Mirrorless Macro Photography

Today’s Post by Joe Farace

The classical definition of macro photography is that the image projected onto the film plane or digital sensor is the same size as the subject. These days, the term “macro” has come to mean being able to focus on a subject close enough so that the image is life-size or larger when viewing a 4×6 inch print. If you’ve done the math, this only requires a magnification ratio of approximately 1:4.

I made the above photograph using a Panasonic Lumix G5 (before I converted it to infrared capture) with the G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5 -5.6 ASPH kit lens at its closest focus (about 12 inches) with the lens at 42mm using only a “down light” above the kitchen counter where this rose was sitting in a bud vase. Exposure was 1/30 sec at f/5.6 and ISO 800.

I would call the above image more of a closeup photograph than true macro but this image was made to kick off a series of posts on the subject of macro photography that ares scattered throughout the blog. What I hope will be interesting in this series is that I plan to focus on inexpensive ways to make macro photographs without having to resort to the purchase of an expensive macro lens. Click on the Search aka GO window above to find the other posts.

Looking for a good book about macro photography? Pick up a copy of my friend Rob Sheppard’s Macro Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots , that’s available in digital and print versions from Amazon. And don’t miss Mildred Alpern‘s post on “The Flowers of June,” coming up on Monday.