Macro Lens advice

[makcik]

Hi fellow oly enthusiasts,

I own an SP-320 with the PT-030 but I'm thinking of adding on a mount/adapter to fit a macro lens so that i'll be able to take better pics of small critters. Can anyone tell me the advantages of using a macro lens as my camera already has a Macro mode? Will I be bale to take better, sharper pictures? Are there any special settings you will have to use while using the macro lens?
Thanks,
Marc

 

[livewire]

Pictures probably won't be sharper, but you may get more magnification by adding a macro lens. More magnification may allow you to fill your frame without having to get as close to your subject, so as not to scare the subject away, but still get a really big closeup. Hope that makes sense!

 

[Larry C]

A macro lens will allow you to focus closer to your subject. This should let you use macro instead of supermacro to get close, and also you should be able to get closer focus when you zoom, allowing tight shots of very small subjects. The downside is that you will lose depth of field, so holding the camera very still and getting a sharp focus will become critical. Some of the best macro photographers on this forum who use point and shoot cameras use close-up lenses, sometimes two stacked together. See Ed Dmans current post for examples of what can be accomplished. I believe he uses stacked Inon UCL165's and zooms his G-9 for the tiny stuff.