Canon® EOS Digital Photography Photo Workshop

7.2. CONSIDER A CLOSE-UP LENS

Close-up, or macro, photography requires either a lens dedicated to functioning at close range or one 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. 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 (see 7-2) — you can get closer and you won't need a long lens, which is often more expensive. With these factors in mind, the next thing to consider is the actual quality of the macro lens, which of course will have a strong bearing on its price.

Of the five lenses with a macro designation in their name, Canon considers the EF-S60 to be the best entry-level model that also functions as a general purpose lens, followed by the EF-50; both of these lenses are reasonably affordable, and the EF-S60 has the most versatile range for a large variety of shooting. From there, you can move up to more specialized capabilities depending on the ...