Back to Basics - 3 - What is a macro lens & why do you need one

The Beginners Series - #3 Macro Lenses - RUclips Version
Chapters
00:00 Introduction - what is a lens
04:00 Flipping the reproduction ratio - that’s macro
06:47 Getting 1:1 without a macro lens
07:40 SPOILER ALERT - what you need to buy - my recommendation
10:00 If you just want to try macro to see if you like it…
11:00 If you know you want to do at least some macro…
12:00 The phone macro lens
13:48 The closeup filter
17:50 More on the importance of infinity focus
19:36 Reversing your kit lens for macro - or not
21:30 Extension tubes - or not
24:30 An enlarger lens?
26:26 What about focus stacking?
28:16 And finally - the macro lens
30:00 Understanding reproduction ratios
32:00 The Super-macro lens
36:00 What you need to get in your first lens
40:00 Selecting the best focal length
42:00 Full frame or APSC?
44:50 The lens buying guide for macro 2022
46:18 Summing up
Don’t miss the important announcement at 48:00
This the the third video in the Back to Basics series and it deals with lenses. It is a long video so I am including some chapter headings for your convenience. Patreon Subscribers can access the Premium Version of this video, which incudes additional content, a downloadable copy of my exclusive 2022 Macro Lens Buying Guide, and a Godox MF-12 mini-review - update. If you would like to have access to all my bonus content, including livestream events 2-3 times every month, become a patron:
/ allanwallsphotography .
Here are a few useful links including links to the BEST MACRO LENS for your camera system.
Some of these links are affiliate links and Amazon may pay me a small commission for qualified purchases.
These are the number one lenses for all the big brands:
If you shoot with Nikon, your ideal lens is the 105mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor IF-ED VR amzn.to/3wDwmpA
For Canon it is the EF 100mm f/2.8L IS- USM - amzn.to/3Mv6inh
Sony shooters will want the FE90 f/2.8 Macro G OSS amzn.to/39yA8ZI
And you Fuji folks will want to check out the Fujinon XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR amzn.to/39BBtPq
For those preferring the MFT camera, you cannot go wrong with the Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens amzn.to/3loASD7
For recommendations from Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, Hasselblad, Irix, and Laowa, as well as all the second and third place winners for all the major camera manufacturers, check out the
2022 Lens Buying Guide over at / allanwallsphotography
Here are a few links to the other lenses and accessories discussed in the video:
The wonderful Apexel phone macro lens amzn.to/3wOnwFQ
They also have the fun phone microscope that I reviewed last fawn - great fun! amzn.to/3Gc8n5u
The Moment Macro lens is beautifully made and uses optically superior glass but it is not cheap amzn.to/3LBcRUb - *see below for a correction
The Thinking Artisan 40mm macro lens is well worth $100 for the occasional user amzn.to/3LCB2Bu
Probably the very best value for money is the amazing 90mm Tamron. A true full-featured serious macro lens at a fair price but the only way I can find one is by going to Japan and buying one without a warranty - as far as I can tell they are sold out everywhere.
Finally, if you just want the best, and be done with it… amzn.to/3MC6l0x this is the venerable Micro NIKKOR 200mm f/4
In case you are interested in what I have in the bag…
When in the studio I use the Nikon D850 as my main camera - amzn.to/3zEznWK
It is always wearing a gorgeous black device called a 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom - my favorite video and portrait lens - amzn.to/3zzaoUy
Other cameras that are used as needed include a Nikon D7500 - amzn.to/371KoFe
A Nikon D3400 for emergencies - amzn.to/3xbwXgu
A Fujifilm XT-2, with a battery grip - amzn.to/3l3Agnw
Without any Fuji glass, I use a TS adapter from Kipon and any Nikkor lens I like - it is an awesome TS adapter - amzn.to/2Vikjze
My studio lights are basic Neewer panels (LED) - they are really very good, but I aspire for something more powerful - amzn.to/2Wk8Xel
I use Audio Technica shotgun microphones in the studio, - amzn.to/3iQLNnv
but I also have a Pro Caster from Australian mic-maker Rode - amzn.to/3rDPqkx
who also make my DSLR microphone - amzn.to/3iTxfU6
and my wireless microphone system - amzn.to/371C8oD
I record all my sound separately onto the awesome Zoom H5 Digital Audio Recorder. - amzn.to/3BM8aTG
I forgot to mention my trusty GoPro Hero 8 Black, complete with the Media Mod for on the go video - amzn.to/2UScm3J & amzn.to/3l3Desa