Macro lens or adapter ring - what to choose for macro photography?

If you are passionate about nature and graphics, you are definitely interested in macro photography. What accessories do you need for spectacular shots? How to use them correctly? We answer!

Have you ever dreamed of capturing insects or flowers up close? Or maybe a falling snowflake or a drop of water? The effects of such graphics can be really impressive and allow you to show your audience the world from a perspective they don't see in everyday life. Macro photography is really addictive - many people, once trying to take a picture in this mode, completely surrender to macro photography.

Macrography - what you need to know?

As a type of graphic art in which the subject is captured life-size or even enlarged, macrography is great for capturing the beauty of nature in the frame - although this does not mean that it cannot be used for other purposes. Shooting macro photography requires knowledge of manual camera controls as well as appropriate accessories. When shooting with a lens with a long or medium focal length, it will be difficult to get the desired effect.

when you draw small objects you should be able to zoom in as much as possible and also be able to capture as many of them as possible.

Display scale is an important concept in macrography.

The basis for understanding macro photography is reproduction scale, a concept that refers to the magnification factor of a given lens. Simply put, it can be defined as the ratio of the size of a graphical object to the size of its reflection on the matrix. It basically marks the intersection of the object's axis and its projection. So to capture an object at a 1:1 scale with a macro lens, you need to maintain a distance from the object of at least twice its focal length.

The magnification at which a graphic object can be captured depends on the display scale. Each lens should have a reproduction scale value to help you evaluate its macrographic suitability.

Macro lens - what parameters should it have?

As in the case of other types of graphics, macrography also requires excellent technical training. To take good macro shots, you need to know how to properly set the exposure by manipulating ISO sensitivity, aperture value, and shutter speed settings. In the case of macro graphics, it is also possible to sharpen the image in such a way as to extract maximum detail from the graphic image.

A macro lens should be suitable for shooting from a very short distance at the maximum possible zoom. Taking into account the reproduction scale mechanism described above, it is not difficult to conclude what the focal length of such a lens should be. For macro lenses, it is usually quite short - from 40 to 100 mm. Such parameters allow you to take a photo at a scale of 1:1 and larger at the optimal distance. Look for lenses with a fixed focal length - zoom is not suitable for macro photography. Although varifocal allows you to zoom in, this comes at the cost of quality.

Should I strive for the shortest focal length? Although this will significantly reduce the distance of focus, it can be quite difficult to make graphics in satisfactory quality in this case. However, if you feel like you have enough experience to handle it, it's definitely worth a try.

Lenses with a focal length of 90-100mm provide the best balance of plotting convenience and quality. Among other things we recommend: TAMRON 272EE, TAMRON SP 90mm or quite affordable SAMYANG 100mm. Do you need a macro lens for your phone? This solution is also possible. Experience comfortable mini Kodak lenses. Thanks to their use, you will make spectacular graphics of insects, plants or other small objects at a scale of 1:1 without quality loss.

Macro rings - what is it?

Macro rings are an alternative that allows you to use lenses to plot at 1:1 scale. How is this possible when ordinary lenses do not guarantee such a possibility? Due to the fact that you mount the adapter ring, the lens will be at a greater distance from the sensor. And this, in turn, will allow you to focus near.

The ring is a great solution if you don't necessarily want to buy a new lens, and at the same time want to get the best effect - rich detail, so important in macro photography. When choosing adapter rings, remember that they must match the brand of camera and lens, such as Sony or Nikon, as they can vary in size.

You can also select filters to be applied to the lens. However, this practice can negatively affect the quality of your photos.

Taking macro photos is not as difficult as it might seem - here the choice of equipment is key. Thanks to lenses and rings, you can capture the beauty of small objects on a grand scale!

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