what "exactly" is Macro/Micro ?

[astroNikon]

Before I ramble away, My basic question is what exactly is Macro in relation to Professional Photography.

I see (Nikon) macro lenses with CRC. A couple of my lenses have Macro modes but not CRC.

I nearly bought a 60mm macro lens after I first got my D7000. But I couldn't figure out why - so I got my 50mm then 75-300 instead. And lately I see several people getting that same 60mm macro lens. I thought about it again as it would maybe make a nice portrait lens between the 50 and 85mm. But luckily, I keep asking myself .. why?

Pointing my 75-300 in Macro mode towards a set of mountains 20 miles away I figure is not really macro.

Neither is it pointing that same lens to some small flowers from 10 feet away, or even 4 feet away.

My 50mm/1.8 came with some magnifying filter lens on it, which is kinda neat in it's own.

I can take a picture of my watches with the 75-300 and get great detail without being super close, and thus my lighting can work well without me and the camera being in way of the flashes.

I also recall reading about flipping the lens backwards ... and on and on and on.


But I believe Macro is not simply a "Close up" with the camera.

:scratch:

 

[PJL]

True macro means the subject will be replicated life-sized on the sensor (known as 1:1). Some lenses are labeled macro but give you half sized at best. Getting macro shots means being really close to your subject.

 

[GDHLEWIS]

A macro lens has the ability to focus extremely close to a subject in order to get the 1 : 1 (life size) ratio. Macro lens can bring out an insane amount of detail in the smallest of subjects, unfortunately it can be a very fiddly process and it can take time to get used to the lens. I love macro regardless how frustrating it can be

 

[480sparky]

Since there is no official definition, macro and micro can mean anything you want them to mean. I could toss a ham & cheese sandwich on a plate and call it macro.

But generally speaking, 'macro' is considered by most as starting at a 1:1 magnification ratio. Meaning a subject that is, say, 10mm across, will be projected onto the film or digital sensor as an image measuring 10mm across.

 

[Derrel]

Since there is no official definition, macro and micro can mean anything you want them to mean. I could toss a ham & cheese sandwich on a plate and call it macro.

But generally speaking, 'macro' is considered by most as starting at a 1:1 magnification ratio. Meaning a subject that is, say, 10mm across, will be projected onto the film or digital sensor as an image measuring 10mm across.

This ham and cheese sandwich on a plate, which you tease and taunt us with...it sounds delicious!!! I like mine grilled, with real butter in the skillet, and very,very thinly-sliced onions added...just a bit of onions, not too much...

I just spent like 10 minutes searching my pBase galleries for a shot of a ham and cheese sammich on a fine China plate, that I took some years ago..could not find the doggone picture!

 

[table1349]

Ham and cheese.........................Bah!!!! If it ain't BACON!!!! it's CRAP!

 

[astroNikon]

okay, Ham, Cheese and Bacon
does anyone have a macro picture of one of them sandwiches ?

 

[table1349]

NOOOO!!!! A BACON SANDWICH with some ham and cheese added!!!!

This is a sandwich: http://bacontoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Giant-Bacon-Sandwich.png

This is a waste of time: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images...31136694122/Felicitys-perfect-bacon-s-007.jpg

Even better, a macro picture of BACON!!! http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6597010367_79d1da27fe_o.jpg

 

[480sparky]

okay, Ham, Cheese and Bacon
does anyone have a macro picture of one of them sandwiches ?

As you wish:

:mrgreen:

 

[astroNikon]

you guys are silly :hail:

 

[480sparky]

you guys are silly :hail:

I resemble that remark!

 

[minicoop1985]

Someone needs to take a macro shot of some bacon now.

 

[mjhoward]

okay, Ham, Cheese and Bacon
does anyone have a macro picture of one of them sandwiches ?

As you wish:

:mrgreen:

Looks more like a cheese puff to me

 

[astroNikon]

Someone needs to take a macro shot of some bacon now.

they did
Even better, a macro picture of BACON!!! http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6...d1da27fe_o.jpg

 

[djacobox372]

When talking about equipment, macro lenses are optimized to perform their best at their minimum focus distance while other lenses are made to shoot best at infinity.