How does a lenses magnification work?

[hamlet]

So i'm wondering how exactly magnification works?

Say i've got a 60mm and a 150mm lens and i would go to both their maximum close focus distance, would the 150mm not provide greater magnification?

 

[Braineack]

this is a good link for you: Macro photography: Understanding magnification: Digital Photography Review




with your example, a 60mm 1:1 vs a 150mm 1:2 might produce a very similar image at their min. focus points.

 

[Overread14 2]

In photography magnification is a ratio. The ratio itself is:

Size of the subject reflected on the sensor/film by the lens : Size of the subject in real life

So a magnification of 1:1 means that the image is reflected on the sensor at the same size as it is in real life. As a result when two lenses of different focal lengths are set so that they are focusing a subject on the sensor at the same magnification, the frame covered by both lenses will be the same; because the subject itself is being reflected at the same size onto the sensor by the lenses.

What will change is that the shorter focal length lens will render background details more clearly, whilst a longer focal length lens will render a quicker fall off into blurring; oft you have to compare extremes of focal length to see this effect clearly - a 90mm and 105mm would be almost indistinguishable, whilst a 150mm to a 35mm would show a more marked difference.

Note that also when dealing with magnifications the depth of field at the same aperture* will also be the same no matter the focal length.



*note most modern macro lenses internally change their properties. The focal length as you focus closer to 1:1 often reduces, similarly the effective aperture gets smaller (you can see this as most macro lenses get a little darker through the viewfinder). As a result you might have the lens set to f2.8, but the actual aperture might be closer to f5.6. Note that Nikon camera bodies do show this change in effective aperture to the user, whilst Canon ones do not. So a Canon shooter can take a shot at f2.8, whilst a Nikon photographer with the same lens (eg a sigma lens) cannot.

The actual aperture in both cases is the same, the camera bodies are just reporting things to the user differently.

 

[hamlet]

Yes, i get it. What i want is to go beyond 1:1 to possibly 5:1, could i not saw and drill my existing lenses to make one of these high magnification lenses?

 

[Braineack]

another link for you: https://www.flickr.com/groups/closer_and_closer/discuss/72157629964619062/

 

[Designer]

Yes, i get it. What i want is to go beyond 1:1 to possibly 5:1, could i not saw and drill my existing lenses to make one of these high magnification lenses?

I doubt if that kind of modification would help. Just get some extension tubes to use in conjunction with your lens.

 

[hamlet]

another link for you: https://www.flickr.com/groups/closer_and_closer/discuss/72157629964619062/

In the link you provided the man uses extension tubes. How exactly does magnification work on lenses reverse? What focal length or combination of lenses will give me the greatest magnifications?

lenses at my disposal right now are: 18-55vr nikon, 11-16 tokina, 50mm nikon, 70-200 vrii nikon.

 

[Designer]

another link for you: https://www.flickr.com/groups/closer_and_closer/discuss/72157629964619062/

In the link you provided the man uses extension tubes. How exactly does magnification work on lenses reverse? What focal length or combination of lenses will give me the greatest magnifications?

lenses at my disposal right now are: 18-55vr nikon, 11-16 tokina, 50mm nikon, 70-200 vrii nikon.

Use your 70-200 maxed out at 200mm using some extension tubes between that and your camera.

 

[Braineack]

here's a link for you: Google

 

[hamlet]

another link for you: https://www.flickr.com/groups/closer_and_closer/discuss/72157629964619062/

In the link you provided the man uses extension tubes. How exactly does magnification work on lenses reverse? What focal length or combination of lenses will give me the greatest magnifications?

lenses at my disposal right now are: 18-55vr nikon, 11-16 tokina, 50mm nikon, 70-200 vrii nikon.

Use your 70-200 maxed out at 200mm using some extension tubes between that and your camera.

I will maybe invest in a bellow maybe instead.

 

[runnah]

No one really knows. Scientists think it involves worm holes.

 

[astroNikon]

Yes, i get it. What i want is to go beyond 1:1 to possibly 5:1, could i not saw and drill my existing lenses to make one of these high magnification lenses?

You theoretically could saw a lens in half and connect it to another one. BUT each lens is designed for all the elements inside, which may vary from 5 to 13 or more/less, to work in conjunction with each other, at all focal lengths. So, you would essentially have to engineer a new lens based on your specifications.

Not a task worth considering ...

 

[hamlet]

No one really knows. Scientists think it involves worm holes.

This is really complicated. I'm trying to hold my 11-16 onto my 70-200 that is attached to my camera, the aperture blades of the 11-16 keep closing and everything is not in focus. I got some amazing accidental blurry shots though.

 

[TreeofLifeStairs]

What do you want to take pictures of at that magnification?

 

[hamlet]

What do you want to take pictures of at that magnification?

Salt, sand, mud, bricks and my hamsters fur maybe. Just whatever is there really.