Macro Lens

[fletch]

I'm confused about macro lenses. I get that they have closer min focusing distances so you can focus on small things very close to the lens and that they project an image onto the sensor the same size as it is in front.

My question is what happens if you use one in general use? Does't it not work at all or can you use like an normal prime lens? Is there a max focusing distance or can you focus on infinity like a standard lens?

Basically how does a macro lens work if your not taking Macro type pictures?

[sk66]

Generally they work just like any other high quality lens. Macro lenses tend to be VERY sharp and rather fast. They work quite well as a "normal lens" but could be considered as "expensive" for that task. They also tend to be primes, at least the better ones (I guess that could be also said of most lenses).

[KodiakStar]

They can be used for normal shots without problem, just like a prime.
There are many who swear by using their macro-lens for their portrait
work, for Oly, its mostly the 50mm lens. However the other side of
that is, they are really really sharp, and show more detail then you
may want...

Depends on what style of photos you want

[dcclark]

Macros can focus closer, but it's not all about focal distance. Macros are also designed with different reproduction ratios in mind -- in other words, they project images in a different way, so that the image projected onto your sensor is 1:1 (or 1:2, etc.) instead of the usual larger ratio.

[fletch]

Originally Posted by dcclark

Macros can focus closer, but it's not all about focal distance. Macros are also designed with different reproduction ratios in mind -- in other words, they project images in a different way, so that the image projected onto your sensor is 1:1 (or 1:2, etc.) instead of the usual larger ratio.

Yeah I get that. the bit I can't get my head arround is how that affects a shot that is taken in a normal way, say a portrait.

Will a Macro lens focal lenght be eqivalent to a non macro of similar focal lenght?

[sk66]

Originally Posted by fletch

Yeah I get that. the bit I can't get my head arround is how that affects a shot that is taken in a normal way, say a portrait.

Will a Macro lens focal lenght be eqivalent to a non macro of similar focal lenght?

Makes no difference....it works just like any other lens when used for non-macro work.

[fletch]

I think I get it now.

A macro lens is like any other lens, however it can focus a lot closer than normal lenses. This closer focusing is what gernerates the greater magnifictaion.

I.e. the Oly 50mm f/2 macro can focus to 0.2m and at 0.2m has a magnification of 1:2 (meaning the image will be half life size). To get more magnifictaion it would have to have a closer focusing distance.

At say 10m away the magnification would be the same as a 50mm lens that wasn't a macro.

The only downside I can see from using a macro lens in general use is that they can search for focus sometime (presumably due to the wide range they can focus over), to combat this some have a focus limiting switch to cut down the range over which it will search for focus.

Simple when you know how.