Macro Lenses

I suppose the first question is "What is a macro lens?" There are several answers to this, or at least several variations on the answer but in its simplest form the answer is this: If it allows you to make a life-size image without enlarging and allows you to get physically closer to the subject but still maintain sharp focus, then it's a macro lens. I can already hear the ifs and buts, I did say this was the simplest answer. There are other factors to be taken into account including sensor size and native resolution but these can be ignored for most purposes.

What do I use it for and do I need one?

Well, the answer to the second question very much depends on the answer to the first. Macro lenses are typically used to photograph insects and other tiny animals as well as close-ups of flowers, fungi and the like. Of course the number of uses you can put one to is limited only by your imagination. So, are you going to take loads of images like those I've mentioned? If so then to get the best image quality you will indeed need a macro lens.

Can I get by without one?

Absolutely. Providing you are willing to compromise a bit you can get great close up images by simply zooming in. Images captured this way may lack the ultimate sharpness and bokeh  (the out-of-focus area) of those taken with a true macro lens but there is no reason that you can't get "macro" images to be proud of.

These images were taken with my new Nikon 28-300 zoom. The rusty bolt has not been cropped at all, the insect image has been cropped in to about half its original size to enlarge the little bugs. A true Macro lens would allow you to nearly fill the frame with one of these little critters.

Finally, where can I get one and how much do they cost? Here we have some good news. Macro lenses are very popular, all the big names make their own macro lenses with many different specifications. There are cheap offerings from Tamron for example costing a little over £100, a fast f2.8 Nikon 60mm Micro (Nikonese for Macro) will cost well under £300.

Go to www.imagesbygeorge.co.uk to see more of my work.