Get ready for your close-up

Macro photography is one area where manual focusing shines. With autofocus, one of the camera’s small AF points might cover a relatively large area of a tiny subject and be unable to pick out the precise detail you want to be sharp. Manual focusing enables you to place the focus exactly where you want it to be. A macro lens is capable of capturing 1:1 life-size images when it’s focused as close as possible, but the magnification changes as you change the focus distance. The trick here is to turn the focus ring to roughly set the magnification you want, then nudge the camera back and forth to position the sweet spot of sharpness.