3.) Option A – Dedicated Prime Macro

A dedicated macro lens has been optimized to allow for sharp close-up photos. There job is to be super sharp at short distances. Non macro lenses are engineered to be sharp at farther distances.The one I will discuss is a manual focus dedicated prime lens that was produced three or four decades ago. It is a 90mm f/2.5 1:1 macro and it is stunning for the price.

How does a Vivitar factor into an article on high quality results? As it turns out, they produced some great lenses and flashes and this is one of them. Vivitar has a near cult following of their Series One lenses. The lens I have used is not a Series One (I guess you would call it a Series None) and it still produces results that always please. A few things about this lens... it is sharp, it is glass and metal and it is heavy. It also goes 1:1 for true macro. The lens can be used as a 90mm prime lens, which is a good focal length for portraits. It has eight diaphragm blades and produces nice Bokeh (it does well with the out of focus areas). With a dedicated prime macro you get two lenses – one for non macro and a great one for macro.

Expect to pay close to $100 for this lens used, perhaps up to $150. Search eBay for macro 1:1 lenses and you will see what is available. I have found that inventory tends to change over time, so do not be discouraged if your ideal lens is not for sale, check back on a regular basis and it will appear. Keh is also a resource and may have a better inventory.

Macro focus is obtained by walking closer or father from the subject. This was discussed under Part II – Dial “M” for Manual. There is a giant ring on the lens barrel but that more or less sets the amount of magnification when doing macro work. That is right, you twist the ring and the whole lens grows. On closer inspection, it appears this is like a telescoping tube with the macro lens at one end and the camera at the other – in between is simply air!