Macro and Micro

[wetrat]

This is a weird question for you photographers. Macro means "large" as in the whole macrocosm or universe. Micro means "small" as in microscope, an instrument for observing very small things. Why is "macro" in underwater photographic terms pictures of teeny tiny nudibranchs and the like instead of large underwater seascapes? It makes more sense that pictures of itty bitty things in the sea would be "micro" photography.

Just wondering.....:06:

John

 

[vladimir]

Just to further confuse us, Nikon calls its macro lenses "micro" lenses.

 

[wetrat]

Just to further confuse us, Nikon calls its macro lenses "micro" lenses.

Oh man... this might take awhile for me to sort out :06:

 

[alcina]

Don't sweat it...just get close and then get closer...and have FUN!!

 

[wetrat]

Don't sweat it...just get close and then get closer...and have FUN!!

OK

 

[KiiY]

"Macro" does indeed mean "large", but perhaps it is referring to the projected image on film (or digital sensor) rather than the subject itself.

By definition "macro photography" is photography where the subject is rendered at or greater than 1:1 on the film/sensor. When a typical print is made, the subject appears much larger than it is in real life.

Then along came the ability to make images of even tinier objects, generally through a microscope, which then became known as "micro photography" and is generally defined as a projection of the subject on film at or greater than 10:1.

Anything less than 1:1 on film is really considered "close up" photography rather than true "macro photography". Lens makers like to stretch the definition a bit, though.

 

[archman]

In the marine sciences, there is a ranking order for organisms based on size. Macro-sized critters are teensy, anywhere from a few millimeters to a few centimeters in size. Micro-sized critters are actually microscopic. There's size classes below micro-level, too.

All the big stuff, that's classified under the "mega" size class. Anything bigger than a cockroach.

Most camera "macro" lenses aren't capable of photographing most macro-fauna. They're too small. We use low power microscopes, generally. What I tend to do is take my Canon, switch to macro-mode, and stick it in the eyepiece of a scope. Only then can I get true macro-biotic photographs.

 

[MarkH]

KiiY's explanation is what I've read in a few books before.

 

[wetrat]

Cool. Thank you for your kind help everybody!

John