Macro Lenses...

TheNissanMan

TheNissanMan

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Probably another tupid question from me but I can't remember posting one for a while so it's about time...

From what I've readon here a Macro lens will give you 1:1 magnification as opposed to 'macro' zooms which appear to be 1:2 or so (hope I'm right so far).

A quick look in the Macro section will provide a stunning array of close up images where you can makeout individual cells on an insects eye for example, how do they do this and why a normal lens, any lens can't or rather isn't set to 1:1 as that's what it should see...

Or am I being dumb and do the Macro lenses actually magnify what they see and if so how and what kit is needed in addition to the lens and what effect does that kit have on the lens?

I hope that makes sense and isn't as clear as mud!
 
TheNissanMan said:
Probably another tupid question from me but I can't remember posting one for a while so it's about time...

From what I've readon here a Macro lens will give you 1:1 magnification as opposed to 'macro' zooms which appear to be 1:2 or so (hope I'm right so far).

A quick look in the Macro section will provide a stunning array of close up images where you can makeout individual cells on an insects eye for example, how do they do this and why a normal lens, any lens can't or rather isn't set to 1:1 as that's what it should see...

Or am I being dumb and do the Macro lenses actually magnify what they see and if so how and what kit is needed in addition to the lens and what effect does that kit have on the lens?

I hope that makes sense and isn't as clear as mud!
Click to expand...

Your quite right a true macro lens will give 1:1 magnification , so if you take a picture of a ruler at 1:1 you will get a image the same size as your sensor

1-1.jpg


and at 1:2 you will get 1/2 life size so you see twice as much

1-2.jpg



I'm taking a guess that the super closeup images are taken with a Canon MP-E65mm that will give 5:1 - this would only show approx 4.5mm on a tape
 
TY, Is there an equivalent way of getting similar results on a DSLR rather than an SLR with AF ?
 
Uh Oh Ryan, more money needed :lol::lol::lol


Now that would be a first, my kites with a Macro Lens !!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
TheNissanMan said:
TY, Is there an equivalent way of getting similar results on a DSLR rather than an SLR with AF ?
Click to expand...

It will work on DSLR, unfortunately AF is not accurate enough at these magnifications, even at 1:1 your better using manual focus by moving the camera backwards / forwards, as on a macro lens you effectively change the magnification as you alter the focus point.
 
Briony said:
Uh Oh Ryan, more money needed :lol::lol::lol


Now that would be a first, my kites with a Macro Lens !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

You know me... Kites with a Macro could be fun :D


Dogfish_magnet said:
It will work on DSLR, unfortunately AF is not accurate enough at these magnifications, even at 1:1 your better using manual focus by moving the camera backwards / forwards, as on a macro lens you effectively change the magnification as you alter the focus point.
Click to expand...

Hadn't considered that ty :D
 
TheNissanMan said:
Or am I being dumb and do the Macro lenses actually magnify what they see and if so how and what kit is needed in addition to the lens and what effect does that kit have on the lens?

I hope that makes sense and isn't as clear as mud!
Click to expand...

You can get stunning results quite cheaply with a set of Kenko DG AF extension tubes and a Canon 50mm f1.8 lens:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=2592851#post2592851

And just the extension tubes on an ordinary kit lens will also give good results albeit with a loss of contrast.
 
Thanks Peter may well look into that...

I have the 50 and the kit, will tubes work with any lens or are there limitations ?
 
TheNissanMan said:
Thanks Peter may well look into that...

I have the 50 and the kit, will tubes work with any lens or are there limitations ?
Click to expand...

Most are EF only, the newer ones I beleive are EF-S as well, so the nifty will work on the older ones, your kit wont.
 
cosmix3 said:
Most are EF only, the newer ones I beleive are EF-S as well, so the nifty will work on the older ones, your kit wont.
Click to expand...

Not quite sure what you mean by that statement.

Can you explain?
 
There are three reasons why compound eyes of an insect may or may not be visible.
1. Image sharpness, which is determined by lens and camera resolution in combination with the skill of the photographer.
2. Size of the insect's eyes. To resolve the compound eyes of a large dragonfly is easy with a 100mmm macro lens, but to do the same with, say, a ladybird is much more difficult.
3. Magnification. Rather obviously, you need a much higher magnification to resolve small insects' eyes.
Here's one I took last year of a southern hawker, a large dragonfly. I used a 100mm macro lens with onboard flash. It was hand held and using Autofocus.
1yuhfq.jpg
 
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