Lens-What's the difference? Hi. My first time posting, so bear with me. I'm totally confused about the difference between micro, macro and wide angle lenses. If I want to take...

Photo Aunt Loc: Central Massachusetts

Hi. My first time posting, so bear with me. I'm totally confused about the difference between micro, macro and wide angle lenses.
If I want to take close-ups, e.g. flowers, which lens would I use?
Is a wide angle mostly used for landscapes? Thanks, much.

ahzwizerd2 Loc: Willowbrook, ca

A Macro lense is designed to get closer to your subject
Like using a micoscope.
Wide angle is good for landscapes or standing close to a subject but you see a wider angle I like telephoto lens with macro so I can change optics.

PhotoKenetic

a micro lens is Nikon's terminology for a macro lens.

Photo Aunt Loc: Central Massachusetts

ahzwizerd2 wrote:

A Macro lense is designed to get closer to your subject
Like using a micoscope.
Wide angle is good for landscapes or standing close to a subject but you see a wider angle I like telephoto lens with macro so I can change optics.

I have a Canon XSi and with it came a 18-55mm lens. Would this be a considered a macro? I have more lenses, but they start at 50 and higher. Thanks much for your help.

Photo Aunt Loc: Central Massachusetts

Thank you for clearing that up, Photo Kenetic

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Photo Aunt wrote:

I have a Canon XSi and with it came a 18-55mm lens. Would this be a considered a macro?

If it doesn't have the word "macro" on the lens, then it isn't a macro. It can still take close-up shots that may be of interest to you, but a macro lens can get a depth of field shorter than a fly and magnification to life-size.

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

Think of the macro function as the ability of the lens to focus very close to the subject. None of the lenses you mentioned will focus close enough to the subject to qualify as a macro lens.

You should probably be looking for a set of screw on "close up" lenses. These are inexpensive and can be used in combination with each other to enable extremely close focusing.

For most macro style photography you will need a tripod as well.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

They could also use extension tubes with the regular lens to get close up shots.

ShakyShutter wrote:

Think of the macro function as the ability of the lens to focus very close to the subject. None of the lenses you mentioned will focus close enough to the subject to qualify as a macro lens.

You should probably be looking for a set of screw on "close up" lenses. These are inexpensive and can be used in combination with each other to enable extremely close focusing.

For most macro style photography you will need a tripod as well.

ShakyShutter Loc: Arizona

Brucej67 wrote:

They could also use extension tubes with the regul... (show quote)

She was asking beginner questions so I gave her beginner direction. She is likely to find a set of close ups at Best Buy but get a puzzled look if she asked for "extension tubes" .

We don't know which camera she has either... May be a point and shoot.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

"We don't know which camera she has either... May be a point and shoot." true, but a P&S doesn't have interchangeable lenses. The extension tubes are just another option besides the extra glass from the close up filters. I am not arguing your point just adding one more option, and both filters and tubes can be purchased on line with some research.

ShakyShutter wrote:

quote=Brucej67 They could also use extension tube... (show quote)

Paw Paw Bill Loc: d

Wide angle lenses let you focus closer than normal or telephoto so you may get close enough to select a flower or two. Macro/Micro lenses will let you photograph a small portion of one petal of the flower.

Macros usually are a semi-telephoto lense with a close focus ability. This lets you take a close photo from 1 foot away. The wide angle lense may let you take from 1 foot, but it will give you a wide full flower view instead of the tele narrow, small footprint view.

The 1 foot distance I chose to use in this discussion is arbitary. Some macro lenses are up to 300mm and you take the photo from 3 to 4 feet. But the point was to give you an idea of how they work.

Paw Paw Bill Loc: d

The 'tube' or 'extender' also mentioned in this topic will move the lens away from the camera to allow focus at close range. In this case 'inches' from the subject. With the attachment in place the lens will not focus beyond a few inches to a foot.

melphoto60

no macro photography is 1:1 ratio...your 18-55 might focus close but is not a macro lens...some lenses say macro but are not as they cant get close for a 1:1 might be able to get to 1:3

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

PhotoKenetic wrote:

a micro lens is Nikon's terminology for a macro lens.

sorry to have to disagree, but there is a difference, a Macro lens gives true 1/1 representation, a macro photo of a bug for example will be live sized on the frame . a micro is not life size usually 1/2 to 1/4th life size.

Photo Aunt Loc: Central Massachusetts

brucewells wrote:

Photo Aunt wrote:

I have a Canon XSi and with it came a 18-55mm lens. Would this be a considered a macro?

If it doesn't have the word "macro" on the lens, then it isn't a macro. It can still take close-up shots that may be of interest to you, but a macro lens can get a depth of field shorter than a fly and magnification to life-size.

That definitely clears things up. I like your description:) Thanks