Does a longer 1:1 macro lens give more depth of field at the same magnification?
Asked 1/2/2013
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At 1:1 macro, the subject framing is effectively the same regardless of focal length, and the main practical difference is working distance. If I compare a short macro lens such as a 50mm f/2.8 to a longer macro like a 180mm at the same 1:1 magnification and the same f-number, will the longer lens give more depth of field, or does the increased working distance cancel out any DOF advantage?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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The "working distance" as you put it cancels out. Think about focus and the opportunity to be out of focus as a cone of confusion. The cone comes to a point at where the picture is in focus, which in the case of a 1:1 macro will be 2x the focal length from the effective aperture of the lens. The cone goes from a point in focus to the aperture. Anything inside that cone will add something to one particular image point.
Given that view, consider what happens as the focal length is doubled. The distance from the cone point to where its outer edge is defined is doubled, so that would make the cone narrower. However, you said the f-stop is held constant, so the aperture diameter is also doubled. You are now back to the same cone of confusion as it leaves the object, just that it is longer before it gets to the lens. Since the cone angle is the same, objects in front of or behind the focus point will be out of focus by the same amount. Therefore whatever threshold of blurriness you decide is still in focus will occur at the same distance from the object being photographed, so depth of field is the same.
Originally by user7603. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user7603
13y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
At the same magnification (1:1) and the same f-number, depth of field is essentially the same regardless of macro lens focal length.
The longer lens does increase working distance, which might seem like it should increase DOF. But that effect is offset by the longer focal length. In other words, if you double the focal length and also move back enough to keep the same 1:1 framing, the factors balance out and the DOF remains about the same.
So for 50mm, 100mm, or 180mm macro lenses used at 1:1 and the same aperture, you should expect very similar DOF.
What does change is working distance and perspective. A longer macro lens lets you shoot from farther away, which can be useful for lighting, avoiding shadows, or photographing skittish subjects. But it does not give a meaningful DOF advantage at the same magnification.
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