macro pictures, what is it?

[fungia]

i hear people say macro pictures a lot but what is a macro picture? is it just a picture that zoomed in a lot?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes fungia, that's pretty much all it is. Most decent cameras have a macro mode and there are some add on lenses for even higher macro abilities.

Louey

 

[jamesw]

The exact definition of a "macro" shot is this:

The subject matter in the photo is smaller than 36mm across. That means "1 to 1 reproduction ratio"

The term has evolved a bit with digital - but in general it means "close-up" photography.

HTH
James Wiseman

 

[azcaddman]

I dont know about 1:1 or better being macro, most photo contests it is 1:6 ( http://www.laups.org/contest_03.htm , and http://www.fordseahorses.org/_photo_con ... s2003.html ) or better

the ratio is from the old 'film' days, 1:1 being life sized, ie 1" on the film = 1" in the subject ... 1:6 would be 1" on film being 6" in subject

so for digital, i guess it would vary depending on the actual size of the sensor in your camera, if its 2/3", then the width of the subject would be 2/3" to be 1:1 (for example)

Art

 

[jamesw]

Hi Art,

I grappled with the sensor size issue for a while and decided it is irrelevant to the definition of "Macro" for digital cameras.

The definition of 1 to 1 is that you are geared up to photograph a critter that is 24mm x 36mm. (that's the size of 35mm film).

Whatever size you blow the image up to, the subject will still be a maximum of 36mm across. Pretty cool eh?

Cheers
James