Why some lens says "macro"?

[Don Haines]

The 8-15mm fisheye zoom achieves 0.39x mag!

Wouldn't a fisheye lense be a MACKEREL lens?

Seriously though...some call a "true Macro" lens as 1:1 or better... some say .5X.... there is no standard.

[AJ]

I'm surprised the 40/2.8 says macro.  Usually when a prime says macro it actually does 1:1 or better, and has floating elements that keep the image sharp at close focusing distances. 

On zooms, "macro" often just means "close focusing"

[mrsfotografie]

Just to add to the confusion...some wide-angle lenses that can focus very closely, such as the TS-E 24 II and the 8-15 fisheye, can make for much more interesting "macro" lenses than a true, dedicated macro lens. They let you get super-close to your subject for an interesting perspective and generally do a great job at including enough of the surroundings to put it in context.

The Sigma 20mm f/1.8 is king at this although it has a macro ratio of 1:4

Edit: due to its MFD of 0.2 m.

[BrettS]

But, to me, an actual macro lens [...] typically has a focal length of 65 mm....

Hey mate

Curious why you add that caveat?

[AJ]

Just to add to the confusion...some wide-angle lenses that can focus very closely, such as the TS-E 24 II and the 8-15 fisheye, can make for much more interesting "macro" lenses than a true, dedicated macro lens. They let you get super-close to your subject for an interesting perspective and generally do a great job at including enough of the surroundings to put it in context.

The Sigma 20mm f/1.8 is king at this although it has a macro ratio of 1:4

Edit: due to its MFD of 0.2 m.

I'll trump you with my Tokina 10-17 fisheye.  It is supposed to have a focusing distance of  5.5" (from the image plane) but I have gotten mine to focus even closer.

[mrsfotografie]

Just to add to the confusion...some wide-angle lenses that can focus very closely, such as the TS-E 24 II and the 8-15 fisheye, can make for much more interesting "macro" lenses than a true, dedicated macro lens. They let you get super-close to your subject for an interesting perspective and generally do a great job at including enough of the surroundings to put it in context.

The Sigma 20mm f/1.8 is king at this although it has a macro ratio of 1:4

Edit: due to its MFD of 0.2 m.

I'll trump you with my Tokina 10-17 fisheye.  It is supposed to have a focusing distance of  5.5" (from the image plane) but I have gotten mine to focus even closer.

That's impressive stuff, but it's not rectilinear. However, although I don't much like FE lenses in general you've made me suddenly realize such a lens must have great creative potential when used in the macro range!

[RobPan]

I should think a macro lens should have better IQ at close distances than an ordinary lens, i.e. it should be corrected for macro work. Whether one can focus close enough or one needs extension tubes seems (a bit) less relevant to me. IQ is more important.Kind regards.

[AdamJ]

The 8-15mm fisheye zoom achieves 0.39x mag!

Wouldn't a fisheye lense be a MACKEREL lens?

  Pun-tastic!

[TrumpetPower!]

But, to me, an actual macro lens [...] typically has a focal length of 65 mm....

Hey mate

Curious why you add that caveat?

Oh, no special reason.

Cheers,

b&

[LowBloodSugar]

The 8-15mm fisheye zoom achieves 0.39x mag!

WARNING:  Objects in fisheye are closer than they appear.

Be very careful.

[Anthonyhnj]

by the way pop a 12mm extension tube on a 40mm and it does a pretty decent job of being a macro

You should try it with the 25mm tube.  I made a youtube video of it. http://youtu.be/giNI_Ytr2ao

Anthony