How to Buy a Macro Lens
Macro lenses are popular with nature and wildlife photographers, as well as with photographers who like to create life-sized images. Macro photography can be done with most lenses if you understand the focal lengths, but many camera manufacturers make specialized macro lenses that are perfect for close-up photography.
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Instructions
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Consider your goal. Wide-angle macro lenses (usually a 50 mm or 60 mm) offer a wider background field of view while normal macro lenses (100 mm or 105 mm) have narrower focal backgrounds. Also, a wide-angle macro lens requires the photographer to be closer to the object they want to photograph.
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Decide on your focal length. For specialized macro lenses, there are two to three sizes, starting with a wide-angle macro lens and a normal macro. Some companies also offer telephoto macro lenses (usually 180 mm). A photographer who wants to take photos of butterflies and insects will be better off with a 105 mm lens, since they can be farther away from the insect and still get the life-sized shot, making it less likely to spook the insect into flying away.
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Check the return policy of the store you purchase the lens from. Make sure the store will let you return or exchange the lens if it isn't working for your needs; many stores have a seven-day limit on returns, so know the return policy before leaving the store.
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Investigate off brands, like Tamron and Tokina. While the quality of the lens isn't generally as good as the name brands, you can get good lenses for less money. If you are shooting professionally, however, you are better off getting a name-brand lens.
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Tips & Warnings
Check out extension tubes and filters. These accessories screw onto your existing lens to give you close-up photography options at a fraction of the price. While not true macro lenses, they are a way to start learning the ropes.
