By Steve Campbell
Digital macro photography or close-up photography is a specialized branch of picture taking involved with magnifying subjects and focusing within a couple of inches of them. Macro lenses were developed to help SLR (single-lens-reflex) cameras to handle this close focus function.
Some modern zoom lenses have macro settings that allow for some limited close-up focusing. Extension rings or simple close-up lenses can also attach to a standard lens to allow close-ups. However, for true life size magnification a dedicated macro lens is the better option for digital macro photography.
Some modern zoom lenses have macro settings that allow for some limited close-up focusing. Extension rings or simple close-up lenses can also attach to a standard lens to allow close-ups. However, for true life size magnification a dedicated macro lens is the better option for digital macro photography.
Macro lenses generally are more costly than normal zoom lenses for example and tend to be slower than normal lenses which has a minimum aperture around f4.0. However, they can be stopped down to around f32. These lenses can also be used for normal photography and are not limited to just close up photography.
A special mount is used within these lenses to allow them to rack out to around an inch for close focus with continuous focus from infinity to just a few inches. The results are high quality very sharp distortion free images. The only real drawback of macro lenses is the cost.
Close-up attachments behave like filters which can be screwed onto the front of a standard lens. The strength of a close-up attached is measured in diopters. This indicates how close you could focus in factions of a meter. A +1 diopter allows you to focus down to 1000mm, while a +2 is 500mm and a +3 is 333mm. The beauty of diopters is that they can be combined to increase magnification. However, be wary of using too many diopters as this could lead to vignetting and poor image quality.
If you are on a tight budget then a lens converter maybe the answer at a faction of the cost of a macro lens. These converters effectively doubled or triple the focal length of a standard lens. There's some exposure loss but resu
A special mount is used within these lenses to allow them to rack out to around an inch for close focus with continuous focus from infinity to just a few inches. The results are high quality very sharp distortion free images. The only real drawback of macro lenses is the cost.
Close-up attachments behave like filters which can be screwed onto the front of a standard lens. The strength of a close-up attached is measured in diopters. This indicates how close you could focus in factions of a meter. A +1 diopter allows you to focus down to 1000mm, while a +2 is 500mm and a +3 is 333mm. The beauty of diopters is that they can be combined to increase magnification. However, be wary of using too many diopters as this could lead to vignetting and poor image quality.
If you are on a tight budget then a lens converter maybe the answer at a faction of the cost of a macro lens. These converters effectively doubled or triple the focal length of a standard lens. There's some exposure loss but resu
Close-up attachments behave like filters which can be screwed onto the front of a standard lens. The strength of a close-up attached is measured in diopters. This indicates how close you could focus in factions of a meter. A +1 diopter allows you to focus down to 1000mm, while a +2 is 500mm and a +3 is 333mm. The beauty of diopters is that they can be combined to increase magnification. However, be wary of using too many diopters as this could lead to vignetting and poor image quality.
If you are on a tight budget then a lens converter maybe the answer at a faction of the cost of a macro lens. These converters effectively doubled or triple the focal length of a standard lens. There's some exposure loss but result are favorable for the price paid compare to a macro lens.
Digital macro photography is definitely a fascinating topic area and examples include, photographing stamps, coins, models, plants, flowers, leavers, insects, butterflies, snow, ice, water, and fabric.
About the Author:
If you are on a tight budget then a lens converter maybe the answer at a faction of the cost of a macro lens. These converters effectively doubled or triple the focal length of a standard lens. There's some exposure loss but result are favorable for the price paid compare to a macro lens.
Digital macro photography is definitely a fascinating topic area and examples include, photographing stamps, coins, models, plants, flowers, leavers, insects, butterflies, snow, ice, water, and fabric.
About the Author:
Want to find out more about Digital macro photography, then visit Steve Campbell's Digital Photography site on how to choose the right Digital SLR for your Photography.