Will a 100mm macro lens be sharper than a 55-200mm with a Raynox DCR-250 for close-up macro?
Asked 10/20/2015
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I’m shooting very close-up subjects with a Pentax 55-200mm DAL lens and a Raynox DCR-250 close-up lens. At this magnification I’m struggling to keep the whole subject in focus and get the sharpness I want. Would switching to the Pentax smc D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro give better results at a similar working distance, or is the main issue depth of field and technique?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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"I lose focus on the whole image"
"Would the Pentax smc D FA Macro 100mm f/2.8 achieve a better image than this, at this distance?"
No, changing lenses will not help you get more depth of field.
You can not achieve focus on the whole image because of the very narrow depth of field that comes with any high magnification photo.
Stopping down the aperture to f/16 or f/22 can help, but often even that is not enough. Many Macro photographers use special software for "Focus Stacking' which combines multiple photos with different focus points to get one photo with more depth of field.
Originally by user39427. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user39427
10y ago
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A dedicated 100mm macro lens may improve overall optical quality and handling, but it will not solve the main problem: at high magnification, depth of field becomes extremely shallow no matter which lens you use. That’s why only a thin slice of the subject appears sharp.
What helps most is technique:
- stop down the aperture (for example f/16 or f/22) to increase depth of field
- add more light, such as flash with diffusion, so you can use those smaller apertures
- use a tripod and/or macro rail for more precise focusing
- for subjects that need more of the frame sharp, use focus stacking
So yes, the 100mm macro could give somewhat better image quality than a zoom plus close-up attachment, but don’t expect it to make the entire subject sharp at the same magnification by itself. If possible, renting or borrowing the macro lens is a good way to compare.
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