Comments on: How to Choose the Perfect Macro Lens

By: john S

john S — Fri, 24 May 2024 13:57:17 +0000

Hi Jaymes, how well does a 70 – 200 lens work for micro photography since if fits between the mid range and long range lenses?

By: Fabrizio Bertorino

Fabrizio Bertorino — Fri, 24 May 2024 13:45:11 +0000

Anything for m4/3 world?

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 06:16:55 +0000

Hi, I was just wondering if there was a macro lens that would be ideal for doing pet photography? I’m just starting out and trying to put together the right gear that I would need for this, so I’m wondering about lenses. Thanks a million!

By: Ashish Nimkar

Ashish Nimkar — Sat, 18 May 2019 23:43:16 +0000

I find Canon 100mm (non L) + Sigma 2x + Raynox 250 good stuff for canon macros… Canon twin macro flash compulsory gives f/32 manual mode good result.. Hope you have tried this combination.

By: jon lipinski

jon lipinski — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 09:33:45 +0000

Hi Jaymes, Could you tell me if the lenses in your article are as a full frame, APS-C or indeed a Micro 4/3rd ?

By: Julio Cesar Voltolini

Julio Cesar Voltolini — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 21:56:00 +0000

Hi, I am biologist and I need to record small insects and spiders (3-5mm). What do you think about the Sony macro FE 90mm f2.8? I need help 🙂

By: Husam

Husam — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 06:25:00 +0000

should i search for a specific aperture value when buying a lens?
i mean is it better to go with low f numbers like 1.8 or should i go for higher values?

By: John Thome

John Thome — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 13:33:00 +0000

Hey Jaymes, nice article. I see you are in SE MI, I live in Kalamazoo. My main interest is macro, in fact I took the day off and was hunting for dragonflies this morning. I shoot with a Canon crop sensor 80D. I of course want to get as much detail as possible. I’m wondering if switching to a camera without an anti-aliasing filter would make a noticeable improvement in detail/sharpness, like a Nikon D7500. I mostly use the Canon 180 macro on my 80D. I also realize that going to a full frame sensor would be good as well. Thanks.

By: TomC

TomC — Mon, 28 May 2018 00:23:00 +0000

In reply to Jaymes Dempsey. I'm glad you like it, Jaymes. It is a really fun lens to shoot with.

By: Jaymes Dempsey

Jaymes Dempsey — Sun, 27 May 2018 15:12:00 +0000

In reply to walwit.

Regarding macro versus non-macro lenses of the same focal length, I’ll start with the most fundamental: you’re going to be able to get far, far closer with a macro photography lens. While you’ve gotten quite close to the butterfly with your 70-300mm lens (really nice shot, by the way!), a macro lens will take you to a whole new level. Depending on the type of food photography that you want to do, true macro capabilities might be necessary. It would certainly open up new compositions. But I can imagine lots of food shots that don’t require true macro capabilities, and that you could get with, say, a Canon 50mm f/1.8 (which gets you decently close, but not THAT close). Do you have an idea of the sort of food shots you’d like to get? If you didn’t purchase a macro lens, what would you work with instead?

But furthermore, a macro lens is manufactured to be at its best performance when at high magnification. This means better optics when focusing close, that’s something to consider as well. Also, I do tend to really like the bokeh that macro lenses offer, and they tend to be pin sharp. But really, the main difference between a macro and non-macro lens of the same focal length is just how close you can focus.

Hope that helps, and let me know if you have any more questions!