Canon® EOS Digital Photography Photo Workshop

6.8. MACRO LENSES

Close-up, or macro, photography requires a lens that is either dedicated to functioning at a close range or that has the ability to take short-distance images along with other features. Several Canon lenses offer a macro function either as an option to other capabilities or as their primary purpose, and they vary according to how specialized you want to be with this unique type of photography.

The primary difference between the various types of macro photography is how far you can be from your subject and how much magnification the lens provides. If you are shooting insects, for example, which in many cases won't let you get a foot or less away from them to shoot, you'll probably need a longer lens to capture them alive in their natural habitat. On the other hand, if you're shooting something that will stand still for you — such as a flower or a small product for a catalog — you can get closer and you won't need a long lens. As for magnification, being able to fill a frame with a close-up image is essential to producing high-resolution images.

6.8.1. CANON'S MACRO LENS LINEUP

Macro lenses vary according to focal length and for the magnification level they can reach; for example, my favorite is the Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo, a dedicated macro lens that can shoot up to five times life-size (1:1) (see 6-24). This means if you adjust it to its maximum macro magnification level (5x), you can get an ant to literally fill your frame. It has outstanding ...