When do you need a macro lens?

[Soulburner]

And is a macro lens different than a close-up lens?

How is it different than a teleconverter?

Basically I want sharp, focused close-ups of objects at distances like you would find at a zoo (animals). Would I need one or is my S3 adequate out of the box?

[Magnj]

Macro Lenses are for pictures at or greater than 1:1. This means you want a photo of a penny at really high detail. This would be taken with a 50 or 100mm lens. What your talking about it simply a zoom lens. If you want sharp pics of something far away that is simply a zoom lens in the 100+mm category.

As far as your S3 goes I have no idea on the focal length of that lens

[Soulburner]

I found out that all a macro lens does is let you get physically closer to an object and still focus.

I don't need one for my S3 then. I can focus on an object all the way down to less than 1cm from the lens.

So that doesn't really make sense to me. All of my cameras have done fine at focusing on objects up close, I thought that was normal and focusing on objects very far away was the problem.

[trance565]

yeah, macro lense will let you get like.... camera--> | |<-- object

and still have clarity

most digital cameras will have a "macro" mode button, or a "super macro" mode, which lets you get 3 inches with detail, or 1 inch or less, with detail respectivley on my camera.

[thunderstruck!]

I found out that all a macro lens does is let you get physically closer to an object and still focus.

I don't need one for my S3 then. I can focus on an object all the way down to less than 1cm from the lens.

So that doesn't really make sense to me. All of my cameras have done fine at focusing on objects up close, I thought that was normal and focusing on objects very far away was the problem.

If your S3 is hunting at the long end of the zoom, just use center point or you can move the point around manually iirc.

[Ashraf]

Super Marco mode seems work, but I'll buy a Canon 500D 58mm Close up Lens since I have a lens adapter/hood tube for S3 IS.

[irev210]

this is when you need a macro lens




A macro lens does 1 of 2 things-

1) it is typically sharper than your standard lens, since you need really sharp images when you are taking close ups. Sharper means better quality glass

2) the focus ring has a broad range

[Planet]

Your S3 IS has a 0-10CM super macro i think. Good for taking really good close up pictures.

[Growly]

Awesome example photo

He took that with an EOS-20D, which means that it's bound to look good no matter what

[3oh6]

He took that with an EOS-20D, which means that it's bound to look good no matter what

when dealing with SLRs...the camera isn't what makes great photos, 9 times out of 10 its the glass

[irev210]

when dealing with SLRs...the camera isn't what makes great photos, 9 times out of 10 its the glass

couldnt agree more

Here is how I rank it (depending on what you are shooting of course)

1) Photographer
2) Glass
3) Image processing
4) Flash
5) Body

All four parts support each other.

The body is just a "facilitator", even a flash and accessories are more important than the body

and honestly, my macro lens isnt even that sharp. Just an EF-S 60MM

What I drool for is a 100MM macro.

[Nephilim]

3) Image processing

Of course you mean on the PC after taking the shot, not internal camera processing because of course we all shoot in RAW here

Very often the body can let down the shot, ie. using a 1.6 cropped sensor body with an EF 24-105 will lose a ton at the wide end vs a full frame body like a 5D.

Another thing that a cropped sensor will rob you of is shallow depth of field with anything besides EF-S lenses (in the canon camp). That will reduce the impact of some shots and also give far worse looking portrait shots.

[irev210]

Of course you mean on the PC after taking the shot, not internal camera processing because of course we all shoot in RAW here

Very often the body can let down the shot, ie. using a 1.6 cropped sensor body with an EF 24-105 will lose a ton at the wide end vs a full frame body like a 5D.

Another thing that a cropped sensor will rob you of is shallow depth of field with anything besides EF-S lenses (in the canon camp). That will reduce the impact of some shots and also give far worse looking portrait shots.

Heh, yes, I should have written post image processing.

while I am no pro, a full framed SLR is a little out of reach for me.

But still, if I had $2000 to upgrade to a 5D or buy $2000 in glass, I would buy more glass. What I could do with a few new lenses is far more advantageous to me over a better body, however everyone shoots different things so it is different for everyone.