How close can I get to a subject with a D40?

[Clikon]

I (as some are well aware) am getting my D40 next week (via FedEx)...I have a Macro question, roughly how close can I get to a subject with the 18-55mm lens? I couldn't find that info in the "specs" online. I'm going to be shooting ladybugs, aphids and praying (preying?) mantises (manti?) I'm sure everyone here knows the answer to this question. It's OK, I'm OK with that...:meh:

 

[JimmyO]

Around a foot. You could look for a macro filter to improve that. You can also crop in closser once you get the picture on the computor

 

[plastii]

The minimum focus distance is - 11" or 0.28m to be exact. If you can't afford a real macro lens you can try reverse-lens macro photography. It works really well. http://stephenelliot.com/2007/05/15/reverse-lens-macro-photography-tutorial/

 

[Mav]

The 18-55 lens does 1:3.2 macro, which is basically one-third life size and pretty darned close.

So if you're photographing something 10mm wide you'll get....

[10mm x (1/3.2)] / 23.6mm (the width of the sensor) = 13.24% of the sensor's width.

The sensor is 3008 pixels wide, so you'll get about a 400 pixel wide image of your 10mm object after cropping.

A 1:2 macro like the Nikon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 lens would get you to about 640 pixels wide. And a full 1:1 macro like a used 55mm f/2.8 or the new 60mm AF-S f/2.8 would get you to 1280 pixels which is a ton bigger.

For tiny little things like ladybugs, you'd probably want a 1:1 macro lens.

 

[Clikon]

If you can't afford a real macro lens you can try reverse-lens macro hotography. It works really well.

that blew me away. i'm impressed.

 

[Clikon]

The 18-55 lens does 1:3.2 macro, which is basically one-third life size and pretty darned close.

So if you're photographing something 10mm wide you'll get....

[10mm x (1/3.2)] / 23.6mm (the width of the sensor) = 13.24% of the sensor's width.

The sensor is 3008 pixels wide, so you'll get about a 400 pixel wide image of your 10mm object after cropping.

A 1:2 macro like the Nikon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 lens would get you to about 640 pixels wide. And a full 1:1 macro like a used 55mm f/2.8 or the new 60mm AF-S f/2.8 would get you to 1280 pixels which is a ton bigger.

For tiny little things like ladybugs, you'd probably want a 1:1 macro lens.

Thanks Mav. Good info. You went above and beyond. As is per usual for you. Nice. Looking forward to experimenting with it.