What's Macro?

[Canon PowerShot A540]

Also Can Someone Explain The Whole Thing Behind Macro? Thank You

[Nicole]

Well, I doubt anyone can explain the "whole thing' behind macro photography, but here are some of the basics :

Macro photography involves taking close up pictures, sometimes of very small items, sometimes just close ups of every day items. Regardless of the subject, it's a close up shot.

On the DPS blog, there are some tips for taking macro shots with a compact point & shoot camera that should help even if you don't have an actual macro lens.

Our forum admin, NaturesPixel, has a set on Flickr featuring macro shots that she's taken (some fantastic shots there )

There are some of the basics to get you started though.

[jb683]

Here is one shot with my new lens, Zukio 50-200mm f2.8 with the camera in macro mode. Although this is not a macro lens it still does a good job. Differance is with the correct lens is it would be sharper. And that about as much as I know about it.

[Nicole]

The real difference between a macro lens and a telephoto lens is the fact that a macro lens will reproduce the item on the sensor at a 1:1 ratio (or better e.g. 2:1). With this lens, the item is magnified 1:4.7. The reason that macros may be sharper is because of using a larger apertures or because they are prime lenses. Many macro lenses are f/2.8, so sharpness could still be similar.

Sorry for all the technical details Nice shot though.

[jb683]

Thanks for the information. I'm still kinda new to all this and there are so many differant variations when using a DSLR it will take some time to learn it all. My next purchase will be a macro lens, as I really do enjoy taking the macro shots. Thank you for the reply.
jb

[Canon PowerShot A540]

Do I Need A Special Macro Lens To Shoot A Macro Shot? My Camrea Has A Macro Setting And I'm Wondering Can I Get A Good Macro Shot With This And No Special Lens?

[jiminyClickit]

Canon PowerShot A540,

A Fuji S3100 on Macro Mode will get you halfway to this:



It's been cropped and brightened, but you can see what you could get. A Macro lens would give much sharper detail with better color.

[ram1945]

Canon powershot A540. Check your owners manual, I beleive you have a macro mode on your A540. I have macro, and super macro on my Canon A430. I use a Canon S3 IS most of the time now. I took this macro with my A430 on macro mode. This is a tiny Spirea bloom.

[urgirlie13]

Macro is basically a tight focus on a close up subject.

Here's my example...




See how it's tightly focused on the closest droplet?

[wulf]

You can also do macro with "diopters" - add-on lenses to supplement your existing collection - check my recent pictures with a Raynox DCR-250 for examples (all taken with a Nikon D40 and a couple of different lenses attached to the camera, shown in the tags).

Wulf