How can I tell how close a lens focuses before buying it?

Asked 12/25/2010

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I’d like to do some close-up or macro photography and know that some lenses focus closer than others. Before buying a lens, how can I tell how close it can focus? Is this listed in the specs, and what lens specification matters most for macro work?

magnification macro minimum-focus-distance lenses buying-advice

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

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This is called Minimum Focusing Distance. It is measured from the film/sensor plane. Usually it's printed on the lens ( next to a flower icon ).

Originally by user507. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user507

15y ago

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Look for the lens’s minimum focusing distance (MFD) in the specifications. This tells you the closest distance the lens can focus, measured from the camera’s film/sensor plane, not from the front of the lens. It’s often printed on the lens near a flower icon.

For macro and close-up work, though, maximum magnification is usually the more useful spec. It may be listed as a ratio like 1:1, 1:2, or 1:5, or as a decimal like 1.0x, 0.5x, or 0.2x. A true macro lens typically reaches at least 1:1 (1.0x) magnification. Many non-macro lenses offer roughly 0.15x to 0.5x.

If the spec isn’t obvious in the lens name, check the manufacturer’s spec sheet or the lens manual. Some brands list magnification in the detailed specifications rather than in the product name.

Also, if you already own a lens, extension tubes or close-up filters can help you focus closer.

How can I tell how close a lens focuses before buying it?

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