thg3 Loc: La Quinta, California

My reference to "Marco" lenses comes from using a Vivitar zoom lens 40 years ago. You could push a button and twist the lens into "Macro" mode which would allow you focus to within about 2 inches and out to infinity using the zoom. So I assumed (we know what that means) that I could get a 50mm Macro lens and get right on top of a bug to get the close up shots we see here. But...

I went to the Canon website and looked up a 50mm Macro lens and noticed that the minimum focal distance is 10.something inches and that the minimum focal distance of my 18-55mm Canon kit lens is 9.something inches - about 1 inch closer than the macro. So, now I have no idea what exactly a macro lens does... What would be the difference in a shot of a bug with a 50mm Macro from 12" away vs. the same shot with my kit lens set at 50mm?

If you have read this far, here is question #2. My camera is a Canon T2i with a APS-C sensor with a 1.6 crop factor. So my other kit lens is a 55-250mm zoom and at 250mm it is supposed to be the same a 400mm (250 x 1.6= 400) on a full frame camera. My question #2 is: would a picture from my camera of, say, an office bldg window at 250mm be the same as the same picture taken with a 400mm lens on a full frame camera?

Maybe my real question is; Are all "mm's" created equal?

Thanks,

Tom

AvailableLight Loc: NYC skyline out my window...

In theory... Yes... You got it!... I own Nikon digital and use many lenses... Even the 50mm 1.4 lens and a 35-70mm zoom from a Nikon FM my Dad gave me in the 80's...

This is a 52.5mm to 105mm on my Nikon... My sensor factor is 1.5...

Bruce H Loc: Oregon Coast

Answer: no,

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

have you gave thought to Extension Tubes for Macro Photos. http://www.shutterfreaks.com/Tips/ExtensionTube.htm i like mine three pieces used it twice used it on fly drinking milk fly moved back an had big bubble it was still eating an the hairs on it's legs

snowbear

Macro means the image on the sensor (or frame of film) is at the same size (1:1) as the object in real life. The minimum focus distance can be decreased with extension tubes.

The short answer is "no". The cropped sensor captures the center portion of the image circle projected by a full-frame lens, so it will look different - it will appear to have been taken with a longer lens. The focal length does not change because of the sensor size, you are only looking at a smaller piece of the image.

sunsacre Loc: Western Minnesota

Charlie, love your signature :)

AvailableLight Loc: NYC skyline out my window...

I was wrong here... I thought he was using a film designed lens from an old camera... Not a kit lens designed for his camera...

AK Dreamer Loc: Alaska & Nevada

You may want to go to the search bar on this site and pull up some of Nikonian's posts on this subject. The subject has been posted numerous times and he really has a good textbook explanations on the subject.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

FAQ: What is a MACRO lens?
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user_page.jsp?upnum=108

FAQ: Macro lenses vs Prime & Zoom lenses
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user_page.jsp?upnum=239

FAQ: Macro websites & free literature
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user_page.jsp?upnum=247

thg3 Loc: La Quinta, California

Thank you all for your replies...

Let me ask another question - on full frame cameras, would a 400mm Canon lens capture the same (or very close to the same) image as a 400mm Nikon (or any other make)?

Thanks,

Tom

NikonJohn Loc: Indiana U.S.A.

In a word, yes. :)

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

What he said!

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

cheapiest macro homemade and works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGdE15Qj3iA

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

only the red ones