the ratio

[grooski]

I've herd about macro and the ratio like 1:1 or 1:3. But what does it meen?

 

[Soulreaver]

1:1 means that the size of the image on the negative is the same size as the subject, that is, a picture of a bee 1:1 would be life size on the neg, as opposed to 1:3, where it would be 1/3 lifesize.

 

[grooski]

so where would the focal length come in with the ratio

 

[Big Mike]

I think the ratio is a result of the focal length combined with how close the lens can focus.

You could do macro with a 100mm lens or a 300mm lens. You could get the same ratio depending upon how close the lens is able to focus.

 

[ksmattfish]

Focal length comes into play with how close you have to get to the bee to get that 1:1

It might only be a few inches, but with bees, spiders, poisonous snakes, etc... that might be a big deal.

I'm sure it also affects the macro subject similarly as focal length affects non-macro shots. Wider lenses will exagerate distances between near and far objects, and long lenses will flatten the image.