What is macro photography?
Macro photography is one such technique that many passionate photographers are fond of. Macro photography is sometimes also known as macrography or photomicrography. In this type of photography extreme close-ups of the subjects, usually very small in size, are captured. The photographs therefore represent the subjects in a ‘larger than life’ form. Some definitions say that a macro photograph is one in which the completed photograph of the small subject is much larger than its original size and according to others, a macro photograph is one in which the subject’s size on the image sensor or negative, is greater or life size.
Equipment that are used to obtain a macro photograph
Macro lenses
For close up snaps, exclusively designed macro lenses are used that have a long barrel. This helps in focusing closely and the lenses are also optimized to obtain high ratios of reproduction. Most macro lenses offer brilliant optical quality for regular photography and also help you focus constantly to infinity. Macro lenses like the Minolta AF 3x-1x 1.7-2.8 Macro or the Canon MP-E 65 mm f/2.8 provide really high magnification which makes photography of minute subjects like snowflakes, insect eyes, etc. possible.
Extension tubes & adjustable bellows
Photographers also insert adjustable bellows or extension tubes to lengthen the space between the sensor or film and the lens. These pieces of equipment can also be used in macro photography to get best results. The extension tubes or bellows do away with infinity focus. This can also be used along with techniques such as reversing the lens.
Auxiliary close-up lens or close-up ‘filter’
Another technique used to capture macro photographs is by placing an auxiliary close-up lens in front of the lens of the camera. This option is quite convenient as the attachments are affordable and can be slipped or screwed onto the camera to make close focusing available. The auxiliary close-up lenses works best for cameras that come with fixed lenses but might affect the quality and sharpness of the images compared to extension tubes or fixed macro lenses.
A sigma macro lens for canon cameras may differ from macro lenses for Nikon cameras. The Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is a good macro lens for the photography of wildlife, nature, events, weddings, portraits, etc. The macro lens is optically stabilized and has a large aperture. The lens also has FLD glass elements resulting in good quality photographs.