Difference?

[breakaway]

What's the difference between telescopic lenses and lenses that have the same range but are labeled as "micro", i.e. for macro shots? Since they have similar ranges, what's actually the difference? working distance?

[sykestang]

Originally Posted by breakaway What's the difference between telescopic lenses and lenses that have the same range but are labeled as "micro", i.e. for macro shots? Since they have similar ranges, what's actually the difference? working distance?

Micro lenses generally are produces flatter images, thus one common saying that micro lenses is 'more sharper' than normal lenses, which is not exactly correct.

One example is the AF-D 105mm Micro f/2.8 and AF-D 105mm DC f/2. One is micro and the other is a portrait lens. For the 105mm f/2 Portrait lens, without setting any of the DeFocus ring, the image produce would be sharp at the point of focus and the side will gradually soften to gives you a more '3D' feel. This gave you a very nice portrait.

On the other hand, the 105mm f/2.8 Micro lens, being a micro lens, the images produces is not only sharp at the point of focus but also the sides. Thus this image looks flatter as compared to the above.

Also as for the working distance, a micro lens would allow one to focus nearer to the subject to achieve 1-1 as compared the other lenses with the micro function.

Hope this helps.

[bcoolboy]

Hi breakaway,

Here's a simple answer (I hope):

Telephoto lenses can focus on subjects from at least 3 feet away from end of the lense. There's a difference between tele and zoom lenses though. Zoom lenses can focus closer.

Micro (or Macro) lenses can focus on subjects as close as less than a foot away from the end of the lens. It's usually used to take pictures of tiny objects (i.e. insects, etc.).

Hope this helps.

cheers,
bcoolboy

[breakaway]

Thanks guys. The info from both of you is really helpful.. i'm contemplating between 60mm or 105mm nikkor micro.

[justarius]

Originally Posted by breakaway Thanks guys. The info from both of you is really helpful.. i'm contemplating between 60mm or 105mm nikkor micro.

The 105 will give you more working distance, and the field of view makes it slightly easier to get cleaner backgrounds.