Friends who like to take photos have experienced that if you want to take clear pictures of small objects, you should take pictures in the form of a macro.  It can not only take the whole picture of the object but also take the details of the object, even some details that are not easy to see with the naked eye.  

So how do SLRS take macro photos?  With the popularity of SLR cameras, more and more consumers directly take SLR cameras as their first choice to buy cameras, and more DC users also began to upgrade their machines to SLR.  But a new problem comes up: how to shoot macro with an SLR camera?  Let’s take a look!  

1. What is macro?  

In simple terms, the macro is the closest focusing distance of a lens.  In other words, when we shoot something with the closest focusing distance of the lens, it is called macro photography in a broad sense.  

2. Why use a macro?  

Why use a macro?  Because most of the time, we need to take some small things, such as flowers, birds, fish, and insects, and the special description of some objects, this time we need to use macro photography.  

3. How do SLR cameras take macro photos?  

Now that you know what a macro is and what a macro is for, how do you shoot a macro with a DSLR that doesn’t have a macro on the button?  

(1) Choose a suitable lens for your camera.  

The most important thing for macro photography is to choose the right lens for your camera.  No matter what brand of camera, have a suitable macro lens, a general focal length of about 100.  This is the key to macro photography.  

(2) Will choose the appropriate exposure mode.  

After selecting a suitable lens, you can begin to prepare for shooting.  Before you start shooting, learn to choose the right focus mode.  Generally speaking, manual mode M is more commonly used, can also choose aperture priority or speed priority mode, can be combined with the actual situation.  

(3) To choose the right shooting Angle.  

Once you have chosen the right exposure mode, you can find the right Angle for the material to be photographed.  You can look at the object from different angles to find the best Angle.  This choice of shooting Angle is also related to the photographer’s personal aesthetic perception.  

(4) Pay attention to the light should be soft and bright.  

The key factor in shooting is that the lighting needs to be soft and bright.  If natural light doesn’t cut it, artificial light can supplement it.  The aim is to illuminate every Angle of the subject.  

(5) Be quiet and hold your breath.  

For the photographer, in addition to the preparation of the shooting hardware, the shooting process must be done to hold your breath.  Under the premise of sufficient preparation work in front of you, at the moment of pressing the shutter, you should abandon distractions and hold your breath to ensure that the camera is stable without displacement.  

(6) It is better to clap the same object several times.  

If you are shooting a dynamic object, it may not be clear enough because of the dynamic process.  It is suggested that for the same object, it is best to take a few more times and a few more shots so that the probability of choosing a good piece in the later period will increase a lot.  

4. How to use the macro of the SLR camera?  

Macro photography is characterized by a very small depth of field that allows for very beautiful out-of-focus effects.  Many friends who like macro photography are also attracted by this special effect.  

So how do you achieve a small depth of field?  

We need three prerequisites to achieve the small depth of field: big light recognition, telephoto recognition, and close-range recognition.  Therefore, we can take ultra-close shots and have macro lenses that take large light sets. We can easily create a small depth of field.  The use of standard zoom heads such as 18-55mm, 18-105mm, and 18-135mm will need to zoom to the telephoto side of the lens, we need to adjust the light to the maximum, and then move the camera to the closest focus distance can also achieve a good small depth of field effect.  

Macro photography, though, is simple to summarize: shoot using the closest focusing distance of the lens.  But in the actual use is not so simple, it requires you to choose the right equipment, and light and shade, be photographed, composition, light, focus distance have the mastery of control to shoot a successful work.  Of course, if your goal is to take macro photos and nothing else, then any SLR camera will do the trick.  

FAQ：

What aperture should I use for macro photography?

When doing macro images or close-ups, the ideal depth of field is almost always shallow, therefore the typical aperture number for macro photography is between f/5.6 and f/11. Those small aperture values are necessary to make sure that all the details of your subject will be sharp and in focus.

Can you do macro photography with a 50mm lens?

50mm lenses work best in capturing typical macro shots. However, these types of macro lenses have their drawbacks. 50mm lenses make subjects appear half “life-size” since they usually feature a 1:2 ratio, and require shooting at a much closer distance. But a 50mm lens is a must if you want a general walk-around lens.

What makes a camera good for macro photography?

It gives you almost life-size magnification, with fantastic image quality. A touchscreen and a snappy autofocus system allow macro photography to be done with autofocus, a rare experience. If you value a portable camera over the highest possible versatility of a DSLR, this is your choice.

Why are my macro photos not sharp?

Even if your camera is laying steady on a table or tripod, your picture still may not be sharp. Usually, this happens because of a bad focusing point. This might not be your fault; your camera or lens may be the culprit. That’s why it’s better to focus manually when it comes to macro photography.