![]() ![]() Technically speaking, macro photography means shooting at a magnification ratio of at least 1:1. The 1:1 ratio has an important meaning for macro enthusiasts. What happens if the subject is the same size in real life as its projection? If we shoot a 1cm fly and its projection on the sensor measures 1cm as well, the magnification is 1:1. Sensor size does have an effect on the image's appearance though, a topic I will address in an upcoming article. ![]() With a full frame sensor you'd just make calculations using 35mm as the sensor width instead of 22mm, but the subject would then be proportionally larger, cancelling out the sensor size difference. Magnification is a property of the projection, regardless of the size of sensor (or film format) you are using. With a fixed focal length and subject distance, an APS-C sensor, for example would just crop the frame compared to a full-frame sensor, not enlarge it. Sensor size does not alter magnification. We've seen in the examples above that sensor size can be used to calculate magnification, but the degree of magnification itself depends on focal length and subject distance exclusively (assuming that the lens is not used with any extenders or magnifying filters). Again, the sensor is 22mm wide, so the magnification ratio is 22mm/60mm, approximately 1:2.7. ![]() The magnification ratio is approximately 22mm/150mm, or 1:6.8. Two thistle mantis (Blepharopsis mendica) nymphs, as positioned above are roughly 150mm across. When your subject(s) fills the frame with no cropping involved, it is easy to determine the magnification ratio from a captured image provided you know the size of your subject and the dimensions of your camera's sensor, which can be found in the specifications section of the user manual. The lizard is five times larger in real life than its projection on the sensor. Similarly, if the subject is a 10cm long lizard, and its projection on the sensor is 2cm long, the magnification ratio is 2cm/10cm or 1:5. Magnification is typically notated using a colon, so we write it as 1:100, and pronounce it, 'one to one hundred', meaning the child is 100 times larger in real life than its image as projected on the sensor. The magnification ratio is 1cm/100cm, or 1/100. ![]() Imagine that the height of the child's projection onto the sensor is 1cm. Suppose that we're photographing a small child, 1 meter in height. Magnification - or more precisely, the magnification ratio - is simply the relationship between of the size of the (in-focus) subject's projection on the imaging sensor and the subject's size in reality. Light rays reflected from an object pass through a lens, which then produces an image projection on the camera's sensor. This is a simplified diagram of the photographic process. The front element of the camera lens 'captures' these rays and then focuses them onto the imaging sensor, producing a projection of the scene at the location of the sensor. Every point in a given scene reflects light rays. To understand the concept of magnification, it's worth taking a very brief look at how a photographic image is created. The magnification ability of a given lens is stated in its specifications but in my experience, few photographers understand the meaning and implications of this designation. Thus the magnification of our subject becomes of primary importance. Some of the greatest challenges in macro photography arise from the simple fact that we shoot from very close distances. Photographer Allon Kira making sure his image is technically perfect.įor macro photographers this often requires a great deal ofĬoncentration and patience, but the results are well worth it. In this article I'll be discussing one of the most important ones magnification. Nature, landscape and wildlife are some of the most technically challenging fields of photography, and macro photography comes with its own unique set of technical considerations. Technique, however, is an absolute must it's the artist's tool to convey his artistic vision. In my previous article, I discussed some of the aesthetic choices involved in creating a successful macro image. Photography, like any other art, demands both compelling content and expert technique to create a pleasing result. ![]()
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