Ashvarts wrote:.

I'm trying to get a better understanding of lenses. I know that amacro lens is used for close-up photography, but that's about it. Ihave no idea what a micro lens is, can someone tell me? Also, does.

If you mean micro, as in a Micro-Nikkor lesn, there is no difference....Nikon just elected to call their brand of macro lenses as Micro-Nikkors. I suppose just to add to the confusion......

JohnPentax *ist-D, K100D, Fuji F20/31fd, Oly Stylushttp://www.pbase.com/jglover..

The term "macro-photography" originally meant photography with images at 1:1 (life-size) or greater. Now most "true macro" lenses provide 1:1 as the largest image possible without adapters such as extension tubes. In fact, the 50mm f/2.5 Canon which is considered a "true macro" lens cannot provide images larger than 1:2 (half life-size) without the accessory adapter..

Using the older definition of "macro"; the only lens (with an EOS mount anyway) that I know of that is capable of achieving from 1:1 to 5:1 (five times life-size) imagery is the Canon MP-E 65mm Macro Lens. This is also the only EOS lens (that I know of) that is incapable of focusing at infinity and which cannot be used as a general purpose lens..

The term "micro photography" originally meant photography using a microscope..

Neither the original definition of "macro" nor the original definition of "micro" is valid in today's terms. Nikon termed their "macro" lenses as "micro-Nikkor" lenses and there are a large number of zooms which add the term "macro" to their titles when they are only "close-focusing" lenses able to provide imagery around 1:4 (one quarter life-size) or so..

Now, as far as using a macro lens for other than macro work - they can be great. My Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Macro is a wonderful portrait lens. The 90mm focal length, f/2.8 aperture and it's terrifically creamy smooth bokeh are super for portraits. I would hazard a guess that owners of the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens are also happy using that lens for portrait work..

Retired Navy Master Chief Photographer's Mate. I was a Combat Cameraman, Motion Picture Director, and a Naval Aircrewman. I also had experience in reconnaissance and intelligence photography. I have had considerable commercial photo experience in weddings and advertising photography. I am fully retired now although I dabble occasionally in dog portraiture. I presently use Canon DSLR cameras...

Here's another usage of "micro lenses": they are an array of small lenses used over pixels on sensors to direct as much light as possible to the sensor's active area..

As already stated "Macro" photography formally means when the magnification, ie. the ratio of the image to sensor size, is on the order of 1:1. There is an underlying physical reason for this distinction based on optics. An example is in the equation describing depth of field..

DOF=2Cf(1+1/m)/m where c is circle of confusion, f is f-stop, and m is magnification.

For normal photography (small magnification), DOF changes with the square of magnification, while for large magnifications it is close to inversely linear in magnification..

Dave..

Thank you all. I'm convinced that these forums are the best source for photography information on the net. You guys are awesome. I love how you can get your basic question answered in layman's terms, and on top of that you get all the technical/scientific knowledge as well. Can't wait to use the 90mm f/2.8 lens. Portraits is exactly what I had in mind..

Thanks everyone..

[art]..

I don't think you'd want to use a macro lens for portraits....unless you want to see the pores in the skin. !.

Ashvarts LucyU ZI owner!Olympus C30-20Zhttp://www.pbase.com/lucyFCAS Member #98, Oly Division'Photography is the art of seeing what others do not.'.

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We certainly don't want portraits that show every pore (except in certain unusual cases). However, using Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or, I imagine, most other post production software, you can factor in any amount and any type of diffusion you desire..

The nice thing about a sharp image is that you can always diffuse it. You cannot effectively make a fuzzy image sharp and look good..

Retired Navy Master Chief Photographer's Mate. I was a Combat Cameraman, Motion Picture Director, and a Naval Aircrewman. I also had experience in reconnaissance and intelligence photography. I have had considerable commercial photo experience in weddings and advertising photography. I am fully retired now although I dabble occasionally in dog portraiture. I presently use Canon DSLR cameras...

Hi Lucy, I've seen you over on OTF quite a few times before..

A "macro" lense doesn't necessarily mean "for close up only." Rather, it is generally a prime lense designed for the possibility of focusing close to the subject. So a macro lense can focus close, but it can also focus to infinity. This means that you can get that really close up picture you want, but also look up and take a picture of your friend 100 meters away..

In contrast to a macro lense, a regular zoom lense does everything the same, except it's closest focusing distance may be a few inches further away. So while you can get up to, say, 6" with your macro lense, you may only be able to get up to 12" with your normal zoom lense. (Remember that the close focusing distance is measured from the plane of the sensor, not the front element of the camera. In this case 6" from the sensor may in fact be only 0.5" from the front of the lense.).

You can sort of apply the "square versus rectangle" analogy here. All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. Likewise, all lenses that focus closely are macro lenses, but not all macro lenses must focus closely. Well I guess it sorta works.  .

Back to the point. Many people use macro lenses for portrait photography because they are prime lenses (do not zoom), are fast (large maximum aperture), and have a good magnification ratio (maximum image to subject ratio). For example, I love using my Olympus ZD 50mm f/2 macro lense for portraits - it's very sharp, fast, and has a very good working distance. Even better when combined with the EC-14..

Tim'Be the change you wish to see in the world.' -Mahatma Gandhihttp://www.flickr.com/photos/timskis6/..

Don't forget, if you use a macro lens for portraits and your subject is 6' away for example focus will be from about 5'9' to 6'9" i.e. you get a very shallow depth of field..........

Which can both hinder and help with portrait photography.Tim'Be the change you wish to see in the world.' -Mahatma Gandhihttp://www.flickr.com/photos/timskis6/..

....and so I'm glad I mentioned my concern.....I have a macro lens and didn't realize all it's uses....so I really appreciate your explanation. And I think I'll be getting more use out of my B-macro lens now. Thank you!.

LucyU ZI owner!Olympus C30-20Zhttp://www.pbase.com/lucyFCAS Member #98, Oly Division'Photography is the art of seeing what others do not.'.

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