Top 5 Macro Lenses for Macro Photography
23
May 2023

Discovering macro photography is much like stepping into a new, somewhat smaller universe than the one we are accustomed to. You learn to appreciate the tiny things and the finer points that we often overlook.

In this post, we'll outline some of the main justifications for why a macro lens should be part of your lens arsenal and offer several macro lens suggestions for individuals looking to experiment with this photographic style. Yes, there are lenses that might enable you to briefly enter into the realm of macro photography by getting near enough to a subject, but they all have their limitations. The purpose of macro lenses is to perform well in the environment.

Why You Should Invest in a Macro Lens

For a variety of reasons, macro lenses will never allow you to become bored or lose enthusiasm in your profession. People frequently like to associate "close-ups" with macro photography. Although this is understandable as you seem extremely close to a subject, sometimes it's not the same thing. It's a common misconception that using macro lenses requires getting up close to your subject in order to capture it, however this is often not the case.

Also, using a genuine macro lens makes you more conscious of all the factors that must come together for you to get the ideal macro photo. Because everything in your frame is amplified, everything that might be off even slightly will become apparent. You are consequently compelled to pay closer attention to factors like your shutter speed, manual focus, aperture values, and illumination.

CANON EF 100MM F/2.8 L IS USM MACRO LENS

This macro lens is quite small and has an approximate 96mm equivalent effective focal length. This efficiently makes it a fantastic lens for close-up photography and portraiture in general. Its USM motor nearly whispers when it's operating, which is why it is frequently referred to as the "silent shooter." Little makes photographers happier than a lens that generates virtually no noise. Additionally, it has a large focused window, a 52mm filter thread that is both tiny and affordable, and a large focused window that supports suitable filters.

Sony SAL30M28 30mm f/2.8 Lens

This is your chance to shine, Sony users. This macro lens has a sleek design and weighs roughly 150g. One must praise Sony for the aesthetic appeal of their products because they consistently have a modern or premium appearance, which frequently influences the decision to buy. When used with APS-C cameras, this lens has an effective 35mm focal length of 45mm. It's been found that this lens particularly shines at food as well as product photography.

Tamron AF 60mm f/2.0 SP DI II LD IF 1:1

Tamron, a leading producer of third-party lenses with Sigma and Tokina, did an excellent job with the design of this lens. With the exception of the lengthy moniker, this lens is probably just as lightweight as Nikon 40mm f/2.8. No matter what brand you use, you won't have to miss out on all the fun because it is compatible with Nikon, Canon, and even Sony. The wide aperture, along with the internal focus, aids in low-light situations. It works well at a focal length of roughly 90mm when mounted on an APS-C body, which makes it excellent for taking portraits too.

Nikon AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G

The ideal macro lens for a novice macro photographer is this one. This lens has a superb focal length that is similar to 60mm on the majority of DX-format devices and is rather lightweight. Although image stabilization would have been nice, it does include a close range corrective system to make up for it. With the aid of this technique, image quality is maintained even at near focusing distances. Its built-in coating aids in allowing the camera sensor to receive as much light as possible.

Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR

Comparing this lens to the f/2.8, the aperture size is a little bit different. The effective focal length of this lens, however, is around 130mm when it is placed on a DX-format body. Both portrait and macro photography can be done with this. As you can see, most of the lenses on the list share this characteristic since they are excellent for both macro as well as portrait photography. Additionally, this lens features an integrated vibration reduction mechanism, which should help capture freehand macro shots that are sharper.

Final Word

Every seasoned photographer and videographer's toolkit includes macro lenses. A macro camera lens can lead to entirely new photographic opportunities, when used for the right kind of photography!