Ready for your close-up?

Some lenses are more specialized for close-ups than others…

Some zoom lenses wear a ‘macro’ badge, but they typically only deliver a max magnification factor of around 0.3x or 1:3.3. Even some macro prime lenses only stretch to 0.5x or 1:2, which can leave you feeling a bit sold short. Almost all of the lenses we’ve chosen for this Big Test deliver a full 1x magnification, apart from the Laowa, which stretches to an extra-large 2x or 2:1 magnification. If you’re shooting with a DX body, the 1.5x crop factor of the smaller image sensor gives even greater effective magnification, at 1.5x or 3x respectively.

Shooting macro images demands a high level of precision. Depth of field (DOF) can be wafer-thin, even when using fairly narrow apertures. Accurate focusing is therefore critical. You can be better off using manual focusing instead of autofocus (AF), and selecting a magnified Live View image to accurately focus on the most critical part of the object you’re shooting.

Some up-market Nikons, including the D850, Z 5 and both generations of the Z 6 and Z 7, have a ‘Focus shift shooting’ menu option. This enables you to set up a series of sequential shots, in which the focus distance is slightly altered from frame to frame. You can then merge the resultant collection of shots into a single image that has far greater DOF, in a process called ‘focus stacking’.

Another challenge is that even the slightest movement caused by camerashake, mirror-bounce or shutter-bounce can greatly decrease the sharpness of the captured image. For extreme close-ups, a tripod or other sturdy support is essential. Most Nikon DSLRS, apart from the most basic entry-level models, have an ‘Exposure delay mode’ menu option, which creates a pause between the reflex mirror flipping up and the shutter opening. This gives the camera a chance to settle and for any vibrations to die down. Another option is to use Live View shooting mode, so the mirror remains in its upward position.

To reduce shutter-bounce, the same cameras mentioned above have a menu option for using an electronic front curtain for the exposure, rather than a fully mechanical shutter. ‘Silent’ shooting with a fully electronic shutter can also be available.