Macro vs Telephoto Lens - is one better than the other? 

Great explanation, straight to the point. And love the shots at the end with the insects, amazing!

Thank you for the thorough clarification by bothering the test with the ruler! Also, combining the differences without dry theories but real life shots did tell the difference in depth of field and composition well enough. Thanks!

Thank you for this very clear and inspiring overview!

Thanks! Great video. This really helped me decide and I am now excited to be getting a macro lens and exploring new possibilities 😁

this was very well explained

Excelent explanation. Big thank you for this video.

Thanks for this - your video provides a lovely and clear explanation of the two lenses' characteristics. I am well informed now - thank you!!

Beautiful comparison video!! Thank you.

Great explanation and examples. I always wondered about the difference between the two.

Great video! A big, big THANK YOU for it!

Thank you for such an informative video! Absolutely great content!

I was looking for a straight forward explanation. Thanks

This video is very underrated, thank you for this great info

Thank you, I was in doubt and this video helped me decide to opt for a macro lens instead of a telezoom

The sony 100-400 GM is my dream lens that i have been saving up for. Due to recent events with Corona, I have been really interested in trying Macro photography as it could be fun to shoot stuff around the house, which is where we spend most of our time these days. Thanks this is the video i have been looking for!

Excellent description, helpful in seeing the difference clearly.

Thanks for an amazing video 👍

Super helpful - thank you. I was always wondering what I was missing and it was the 1:1 aspect. I have a Sigma 18-300 that I use as my main workhorse walkaround lens, and it came with an Macro Lens "adapter" ... however after your video I was able to test some things and then go back to the specs and see that while it certainly is not a "bad" free adapter, it just steps up my lens from 1:3 to 1:2 ... so not a true macro lens, and makes sense why I wasn't seeing the huge advantage to it. I still may play with it from time to time, but after your video I think I may need to consider a true macro for my collection.

I am so thankful for this video. I’ve had my “zoom” lens for 20 years and never knew why I couldn’t get the insect pictures I wanted. My friend said it’s a telephoto lens. Then I watched this video and understand.

Many thanks!!!

Great video. Thank you for sharing.

Wait, macro lens is a prime lens?, Never knew that, thank you.

Excellent presentation. Thanks

Great video Connie! I've always wondered about macros. I've used one a couple of times but didn't understand the difference between that and long focal length zooms. And it's funny, Thomas Heaton just put out a video yesterday where he's been practicing macro photography in his house. I didn't realize there were extension tubes for macro. Of course I ordered a set. LOL It might not be as good as a great macro lens, but it's a start. For $40. Thanks!

super helpful, thank you!

Should I use a diffused Flash on my DSLR Crop sensor camera using CONTACT EXTENSION TUBES?

Thanks for explaining. I don’t have a macro lens yet, but considering it. I did get some nice insect photos with my 100-300 telephoto lens, but want to be able to focus closer.

Thank you - this video was super helpful! What kind of tripod and tripod head do you have? Thanks in advance!

I would love to see the experiment repeated using the extension tube on the telephoto using the ruler and thistle to see the magnification differences as well as the new minimum working distance of the telephoto lens.

Interesting. I’ve been considering purchasing a macro lens for non-macro use, but for both the sharpness and flat field effects. Could you expand a bit on the part about lacking sharpness if you stop down?

Great video, thank you so much. Been wondering what the 1:1 meant, I couldn't visualize it till now.

Nice video. I have been trying to get the answer to the macro vs telephoto lenses. The experiment done with the ruler was very appropriate and clearly explained the difference. What tripod are you using? I like the mounting of the macro lens.

Very nice Video. Thank you

Thanks for that, you're a great teacher! Not overly complicated and able to explain things in easy terms. I was thinking of getting extension tubes but now thinking the Sigma 105 for my Nikon D7500. I want to be able to photograph insects without getting right on top of them and disturbing them. Thanks again, I've subbed!

Thanks for the lucid explanation. I have a non-macro/telephoto question. What tripod are you using? It looks very well-made.

It’s a matter of perspective. You can imagine zooming a lens as changing the size of your eyeball and telephoto/macro dictates from what perspective in space in relation to an object that eyeball can focus on it. The magnification can be the same from a telephoto lens but the perspective cannot.

Hi Constance - thank you for the video - just to make sure - If I would like to photograph products that are relatively small WITH printed type on it (e.g. package of bar of soap, cigarettes etc..) with no distortion AND deep focus, would I then HAVE to go with one of the higher focal length Macros? Thank you. -H

Thank you.

Really enjoyed the video, but link to website not working in YT app.

Good info im just learning photography

Very nice video

Thank for the instructions. Those type of spiders have taken over my porch.

May I ask the brand of tripod you are using?

How about attaching raynox macro lens to the telephoto lens?

I have to agree with most of what you say, but it is possible to get insect shots even with a 50mm on an APSC, some are more tolerant than others even flighty (no pun intended) insects like dragon/damsel flies are possible, but my Tamron 90mm gives a higher success rate. I even wear camouflage gear, which seems to help if you move very slowly. I prefer natural light, but I often use a DIY twin flash setup on a flash rail with my Leica 45mm / Pan GX9 and a cloudy grey diffuser in front of both flashes attached to the lens with a filter thread adapter. On top of the diffuser sheet I have taped mirror film, which reflects the environment back to the wee beasty. To my mind it is much better than one of those white diffusers that most people use. Also I am experimenting with a 100-300 zoom on my Panasonic G9 and extension tubes for video, which is giving me a 1:3 ratio (ish). Its all mounted on a Benro geared head and a macro cross rail to aid framing. Lots of dissappointment, but extremly satisfying when it all works and the animal is still for long enough. Sorry for the loqaicousness.

I have had a macro lens but wanted to take photos of more distant things like the moon or birds in the trees. I assume telephoto lens are built for those things? They magnify less than macro lenses even at much greater distances?

This video isn’t *quite* what I was looking for, though it was still informative. From my understanding, a macro lens is used primarily for taking shots of small things whereas a telephoto lens is for “adding more zoom” to the camera; it’s used to get shots of things much farther away, like a telescope helps people see farther away. I was expecting this video to get more into that rather than using both for the same task (taking shots of small things), though that was a curiosity I had too

I didn't know big cypress was still open. The state parks near me are all closed.

Oh Thank You, Thank You Thank You Thank You!

Now this is quality.

What tripod is that

well made.. too less subscribers for the quality

Choose a tele semi macro lens, problem solve! 😊

看看

I'd say that your test with the tripod and the ruler is irrelevant. To compare the two lenses you would fiirst need to find the MFD for your telezoom at 180 mm, and then place the camera (ie sensor) at the same distance from the subject (in this case the ruler) with the macro lens mounted. Then we can compare the results 🙂

Sorry, misconstrued some of what you said.