MACRO: What is 1:1, 1:2,1:4 etc?

[TrailsofLife]

Hi guys,

Been exposed to Macro photography lately, wanted to try but don't understand what's those ratios on Macro lenses do? And how will the image turn out in different ratio.

Anyone can explain?

Thankyouverymuch.
Max 2.8

 

[user111]

they are size (magnification) ratios.

1:1 means life size ie the image as appears in viewfinder is same size as it exists

 

[mervlam]

they are size (magnification) ratios.

1:1 means life size ie the image as appears in viewfinder is same size as it exists

not viewfinder lah

1:1 means life size as in the image on the sensor/film is of the same size of the physical object

1:2 means it's half size, and so on.

 

[blurblock]

Hi guys,

Been exposed to Macro photography lately, wanted to try but don't understand what's those ratios on Macro lenses do? And how will the image turn out in different ratio.

Anyone can explain?

Thankyouverymuch.
Max 2.8

1:1 = if you take the item and place it on the flim, it should be the same size.
1:2 = if you take the item and place it on the flim, the flim should be showing half the size of the object.....

etc etc .

The image will become smaller lor, lesser details ......

 

[mervlam]

1:1 = if you take the item and place it on the flim, it should be the same size.
1:2 = if you take the item and place it on the flim, the flim should be showing half the size of the object.....

etc etc .

The image will become smaller lor, lesser details ......

OT... it's film, not flim...

makes me go a bit crazy over this.... :bsmilie: :angel:
reminds me of people who pronounce film as FEE-LIM

 

[TrailsofLife]

So that means if I shoot a grasshopper with a 1:1 lens, the grasshopper can fill up the length of a frame and half a frame with a 1:2 lens?

What about the distant of the lens from subject? If at the same distance say...30cm from subject, how will a 1:2 lenses image be different from a 1:1 lenses image?

Pai sey, what is the cheapest macro lens now in the market? :embrass:

I am thinking of Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6, anyone know where's the cheapest? What's the market price?

 

[TrailsofLife]

1:1 = if you take the item and place it on the flim, it should be the same size.
1:2 = if you take the item and place it on the flim, the flim should be showing half the size of the object.....

etc etc .

The image will become smaller lor, lesser details ......

Oh...O.K. So I have to move nearer to shoot for a 1:2 lens to get the subject bigger?

 

[jumbocrab]

When the macro lens says its 1:1, it is the maximum, and that is usually only achievable when you are at the minimum focusing distance, so you cannot go any bigger than that. Any further, it will be smaller.

The minimum focussing distance is an important consideration. If minimum is at 30cm, and the lens is such that the front of lens to the camera sensor is about 20cm, then there is only 10cm in front you can work with.

 

[justarius]

So that means if I shoot a grasshopper with a 1:1 lens, the grasshopper can fill up the length of a frame and half a frame with a 1:2 lens?

What about the distant of the lens from subject? If at the same distance say...30cm from subject, how will a 1:2 lenses image be different from a 1:1 lenses image?

Pai sey, what is the cheapest macro lens now in the market? :embrass:

I am thinking of Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6, anyone know where's the cheapest? What's the market price?

The grasshopper will only fill up the length of the frame if its actual size is approximately that of the frame. Example: you are shooting a 10cent coin using a 1:1 macro lens. The size of the coin on the developed negative would be equivalent to that in real life, iei if you place a real 10cent coin over the negative image, they would be the same size. This is the meaning of 1:1. If the object is physically bigger than the dimensions of a negative/sensor, than you will only be able to capture part of the object.

Regarding the question about focussing distance, it depends very much on the focussing characteristics of each individual lens. For example macro lens A might give you 1:1 at it's minimum focussing distance of 30cm. But another 1:1 macro lens, lens B, might have a closer minimum focussing distance of 15cm, and at 30cm, the image will not be 1:1.

By the way, the lens you mentioned, the Tamron 70-300, is not a true macro lens. What it does have is a mode which allows you to focus a bit closer.

 

[azul123]

Was reading this thread with interest, I am using D70 with Tamron 90mm 1:1 DI lens. I want to achieve a setup where I can increase the focusing distance, i.e.; want to shoot the subject at a comfortable distant such that the subject won't fly away.

Can anyone help what I should be getting? whether be an extension tube or 1.4x extension, how much does this give me in terms of distance away from the subject?

Have never done macro before in fact a real newbie, appreciate advice, thanks.

../azul123

 

[markccm]

So how can one get the object size larger than 1:1?

Tubes? Closeup filters?

Is it possible to achieve 2:1 if there is such a thing?
And how to go about getting it?

Thanks

 

[Ah Pao]

So how can one get the object size larger than 1:1?

Tubes? Closeup filters?

Is it possible to achieve 2:1 if there is such a thing?
And how to go about getting it?

Thanks

2:1 means larger-than-life-size magnification, i.e. a 1cm object will be captured as a 2cm image on film/sensor. I believe a combination of extension tubes and appropriate lenses will do the trick, although specialised equipment will be necessary to magnify your subject to 10:1, 20:1 etc.

 

[loupgarou]

MP65E allows up to 5:1 magnification.

in so much so that macro is fun, its probably reaches a level of diminishing returns vs cost.

you can try bellows (novoflex etc) as well, but you need specialised ring flashes, extenders etc. not to mention the extremely narrow depth of field...

may as well get a microscope adaptor instead..

 

[blurblock]

So how can one get the object size larger than 1:1?

Tubes? Closeup filters?

Is it possible to achieve 2:1 if there is such a thing?
And how to go about getting it?

Thanks

Object larger then 1:1 will be Micro photography ......

Anyway, you can try to use a Bellows to achieve 2:1 and bigger object size :d ....

Tried to take a small ruby before, after I used a bellows, it look like a giant ruby .....

If you use a microscope, you can achieve to 400 : 1? ....... hehehehe.....

 

[markccm]

thanks for the reply guys

wah... did not realise i went deeper & into micro.....
hahahaha....

 

[popeye]

MACRO: What is 1:1, 1:2,1:4 etc?
Means:
1:1 = buy 1 get 1 free
1:2 = buy 1 get 2 free
1:4 = buy 1 get 4 free
etc

 

[erictan8888]

Was reading this thread with interest, I am using D70 with Tamron 90mm 1:1 DI lens. I want to achieve a setup where I can increase the focusing distance, i.e.; want to shoot the subject at a comfortable distant such that the subject won't fly away.

Can anyone help what I should be getting? whether be an extension tube or 1.4x extension, how much does this give me in terms of distance away from the subject?

Have never done macro before in fact a real newbie, appreciate advice, thanks.

../azul123

hi azul123,

i am very interested to get this lens also...
so how is the performance of the tamron 90mm macro DI ?

can post some pics to see your largest close-uop ?

thanks

 

[Denosha]

From what i've read, if you want to extend your minimum focusing distance at 1:1 magnification, you can use a teleconverter.. Eg. Adding a 2x TC will make your macro lens min focusing distance 2x as far for 1:1 magnification. If you move in to the normal min distance without the TC, you actually have 2:1 magnification. I've tried this out with my Canon 100mm F2.8 Macro USM and Sigma 2x EX TC and it really works. Only thing is my image quality seems to suffer quite abit due to the TC. Longer focal length macro lenses usually have longer min focusing distances for 1:1 magnification.