09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY ACADEMY

CAMERA SKILLS (HTTPS://FOODPHOTOGRAPHYACADEMY.CO/TOPICS/CAMERA-SKILLS/)



Everything you need to know about macro

lenses
23RD APRIL 2019

Having a macro lens in your food photography kit will allow you to look at your food in
new, creative ways, creating some jaw-dropping, stop in your tracks images. Who
doesn’t want that?

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 1/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

But what is a macro lens?

I asked you all on Instagram what your biggest challenge was when it came to macro
food photography, and the most common answer was nailing focus – I hear ya!

In this
22 post we’re going to look at what makes a macro lens different, and how to use it

so you’ll be able to create those tack sharp, beautiful macro food shots you’re just
dying to create.

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 2/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

What makes a macro lens different?

A macro lens is a special type of camera lens that has the ability to work with very
short focusing distances, taking sharp images of very small subjects.

A true macro lens has a magnification ratio of 1:1 (or greater), and a minimum
focussing distance of around 30cm.

So what does that mean?

A magnification ratio of 1:1 means that the ratio of the subject size on the sensor plane
is the same, or greater than the actual real life size of your subject. That’s what makes
macro lenses able to take those super sharp, close up images of things like insects.

If you see a lens with a magnification ratio of 1:1 or 2:1 or 3:1 etc… it’s a macro lens.

If the magnification ratio is 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 etc… it’s not a macro lens.

But macro lenses aren’t only good for shooting close up detailed images. Depending on
the focal length you choose, your macro lens also makes an incredible portrait lens,
which is ideal for food photography.

22

Related: How to choose your food photography lenses

(https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/food-photography-lenses-focal-length/)

Choosing the Focal Length of your macro lens

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 3/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

When choosing a macro lens, the first step is to know whether you’re shooting on a full
frame or a crop sensor camera.

A lens on a crop sensor camera will act like the focal length it is, multiplied by the crop
factor of the camera. For example, if your crop sensor camera has a crop factor of 1.6x
then a 50mm lens will act like the following:

50 x 1.6 = 80

Therefore the equivalent focal length = 80mm

When I was working with a crop sensor camera, I used a 60mm macro. This acted like a
90mm on my crop sensor Canon, allowing me to get a shallow depth of field in my
photos, as well as a tight crop.

However, on a full frame, if you were to use a 60mm macro, you wouldn’t get the
same tight crop effect as well as the depth of field.

In these two photos, I’ve shot the same scene at the same angle with a 90mm lens, and
a 55mm lens, so you can see the effect this has on the photo. Even though the front of
the baking tray is in the same position in both photos, the field of view is much wider.

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 4/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 5/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 6/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

Neither of these focal lengths are “right” or “wrong”, but a tighter crop typically
produces a more visually pleasing composition for these kinds of shots of small
subjects.

It’s important to note that when you’re shooting the kind of photo above (ie. not the
super close up range photos), you’re not actually using the macro capabilities of the
lens – at this point it’s acting in the same way as any other 90mm lens.

So why would you bother buying a macro? Well… simply for versatility. By having the
option to create beautiful, tightly cropped compositions and super sharp, detailed
close ups, you can do a LOT more with just one lens.

22

Now I shoot with a full frame camera, I’ve changed my macro lens from a 60mm to a
90mm. This allows me to take those 45° angle shots with a really shallow depth of
field, and a lot of focussed detail on the top of things.

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 7/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 8/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

Minimum Focus Distance

The Minimum focus distance of a lens determines how close you can be to your subject
with it still in focus.

Generally speaking, the longer the focal length, the further you must be from your
subject to be able to focus on it.

For example, the Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM (not a macro lens) has a minimum focus
distance of 91cm, whereas the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM has a minimum
focus distance of 31cm.

This means if you were shooting with the 100mm f/2 (not macro), you would need to
be at least 91cm away from your subject to even be able to focus on your subject.

Whereas with the 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, you could be anywhere from 31cm away
and create a tack sharp photo.

This22gives you an extra 60cm of space to play with in your compositions. So more than
just those super close up shots, you can create completely different compositions with
the macro lens and still have your subject in focus.

Photos like this of these cupcakes just aren’t possible without the macro lens.

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 9/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 10/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

Magnification
A macro lens has a magnification factor of 1.0x or 1:1, which allows it to reproduce a
life sized image of your subject on the camera’s sensor.

This means you can get really, really close to something and it will still be in focus.

Sometimes you will see lenses that have a magnification ratio of 1:2 labelled as
“macro”, but a true macro lens has a magnification ratio of 1:1.

Depth of Field (DoF)

One important thing to keep in mind when doing macro photography is that the DoF
is very limited when shooting at close range.

In order to create images where everything in your scene is in focus (ie. sitting within
the DoF), you’re going to have to use a much narrower aperture (higher F-Stop
number), to get the same effect of the depth of field you would at normal range.

22
In macro photography, we kind of need to throw out all our preconceived notions of
what a “narrow” and “wide” aperture are. To achieve the same look we are used to
getting at f/5.6, we might need to use f/16 when working with close range aperture.

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 11/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

In these examples of frozen raspberries taken at close range, you can see the
difference in how much of the shot is in focus, even at narrow apertures like f/14.
Particularly look at the raspberry on the top left to see the difference in the DoF, even
at f/8 we’re seeing a lot of background blur.

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 12/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 13/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 14/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 15/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

At this type of magnification, it doesn’t take much for things to start to go soft.
Getting the majority of your subject on the same plane of focus will help you keep as
much of it as sharp as possible. Many macro shooters employ a technique called “focus
stacking” to combat this softness, but that’s a topic for another post!

Want to know more about the Plane of Focus? Check out this post from my dear
friend Rachel. (https://twolovesstudio.com/blog/macro-food-photography-plane-of-
focus/)

Stability
I consider a tripod a must in food photography the majority of the time. Not only does
it allow you to nail down your compositions, but a good tripod will hold your camera
steady so your shots are clear and sharp.

Having your camera on a stable base will also allow you to stop down your aperture and
22
shoot with a slower shutter speed so that you can get more of your subject in focus,
and compensate for your lighting situation.

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 16/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

Being able to use a longer shutter speed will also let more light in, which is useful when
shooting in darker places (e.g. using natural light in the middle of winter.), and when
shooting at very narrow apertures like f/18.

Want to learn more about using manual mode? Check out my FREE 5 day e-course
“Manual Mode Essentials” (https://foodphotographyacademy.co/manual-mode-
essentials/)

Focus
Due to the magnified nature of macro photography, nailing focus is incredibly
important – plus this is the thing that most of you said you struggle with in macro food
photography on Instagram.

When you’re capturing such a fine amount of detail on your food, the smallest
adjustment in focus can make or break your photo.

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 17/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

22

Nailing the focus allowed me to capture every ripple of detail in this chocolate cake batter

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 18/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

While most macro lenses have built-in autofocus, I really recommend you shoot in
manual focus mode. Manual focus allows you to manually define exactly where the
plane of focus lies relative to your camera’s sensor.

If you do prefer to use autofocus, using single point (often labelled as AF-S) is the
most accurate way to do this in food photography. This will allow you to select the
specific point on your sensor that your focus point should be, allowing your camera to
accurately focus at that distance.

about lauren
I'm a food photographer and educator, a nerd for the technical stuff and obsessed with teaching others
how to make food photography their career.

  
22
(htt (htt (htt
ps:/ ps:/ ps:/
/ins /ww /ww
tagr w.y w.fa
am. out ceb
com ube ook.
/l

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 19/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

/lau.co com
ren.m/c /foo
c.sh Ready to master food photography and grow your
han dph
ort)
nel/ oto
career?
UC gra
kv5 phy(https://members.foodphotographyacademy.co/join-the-academy)
MI aca
6rs de
JPb my/
Ps2 )
ntt1
t-
Ww
 Subscribe
) 

Join the discussion

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed (https://akismet.com/privacy/).

22 COMMENTS   Newest


Nan Whitehead 
10 months ago

I’ve had a stroke, lost use of my right hand. Can you recommend a camera and lens and
maybe remote I could buy?

1
Reply
22

Erin Decker (http://Erinstarlight.com) 

2 days ago


Reply to 
Nan Whitehead

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 20/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

Bummer! Call the Mikes Camera in Wheat Ridge Colorado! They would
definitely help you even if not local- there’s a guy on their staff who has been
there for many years and has a physical disability, I bet he’d have some great
ideas! Go you for continuing trying
0
Reply

Robert Wynne 
11 months ago

Your information concerning macro lenses is far from correct. A 1:2 lens IS a macro lens,
just not such a good one as a 1:1. A 60mm lens is still a 60mm lens whether on a full
frame or an aps-c or a M43 for that matter. The apparent 90mm is simply a matter of
the sensor cropping the picture. You can crop a full frame picture in Photoshop and get
the same effect exactly. But it was still taken on a 60mm lens.

-5
Reply

Lauren (https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/author/laurencaris/) 
11 months ago


Reply to 
Robert Wynne
(http
Hi Robert, thanks for the comment! It’s true, a 1:2 lens can produce images at
s://fo
half size on the sensor, so while it may “technically” be covered under the macro
odph
otogr range, it’s not the most ideal for food photography. And I never said a 60mm

aphy wasn’t a 60mm… but like you correctly said, it will behave like a 90mm on an

acade aps-c (which is exactly the point I made in this post when I said it “behaves like a
my.c 90mm”), so we do have to take that into correction when shooting on crop
o/blo sensors. I cover this in much more… Read more »
22 g/aut
 Last edited 11 months ago by Lauren
hor/l
auren 4
Reply

caris/
)
Author

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 21/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

jody 
2 years ago

Lauren learned about you from watching Joanie Simon (she’s fantastic) and I’m so glad I
did. You are another great learning source for me!

0
Reply

Lauren (https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/author/laurencaris/) 
1 year ago


Reply to 
jody
(http
Thanks Jody! Joanie is the BEST!
s://fo
1
Reply
odph
otogr
aphy
acade
my.c
o/blo
g/aut
hor/l
auren
caris/
)
Author

Luca Piagesi 
2 years ago

Hi Lauren!

22 Thank you so much for your helpful article,i have a Sony a7iii what kind of lens do you
recommend?

0
Reply

Lauren Caris Short (https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/author/laurencaris/)


2 years ago

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 22/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

(http 
Reply to 
Luca Piagesi

s://fo Check out my other blog post all about which lenses are best for food
odph photography – you can find it in the archives!
otogr 0
Reply

aphy
acade
my.c
o/blo
g/aut
hor/l
auren
caris/
)
Author

Francesca 
3 years ago

Really helpful post Lauren thanks.

Was wondering why my sots with macro lens were not sharp, now I know.

0
Reply

Lauren Caris Short (https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/author/laurencaris/)


3 years ago

(http 
Reply to 
Francesca
s://fo So happy this cleared this up for you Francesca!
odph 0
Reply
22 otogr
aphy
acade
my.c
o/blo

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 23/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

g/aut
hor/l
auren
caris/
)
Author

Silvina 
3 years ago

Hi from Buenos Aires, Argentina

Thanks for this great information! I’m in on Thursday yeah!

0
Reply

Lauren Caris Short (https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/author/laurencaris/)


3 years ago

(http 
Reply to 
Silvina
s://fo Hi all the way to Buenos Aires! Can’t wait to see you at the webinar!
odph 0
Reply
otogr
aphy
acade
my.c
o/blo
g/aut
hor/l
auren
22 caris/
)
Author

Warwick Wood (http://warwickwood.com) 

3 years ago

Hi Lauren,

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 24/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

Just a quick question. I was having a look at your ‘Everything you need to know about
Macro lenses’ page and found some of the text is obliterated by the two sets of side-by-
side images. Is there something wrong with this page or is it just the way it’s formatting
on my Mac Book Pro.

Warwick

-1
Reply

Lauren Caris Short (https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/author/laurencaris/)


3 years ago

(http 
Reply to 
Warwick Wood
s://fo Oh no! Sorry to hear that… let me have a look into it. It could be the new version
odph of wordpress playing up!
otogr
0
Reply
aphy
acade
my.c
o/blo
g/aut
hor/l
auren
caris/
)
Author

Cat 
3 years ago
22
Thanks so much for this blog post Lauren. I have a fujifilm 80mm macro macro lens
which I have been shooting with. (3/4 crop) on my Xt2. So it seems like your session is
tailor made for me. I love getting close to my food. I look forward to the training session
and thank you for all the youtube videos you do as well. Blessings

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 25/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

1
Reply

Lauren Caris Short (https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/author/laurencaris/)


3 years ago

(http 
Reply to 
Cat

s://fo Thanks so much for the kind words Cat, can’t wait to see you at the webinar!
odph
Reply
0
otogr
aphy
acade
my.c
o/blo
g/aut
hor/l
auren
caris/
)
Author

Rachel (http://twolovesstudio.com) 
3 years ago

Such a great post! It’s a great lens for food portraiture which is why I love it. So awesome
to see the quality at f/22. See you at the webinar.

0
Reply

Lauren Caris Short (https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/author/laurencaris/)


3 years ago
22
(http 
Reply to 
Rachel

s://fo Thanks Rachel, can’t wait to read your post today! See you at the webinar
odph 0
Reply
otogr
aphy

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 26/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

acade
my.c
o/blo
g/aut
hor/l
auren
caris/
)
Author

Cindy (http://www.saltandserenity.com) 
3 years ago

Hi Lauren. I’m all signed up for the webinar and after reading this post, I am even more
convinced I need more knowledge! I have. Canon 100 mm macro lens (2.8) I always
assumed you needed to shoot with a shallow DOF when shooting macro. So I would take
my F stop to 3.2 or 2.8. I could never understand why I wasn’t getting sharp images. It
makes sense that I need to go to a higher F stop like F11 or even F16 or 22 to get more of
the shot in focus. Also, I never considered MF. I… Read more »

0
Reply

Lauren Caris Short (https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/author/laurencaris/)


3 years ago

(http 
Reply to 
Cindy
s://fo Yes! It seems counterintuitive but that macro means we need to bump up the F-
odph stop! Can’t wait to see you at the webinar!
otogr
22 0
Reply
aphy
acade
my.c
o/blo
g/aut

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 27/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

hor/l
auren
caris/
)
Author

Asmita (https://onewholesomemeal.com) 
3 years ago


Reply to 
Cindy

This is such a helpful article. Loved it. “Whereas with the 100mm f/2.8 macro
lens, you could be anywhere from 31cm away and create a tack sharp photo.”

Helped me figure what I have been doing wrong. Looking forward to the webinar.

0
Reply

Lauren Caris Short (https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/author/laurencaris/)


3 years ago

(http 
Reply to 
Asmita

s://fo So glad you found this helpful Asmita!

odph
Reply
0
otogr
aphy
acade
my.c
o/blo
g/aut
hor/l
22 auren
caris/
)
Author

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 28/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

S TA R T H E R E ( / )

ABOUT (/ABOUT)

LEARN (/BLOG)

JOBS (/JOBS)

JOIN THE ACADEMY

(HTTPS://MEMBERS.FOODPHOTOGRAPHY
A C A D E M Y. C O / J O I N - T H E - A C A D E M Y )

ABOUT ME

22
I left my career in tax behind to chase
my food photography dreams. Now I'm
showing you how to do the same.

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 29/30
09/08/2022, 18:19 Everything you need to know about macro lenses | Food Photography Academy

(/about)

© SHORT MEDIA ENTERPRISES  |  PRIVACY POLICY (HTTPS://MEM BERS.FOODPHOTOGRAPHYACADEMY. C O/ P R IVAC Y - P OL IC Y / )  |  TERMS &
CONDITIONS (HTTPS://MEM BERS.FOODPHOTOGRAPHYACADEMY. C O/ T E R MS - OF - US E / )  |  IMPRESSUM (/IMPRESSUM / )  |  CONTACT US
(/CONTACT/)  |  STUDENT LOGIN (HTTPS://MEM BERS.FOODPHOTOGRAPHYACADEMY. C O/ LOGIN / )

22

https://foodphotographyacademy.co/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-macro-lenses/ 30/30