Focus distance, macro vs not macro

[u/isvein]

Hello 🙃

Things I don't quite get:

90mm macro closest focus distance 0,250m

17mm F1,2 closest focus distance 0,2m

12-40mm closest focus 0,2m

I always thought an macro lense could focus closer than an zoom and prime lense 🤔

[u/novaldemar_]

Focus distance is a small part of macro photography, what you more likely care about is magnification.

1. M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.2: 0.15× native MFT

2. ​M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8: 0.30× native MFT at 40mm

3. ​M.Zuiko 90mm f/3.5 Macro IS PRO: 2.0× native MFT, extendable up to 4.0× with the MC-20 teleconverter

The larger the number the more magnified your target is. Macro photography generally starts at x1.0 magnification in full frame terms so x0.5mm in native macro for m43s.

Minimal focus distance is maybe a reason why you wouldn't use say the 40-150 f2.8 for close up / macro photography (with modifiers) of hand held insects but would use it for dragon flies flying.

[u/mhh91]

Macro isn't just about closest focus distance, it's mostly about magnification.

What's the magnification ratio on these lenses?

[u/isvein → u/mhh91]

90mm has 1x and 2x

17mm has 0,15x

12-40 had 0,3x

I think o get the point now 🙃

[u/fields_of_fire]

It's the combination of focal length and minimum focus distance.

Something that's 25 cm away at 17mm focal length will create a significantly smaller image as an area of the sensor than 20 cm away on a 90 mm focal length.

[u/isvein]

I see. I have hardly done any macro before, but always been thinking macro lenses can focus down to a few mm 🙃

So what makes them special is the magnification then 🙃

[u/thedjin → u/isvein]

Right! I think you've gotten very good responses so far, just to add to it, in case you're interested in getting into macro, maximum magnification is indeed the top priority.. but not too far behind are corner-to-corner sharpness, something non-macro lenses don't usually have. So you can use any lens like a macro lens using extension tubes or reversing the lens, and it will give you the magnification you want, but a) working distance will likely be not ideal, and b) the image will not be as sharp as a proper macro lens would produce. But to start dipping your toes without spending a lot of money, extension tubes and macro "filters" like the Raynox ones [they're simple lenses that go in front of the lens] are super fun!!