How to Use a Macro Lens on a Camera
Using a macro camera lens seems like it should be straightforward. But it isn't. A macro lens is for close-up photography, the kind of close-up that can give you a picture that is the same size (give or take) as the subject. None of that matters, however, if your photo is blurry or lacks detail.
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Instructions
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Buy cameras from the same manufacturer if you want a 35 mm film camera and a digital SLR. You want to be able to interchange lenses.
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Take your camera(s) with you to a camera store with knowledgeable sales people. Cameras may vary on how to attach the macro lens, but essentially you are going to line up a colored dot that is on the camera with another one that is on the lens, drop the lens in, and screw it down.
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Select your camera settings, including magnification. For beginners, you may want to choose the macro setting, which is usually depicted by a flower icon. For more advanced users, go with manual, and play with the aperture and shutter speed.
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Use a tripod if possible. Due to how finite your focus must be and lighting considerations, your odds of getting a blurry photo drop considerably if you use a tripod. Get your camera set up and then you can move everything at once, closer or farther away.
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Learn how to use a macro camera lens by trial and error. Practice is the only way to master close-up photography.
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Tips & Warnings
If your camera has a built-in lens, you can buy lenses that screw-on or slip-in over the top of your fixed lens, which will allow you to go beyond your fixed lens with macro photography.
The three main problems with macro lens photography are depth of field, lighting and stability. You can purchase ring flashes to use instead of the camera's flash. Tripods help with stability. Try using less magnification to correct focusing problems associated with depth of field.
