Digital Advent Calendar 2010 - Day 22

Macro Mode

Today’s tip is based on getting the most out of macro mode on your digital camera.

By setting your camera to the macro mode you are telling the camera to give you the nearest possible focusing distance available which is great for photos of small objects like flowers, coins etc.  Macro capabilities can vary between cameras/lenses but my tip is applicable to all cameras/lenses with a macro mode.

What you need to know is that the minimum focusing point of your lens is better at the wide-angle end than the telephoto end.  Below is the focusing distance specification taken from a typical digital camera:

Macro: Wide: Approx. 8cm – 80cm  * Telephoto: Approx. 60cm

As you can see, the closest focusing distance at the telephoto end of your zoom is 60cm; however, zoom your lens back to the wide-angle setting and your closest focusing distance is now 8cm.

So, if you’re doing close-up photography I suggest you get closer to your subject rather than racking your lens out to the telephoto end.

-Ben