchase a generic brand 70-300mm zoom lens that has a "macro" capability. This means that you can take pictures far away and then use your zoom (at the highest focal length -- i.e. 300mm) to focus on closeup subjects. When using these telephoto-macros, you'll want to pay attention to how far you should be away from the subject to keep the subject in focus. Some lenses will allow you to get inches from a subject while others require you to be at least one foot away to ensure maximum focus.

Filters

You can buy close-up filters for reasonable prices -- from about $20USD to $100USD, depending on the filter size. These "close up filters" work just like a regular filter (they screw on the top of your lens) and they respond like amagnifying glass. You can usuallyo purchase them in sets of three -- 1, 2 and 4. The great thing about closeup filters is that they don't interfere with camera functions such as auto focus and exposure. The one thing to note is that adding filters to any lens will decrease the amoutn of light reaching the film/digital sensor. There can also be a slight loss in image quality (which is the case with the majority of filters).

Extension Tubes

Extension tubes are just like the name implies -- they are tubes that go between the camera and the lens and they extend the lens' focal distance. You can find them in various lengths, including 12mm, 20mm, 25mm and 36mm. Like most accessories that come between the light and the lens and the sensor/film, they do lose light (usually between one to two stops). The advantage is that they are very affordable -- between $25 to $100USD.

Teleconverters

Using teleconverters is similar to extension tubes, only the amount of light loss is sometimes a little bit more.