Comparison

Macro Vs Micro Photography: Know the Difference

Macro Vs Micro Photography

Photography is such a valued skill as it is not only about capturing the beauty we see around us; it is also about how aptly we include the essence of reality. Therefore, starting as a photographer, one should know the basics of photography and different photography types. This helps to know what kind of equipment, lens, and cameras would work better and help people get all the information before starting.

Many people get confused when terms such as “macro” and “micro” photography are used. This is also since these terms are quite technical, but said that it is pretty easy to know what these terms are and how it is different. 

But to understand these concepts and their differences, let’s first look at Close-up photography as it will make it easier to understand the different types of photography.

What is Close-up Photography?

Close-up Photography

The term itself is self-explanatory. Close-up photography is basically a close-up shot of the subject. This could be a shot of an insect, flowers, a headshot, or anything else. Generally photographing subjects in a close range such that it fills the frame is known as close-up photography. One can easily click such shots with any lens by zooming in to the subject or getting near it. 

Now that we know this concept, let’s quickly go through a brief on macro and microphotography.

Macro Photography

Macro Photography

People generally confuse this concept with close-up, and it’s partly true. Macro means something large, and in this photo, it allows the photographers to fill the complete frame with the subject to get the desired details. However, as it takes up the entire frame, one can lose the sense of tiny the subject is. 

Micro Photography

Micro Photography

Micro is the complete opposite of macro as it means something small. In this type of photography, the primary focus is on the small details. One can achieve a pro-level of finesse and details with this type of photography. 

Macro Vs Micro Photography

Macro Photography

Micro Photography

For macro photography, the ratio of the image will be 1:1 and it is also called life-size or X1 magnification. Generally, the ratios for the image are 20:1 or even greater than that for microphotography. 
This photography is helpful to get zoomed-in close-up shots of objects or subjects. This photography is used when the focus is on the fine details of the object to get a picture with clean details. 
Use a tripod when you are doing macro photography to get those details and to be closer to the subject.For achieving magnifications beyond X5 you can also attach your camera to the microscope
It is suggested to use a tight depth field for this photography to blur out the background and focus on the subjects to get the perfect close-up shot.People usually don’t use this type of photography much as it shows the object 20 times bigger than it actually is. 
Can be useful for getting close-up shots of flowers, bugs, water droplets, etc.One can get an image of cells, hemoglobin, and other such specimens by using microphotography.

Micro vs Macro Lens

Micro vs Macro Lens

Many people, especially those who are beginners, get confused between the functionality of Micro and Macro lenses. Let us help you to decide what you need and when you should use one. When we talk about lenses, both lenses are different just by names for the exact purpose. 

Let’s say, for example; we have few macro lenses – the 60mm F 2.8 for the Canon system and the 105 millimeter F 2.8 for the Nikon system. Both the manufacturers have several options in a similar range. Different companies can name their lenses differently; some might call it macro, whereas others might call it micro.

Well, there is no difference. Nikon calls their lenses micro, and almost everyone else calls them macro, but they mean the same thing. The names, though, give away their use close-ups. Anything small and detailed makes a great macro photo subject.

Picking up the Right Lens

See, the notable items include things like insects, butterflies, and flowers. But also popular are human eyes, water drops, and ice crystals. The main thing to consider when picking a macro lens is the focal length. Long focal lengths like the 100 mils and 105 mils are suitable for flighty subjects like insects because you can keep your distance.

They are also suitable for studio use for portraits for the same reason longer focal lengths like 180 ml macro are also available for more extreme requirements. But more common is the 60 mil. These lenses tend to be a little bit cheaper. They are helpful for things like flowers, stamps, and coin photography. 

60 mil comes up a close to hundred miles on an APS-C or DX body like the Canon 50d, so it can be beneficial if you’re getting started as it’s pretty flexible. You can also use Altura flash for canon for more details and some fantastic night clicks. 

Nikon vs Canon Lenses

Nikon vs Canon Lenses

Both Nikon and Canon keep adding to their range of micro and macro lenses; for example, Nikon has their 40 millimeter Micro DX bodies, and third-party manufacturers like Sigma have more affordable variants for standard focal lengths. So, choose as per your need, comfort, and convenience.

Concluding Remarks

It is easier to decide which equipment and lenses to get once you know the type of photography you would like to do. You can also go through macro and microlenses available near you or online. To add more precision, you can also pair your lenses with canon flashes that will make your work easier and enhance the overall quality of shots while shooting in the dark or night.

About JACOB CRONE

Jacob Crone has spent too much time on researching and finding the best stuff for my Canon DSLR, and this led him to make bestcanonflash.com. As he found that millions of cameras are sold every year, and photographers like me are looking for cool and useful stuff for them all the time. So he wanted to make a site dedicated mostly to camera owners to help them get better results.

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