How can a macro lens also be used for portraits? Confused!
Jul 11, 2012 12:59:13 #
AnnieB
Loc: UK
Hello there, I am looking at possibly buying an affordable macroCanon lens - I have had alot of fun with extension tubes, but would now like to take the next step. However, on looking around, I see that macro lens can also be used as "general purpose" lens - I just can't get my mind around this!! Perhaps because I have been using ext tubes, my mind set is that you can only take macros!!! I am very confused!! Hope someone can set me straight!
PS have been looking at EF-S 60mm f2.8 USM Macro Lens on my canon 550d to complement the 18-55 kit lens, the 55 - 250 zoom lens and the nifty fifty(just love this lens!
Thank you
PS have been looking at EF-S 60mm f2.8 USM Macro Lens on my canon 550d to complement the 18-55 kit lens, the 55 - 250 zoom lens and the nifty fifty(just love this lens!
Thank you
Jul 11, 2012 14:34:22 #
The macro lens is simply very well corrected, especially for close up, but that quality remains at other distances. Close up is the difficult job for lens design.
Jul 11, 2012 14:51:52 #
Jul 11, 2012 14:58:40 #
glojo
Loc: South Devon, England
This was taken with the Nikon 105mm Macro lens. The head is a crop off of that very same image.
Jul 11, 2012 15:41:16 #
Jul 12, 2012 05:47:31 #
AnnieB wrote:
Hello there, I am looking at possibly buying an af... (show quote)
For DSLR or interchangeable lens cameras, a "Macro" lens simply means that it can focus close enough to give a 1:1 image on the sensor, but it can also focus all the way to infinity like any other "regular" lens. When using film I had a 105mm Macro and quite often used it as my go-to general purpose lens, awesome for portraits!
Jul 12, 2012 05:49:10 #
Hi I bought the tamron 60 f2 macro lens I am really chuffed with the portraits it does for my Nikon d7000 but then got all keen and bought a sigma ring flash as well it's addictive
Don
Don
Jul 12, 2012 06:08:35 #
Jul 12, 2012 07:11:39 #
Jul 12, 2012 07:13:45 #
glojo
Loc: South Devon, England
Keenone wrote:
It certainly is and the 105mm lens can certainly get some detail... I just wish it had moved to a better location to get a more sensible back drop. :(What a character of an owl!
Jul 12, 2012 07:17:14 #
AnnieB wrote:
Hello there, I am looking at possibly buying an af... (show quote)
I have a Canon 100mm f2.8 L IS USM Macro lens. It is a 100mm lens first, therefore good to excellent for portrait work. However, there is a switch on the side of the barrel that allows the lens to focus FULL, or 0.5 meters to infinity, or .3 meters to .5 meters. Therefore, for macro shots, I can get down to about 9 inches from the subject (1:1 macro) and yet shoot out to infinity for portrait.
Hope that helps explain how one lens can do both.
Jul 12, 2012 07:46:55 #
donnz wrote:
Hi I bought the tamron 60 f2 macro lens I am really chuffed with the portraits it does for my Nikon d7000 but then got all keen and bought a sigma ring flash as well it's addictive
Don
Don
I had to look up "chuffed" since I'm not completely up on my British colloquialisms. And this can be a good addiction. ;-/)
Jul 12, 2012 08:44:00 #
Artsmith wrote:
Rather than the 60mm you might want to try the 100mm f2.8 macro
I bought a 35mm macro lens a couple of months ago and it was also touted as a "normal" lens. I also have a 50-200 zoom. I used the macro for many shots at my grand-daughter's birthday party (always helps to have the cutest grand-daughter in the world!) and it was easy to work with, giving the the wider view I wanted. But then I noticed one shot in particular of a man holding his grand-daughter on his knee, holding her with his right hand forefront in the shot. As I was up close, the hand looked enormous. I then (re)learned what I used to know way-back, that the macro, that close, in such a shot, will emphasize that which is closest.
I'm not necessarily advocating not using such a short lens, though in that case, the zoom would have worked better from across the room. (I liked the 35's sharper image.) But be aware of that effect when you do a portrait, up close, with a shorter lens.
I'm still re-learning a lot of stuff I used to know so if anyone else can expand on that issue, please do!
Jul 12, 2012 08:48:22 #
derekmadge wrote:
quote=Artsmith Rather than the 60mm you might wan... (show quote)
That is exactly why a 100mm Macro lens is better, it allow you to get the 1:1 ratio without getting so close and helps reduce or eliminate the distortion
Jul 12, 2012 08:48:56 #
mrlighteyez
Loc: Somewhere on Earth
That owl looks like he was up all night and was trying to get sleep during the day and his neighbor was making a whole bunch of noise in the morning keeping him up....so he threw on his house coat, one sock up, one sock rolled down and with squinted eyes told his neighbor (in his best Ben Stine voice): "If you do not keep the noise down I will be forced to put you into a half nelson and pluck your eyes out.....thank you for your cooperation"
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.