Those zoom lenses with the macro switch

12 years 7 months ago #148227 by bs3f
I don't have one, so I don't know. But you know those zoom lenses that have a macro switch on it? If you switch it into macro, how does it work? Can you actually take a macro picture? I mean, is there a difference if you took a picture of a subject with or without that macro switch on?


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12 years 7 months ago #148248 by tennis man
I have seen that switch and have been wondering the same thing. I don't have one myself but I would love to know also.


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12 years 7 months ago #148250 by lawson fhoto
The macro mode switch on zoom lenses will generally enable a range of close focusing distances that are otherwise not availble. Often you might have to be in a certain zoom point on the lens for the switch to work as well.
This allows the lens to focus closer (at best up to 1:2 macro) and get an increased magnification - it will also often come with a slightly finer tuning abilty for those macro distance.

Note however that the macro mode on zooms is not considered to be true macro so whilst they are shots taken in the lenses "macro mode" its really a marketing gimik for close focusing.


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12 years 7 months ago #148251 by bs3f
Hey, thanks!

So the macro switch makes it easier to get close ups, but doesn't necessarily make the shots better, the way an macro lens might. Correct?


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12 years 7 months ago #148254 by lawson fhoto

bs3f wrote: Hey, thanks!

So the macro switch makes it easier to get close ups, but doesn't necessarily make the shots better, the way an macro lens might. Correct?


Yes you are correct.


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