true macro!

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Adrian1

Member

51 posts

10 years

Link Posted 14/04/2012 - 21:01

So what makes a macro lense a true macro?

Mike-P

Member

13,020 posts

12 years
Hampshire UK

Link Posted 14/04/2012 - 21:04

I always presumed a prime lens with 1:1 magnification but there have been 1:2 macro lenses.

No equipment list here but thanks for taking an interest. My Flickr

Last Edited by Mike-P on 14/04/2012 - 21:06

DanceOfLight

Member

41 posts

9 years

Link Posted 15/04/2012 - 00:01

AFAIK anything up 1:2 is considered Macro; for example the legendary CZ Makro planar 100mm F2 ZK does 'only' 1:2

sterretje

Member

435 posts

10 years
Roodepoort, South Africa

Link Posted 15/04/2012 - 08:02

I've always understood that macro means that a subject (e.g. 1 cm fly) will be that same size (or bigger) on the sensor or film. So that would mean 1:1

I however have never seen an 'official' definition. One old book that I have states that one enters macro territory at 1:10; I would definitely not consider that real macro.

wikipedia states:

Quote:

Macrophotography is close-up photography, usually of very small subjects. Classically a macrophotograph is one in which the size of the subject on the negative is greater than life size

The other point is that true macro lenses are / can be optimized for performance at the highest magnification

again wikipedia:

Quote:

although a macro lens may be optimized to provide its best performance at its highest magnification

But does it actually matter what the definition is or what real macro is? Check the specs of the lens and if the magnification (at short distance) is good enough for the intended use, it does not matter if it's called macro or not

Pentax K10D + Vivitar 55/2.8 macro + Super Takumar 55/1.8 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 85/1.8 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 135/3.5 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 200/4 + Super Takumar 300/4
Pentax K100D + DA18-55ALII + DA55-300
Pentax K5 + FA31Ltd + M50/1.7 + DFA100WR + M120/2.8 (+ DA18-55WR at occasion)

Algernon

Member

8,880 posts

10 years
Lancashire

Link Posted 15/04/2012 - 08:33

Usually 1:1, but because a 1:4 Zoom lens can be printed easily
at 1:1 (4x enlargement) that can be called a macro as well

Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber

Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff

Algi

DrOrloff

Member

2,628 posts

11 years
Brighton, England

Link Posted 15/04/2012 - 09:33

I thought it was as Sterretje says, same size image on the capture medium. I thought manufacturers altered that (unofficial but generally accepted) definiton so they could assign macro capabilities to compacts.

You can see some of my photos here if you are so inclined

sterretje

Member

435 posts

10 years
Roodepoort, South Africa

Link Posted 15/04/2012 - 12:26

As somebody on the other forum often says: "printing 'macro' on a lens costs less ink than printing 'close-up'"

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