macro vs micro: I am new to digital SLRs and have a nikon D5100. I'd like to be able to take close up pictures of honey bees for a bee keeper friend of mine. Which is the best way to...

Terrame

I am new to digital SLRs and have a nikon D5100. I'd like to be able to take close up pictures of honey bees for a bee keeper friend of mine. Which is the best way to go? Micro or macro lens? At this point I am still using fully automatic settings.

snowbear

For some reason, Nikon labels to their macro lenses as "Micro" - they are the same thing. These will certainly work for you, but you'll probably want to learn to use the manual or semi-manual modes.

There are quite a few posts here on closeups, as well as a number of books on the subject.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Choose a pedantic definition:

Macrophotography or photomacrography -- photography at life size or greater on the film or sensor.

Microphotography -- producing very small pictures

Photomicrography -- photography through a microscope, typically at 10x or bigger on the film or sensor

Trying to enforce 'correct' usage of any of these is an uphill task. Judge a lens by what it does, not what it calls itself. Lens designers are seldom sticklers for linguistic perfection, and, for obvious reasons, many marketing departments actively dislike linguistic perfection.

Cheers,

R.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Here are a few UHH "Frequently Asked Questions" (and Answers), pertinent to your question:

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

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

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

FAQ: Extension Tubes vs 2x (Doubler)
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user_page.jsp?upnum=218

Terrame

Thank You!

diannarucker Loc: Iowa

snowbear wrote:

For some reason, Nikon labels to their macro lenses as "Micro" - they are the same thing. These will certainly work for you, but you'll probably want to learn to use the manual or semi-manual modes.

There are quite a few posts here on closeups, as well as a number of books on the subject.

Question, why would you need to learn to use the manual or semi manual mode for the macro lens if it is an automatic focus lens. Asking because I'm wanting to order this lens but the manual focus is much cheaper of course.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

diannarucker wrote:

Question, why would you need to learn to use the manual or semi manual mode for the macro lens if it is an automatic focus lens. Asking because I'm wanting to order this lens but the manual focus is much cheaper of course.

I still own a Nikkor 55-mm macro lens, purchased new in 1972 (manual focus only). Eventually, I obtained a Nikkor 105D (A-F but no VR), and found that small central spot for A-F was better than my astigmatic eyes. Now I use a Nikkor 105G (A-F + VR), which also compensates for my less-than-steady hand-held macro-photography. I love A-F + VR!