Getting the big picture with macro lenses
- This topic has 52 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated Oct 27, 2008 at 5:20 am by
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I am interested in discussing non-macro applications for macro lenses. Having been studying and reading about macro photography in depth the past few weeks I came across a few good articles about using macro lenses for portrait photography. Ben was also kind enough to help me “think outside the box” and explore the potential of macro in different scenarios like portraiture and landscape. The advantage of using a macro lens for non-macro photography is that you get more use out of the equipment. The only downside to macro lenses is they are slow to focus. But for portrait work or landscape, you don’t exactly need fast focusing.
I am now less afraid of the lens and more willing to go get every day shots. It’s kind of like a lightbulb went off once I realized that camera equipment is like fly tying – there can be many applications for any one piece of equipment, you are limited only by your imagination. Unfortunately, my models are usually the neighborhood dogs.
I would love to see some examples of what others are doing with macro lenses or examples of “non-traditional” applications of a specific lens.
macro lens for portraits
Semi-macro portrait (taking advantage of the macro ability to focus on hair)
105mm micro Nikkor
The black claw
I’ve been really happy with quite a few shots from my 100mm macro.. Its just big and heavy. So, I dont take it out as often as I’d like 🙂
These were all shot with my 180 f3.5 macro.
Grey Wolves
Dragon in flight
If you want/need the focal range don’t be afraid to use it, or get trapped in a mindset that 1:1 macros are only good for close focus work.
Focusing can be slow, especially in low contrast situations when it hunts. Flip to manual focus instead, which you should be doing with close focusing anyways.
They make great portrait lenses. I’ve got a bunch of family portraits by mine. A 180 f.35 has great compression and…gag…”Bokeh”. I generally don’t upload pics of kids to the web though unless its sporting events.
My 50mm 2.8 Macro is one of the sharpest lenses I own. The 100mm is supposed to be even better.
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Yep, lots of great shots there !
I love the 50 and 100 Canon Macros and almost always have both on a fishing trip.
Often I just take the 16-35 and the 100 macro to keep weight down, the 100 does great portraits and is also a good lens for shooting full length angler shots.
Both the 50 and 100 are very sharp.Here’s a tighter shot.
And a full length angler shot.
And one from work-
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
I hope the faster focus on the A700 will allow me to get some good dragon shots like Johns.
They are a pain to shoot, I chased one all over for about half an hour once and got zip..
That’s when I gave up on insects.. ;D
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
They are a pain to shoot, I chased one all over for about half an hour once and got zip..
That’s when I gave up on insects.. ;D
You gave up too soon, David. It takes at least 4-5 hours of holding a fly out on the end of your extended finger, before you can get a decent shot. This one finally came in licking his chops. ::)
Those are nice photos everybody.
Go ahead Scott, rub it in…. ;D
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
I shoot with the 105VR a ton. Most likley more than I should.
Not tack sharp, but was trying to look for a softer image. Something that held his -just got done sobbing gaze.
Christmas Pictures, again not tack sharp, hand holding and using natural light from a bay window. Something draws me to then natural lighting. I just find it pleasing….
My niece, at four already a DIVA -again the 105 vr.
So I use it a lot while fishing too.
In my kit, I seem to always pull out the 105 vr.
WOW!! There are some great shots in this thread. One thing is for sure: This board has the best photograph’s, on any of the fly fishing board!!
WOW!! There are some great shots in this thread. One thing is for sure: This board has the best photograph’s, on any of the fly fishing board!!
Agreed…
Are all those shots taken with a Macro Lense and/or macro settings on the cameras???
Are all those shots taken with a Macro Lense and/or macro settings on the cameras???
My pics are all from the Nikon 105VR. The intent of the post is show what CAN be done with a macro lens. Quite honestly, it took me a long time (and a great deal of reading) to understand the basics of lens design. I’m still learning! For example, I struggled to understand why a macro lens like the 105mm was also called a “telephoto”. Originally I thought that macro meant that you had to be close up and that telephoto meant far away like in sports photography. As you know it is very very very difficult to get a straight answer on the internet and the more I read the more confused the subject became. Then the light-bulb turned on and it finally started to make sense – the three basic categories of lenses are simple – wide angle, regular, and telephoto and that is just in reference to the focal length (wide is wide, regular is like what human eye sees and telephoto is narrow angle but pulls the subject in closer – forgive me for my basic analogy). However, the “macro” part is like adding an adjective to the sentence – it is just an additional design feature that allows the lens to focus in close like 1:1 or greater.
So I have two macro lenses – Nikon 60mm f2.8D and the 105mm VR. I did the homework and took a bunch of shots and sure enough both lenses will take great macro up close (e.g. flies, flowers, eyes, and for me medical lesions). But both lenses still take respective pictures at their focal length, thus the 60mm is like a 60mm prime lens (more like a 90mm on my D300) and the 105 is in fact a great medium telephoto lens (more like a 130mm on a non-FX camera). I am NOT advocating everyone rush out and buy a macro lens, it is still a niche piece of equipment. I am just glad that I get to use my macro lenses to take non-macro for now because it saves me having to buy additional lenses. That will come in time.
The real test for me comes in the form of medical photography. If I use the 60mm I have to get the lens basically right up on the subject and that tends to make people uncomfortable. However, with the 105mm I can stand back a foot or so and get the same 1:1 macro image simply because of its focal length. Same goes for shooting bugs, you can use a 105mm or 200mm lens and stand back a ways and still get macro without scaring the subject.
Some additional shots with the 105mm showing the versatility of the lens.
Here are some of mine from my Canon 50mm 2.5 Compact Macro. I love the lens for portraits, and it’s the lens that is usually on my camera. But as I was going through my photo stream, I noticed I’ve used my wide angle zoom a lot more.
The above photo basically has no depth to it so you don’t see the affects of the macro lens.
http://society6.com/grainfarmer Fly Fishing and Landscape open edition Photography prints.
http://grainfarmer.vsco.co/ iPhone photos
http://instagram.com/chad_simcox InstagramWhat’s that saying, Pandora Box something… open… OMG, light on, Going to try it out tonight…
Guys, what a great way to learn, thanks to all, best sight on the net…
GO ZACH…Some great pics there guys!!!
I use my 100 for all kinds of things but particularly fish portraits.
And other shots.
Man there are some great photos posted in this forum. Corey, Mike, Aaron, Will and Morsie, I’m looking at you guys. I think I’m going to have to look in to buying a 100mm macro.
http://society6.com/grainfarmer Fly Fishing and Landscape open edition Photography prints.
http://grainfarmer.vsco.co/ iPhone photos
http://instagram.com/chad_simcox Instagram
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