Macro Lens,Magnification, DoF(Depth of Field)

A Report(DUUHH! :p)
What Is Macro Lens?
A MACRO LENS is a type of lens
that let's you focus/zoom in an
image constantly in a clear image.
Macro Lens also helps you focus
on smaller creatures or object that
are hard to see in a naked eye.
Examples of Small object/creatures.
Ants
Butterfly
Bugs
Needles/Pins
One feature that's shared by all macro lenses is that they're
'flat field' lenses. General-purpose lenses typically suffer from
field curvature, so the point of focus will be at a slightly
different distance towards the corners of the frame compared
to the centre.

For example, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L-series zoom

lens is quite notorious for this. In macro lenses, field
curvature must be minimised as much as possible, so if you
photograph a small flat object square on, such as the
postage stamp we mentioned, the centre and corners of the
stamp should all be sharp and in focus.
What Is Magnification?
The Canon EF 28-300mm IS Lens has a zoom range
of 10.7x. To get the binocular-like viewfinder
magnification value of a lens, divide the focal length
by 50. A formula that is easier (for me at least) to
calculate in my head is to divide the focal length by
100 and multiply by 2.
Magnification is also used to make the image bigger
and to make a more background to the subject.
The magnification of a lens means how large (or small) a subject can be reproduced on the image
plane (e.g., film and image sensor). The definition of magnification is very simple. If a subject of
length X forms an image of length Y in the image, the magnification of the lens is defined to be Y/X.
This is the lateral magnification of a lens, which is commonly used for close-up and macro
photography, because it only measures in one dimension.

For example, if a subject of length 10mm has a length of 2mm on the image, the magnification of the
lens is 2/10=0.2. If a lens can produce a magnification equal to 1, we will say it can deliver a life-size
image; and if the magnification is larger (resp., smaller) than 1, we will say it delivers a larger (resp.,
smaller) than life-size image. Note that magnification does not depend on the film frame size and
sensor size since it is a lens characteristic. For example, the Nikon AF 60mm F2.8D Micro is capable
of life-size magnification on a Nikon film camera. If this lens is used with an APS size Nikon DSLR
body such as D2H, D100 and D70, it still delivers a life-size magnification.
What is DoF(Depth of Field)?
You may have heard the term depth of field (DoF), but
if you are new to photography you may not yet be
taking advantage of how DoF can enhance your
photos. A basic definition of depth of field is: the zone
of acceptable sharpness within a photo that will
appear in focus. In every picture there is a certain
area of your image in front of, and behind the subject
that will appear in focus.

This zone will vary from photo to photo. Some images

may have very small zones of focus which is called
shallow depth of field. Others may have a very large
zone of focus which is called deepdepth of field.
Three main factors that will affect how you control
thedepth of field of your images are: aperture (f-stop),
distance from the subject to the camera, and focal
length of the lens on your camera. Here are some
explanations and answers to other common questions
concerning depth of field.
Depth of field refers to the range of distance that appears acceptably sharp. It varies depending on camera type, aperture and focusing
distance, although print size and viewing distance can also influence our perception of depth of field. This tutorial is designed to give a
better intuitive and technical understanding for photography, and provides a depth of field calculator to show how it varies with your
camera settings.

Depth of Field Example Image Depth of Field

The depth of field does not abruptly change from sharp to unsharp, but instead occurs as a gradual transition. In fact, everything
immediately in front of or in back of the focusing distance begins to lose sharpness even if this is not perceived by our eyes or by the
resolution of the camera.
Circle of Confusion!!!
Since there is no critical point of transition, a more
rigorous term called the "circle of confusion" is used
to define how much a point needs to be blurred in
order to be perceived as unsharp. When the circle of
confusion becomes perceptible to our eyes, this
region is said to be outside the depth of field and thus
no longer "acceptably sharp." The circle of confusion
above has been exaggerated for clarity; in reality this
would be only a tiny fraction of the camera sensor's
area.

Visualization: Circle of Confusion

When does the circle of confusion become
perceptible to our eyes? An acceptably sharp circle of
confusion is loosely defined as one which would go
unnoticed when enlarged to a standard 8x10 inch
print, and observed from a standard viewing distance
of about 1 foot.
 At this viewing distance and print size, camera manufacturers
assume a circle of confusion is negligible if no larger than 0.01
inches (when enlarged). As a result, camera manufacturers use the
0.01 inch standard when providing lens depth of field markers
(shown below for f/22 on a 50mm lens). In reality, a person with
20/20 vision or better can distinguish features 1/3 this size, and so
the circle of confusion has to be even smaller than this to achieve
acceptable sharpness throughout.

A different maximum circle of confusion also applies for each print

size and viewing distance combination. In the earlier example of
blurred dots, the circle of confusion is actually smaller than the
resolution of your screen for the two dots on either side of the
focal point, and so these are considered within the depth of field.
Alternatively, the depth of field can be based on when the circle of
confusion becomes larger than the size of your digital camera's
pixels.

Note that depth of field only sets a maximum value for the circle
of confusion, and does not describe what happens to regions once
they become out of focus. These regions are also called "bokeh,"
from Japanese (pronounced bo-k). Two images with identical
depth of field may have significantly different bokeh, as this
depends on the shape of the lens diaphragm. In reality, the circle of
confusion is usually not actually a circle, but is only approximated
as such when it is very small. When it becomes large, most lenses
will render it as a polygonal shape with 5-8 sides.
CONTROLLING DEPTH OF FIELD
Although print size and viewing distance
influence how large the circle of confusion
appears to our eyes, aperture and focusing
distance distance are the two main factors that
determine how big the circle of confusion will
be on your camera's sensor. Larger apertures
(smaller F-stop number) and closer focusing
distances produce a shallower depth of field.
The following test maintains the same focus
distance, but changes the aperture setting:

f/8.0
f/8.0
f/5.6
f/5.6
f/2.8
f/2.8
CLARIFICATION: FOCAL LENGTH AND DEPTH OF FIELD
Note that focal length has not been listed as influencing depth Note how there is indeed a subtle change for the
of field, contrary to popular belief. Even though telephoto smallest focal lengths. This is a real effect, but is
lenses appear to create a much shallower depth of field, this is negligible compared to both aperture and focusing
mainly because they are often used to magnify the subject
when one is unable to get closer. If the subject occupies the
distance. Even though the total depth of field is
same fraction of the image (constant magnification) for both a virtually constant, the fraction of the depth of field
telephoto and a wide angle lens, the total depth of field is which is in front of and behind the focus distance does
virtually* constant with focal length! This would of course change with focal length, as demonstrated below:
require you to either get much closer with a wide angle lens or
much farther with a telephoto lens, as demonstrated in the
following chart:
Distribution of the Depth of Field
Focal Length (mm) Rear
Focal Length (mm) Focus Distance (m) Depth of Field (m) Front
10 0.5 10 70.2 %
0.482 29.8 %
20 1.0 20 60.1 %
0.421
39.9 %
50 2.5
0.406 50 54.0 %
100 5.0
46.0 %
0.404 100 52.0 %
200 10 48.0 %
0.404 200 51.0 %
400 20 49.0 %
0.404
 This exposes a limitation of the traditional DoF On the other hand, when standing in the
concept: it only accounts for the total DoF and same place and focusing on a subject at the
not its distribution around the focal plane, even same distance, a longer focal length lens
though both may contribute to the perception
will have a shallower depth of field (even
of sharpness. Note how a wide angle lens
though the pictures will frame the subject
provides a more gradually fading DoF behind
the focal plane than in front, which is important entirely differently). This is more
for traditional landscape photographs. representative of everyday use, but is an
effect due to higher magnification, not
focal length.
Longer focal lengths may also appear to have a
shallower depth of field because they enlarge
the background relative to the foreground (due Depth of field also appears shallower for
to their narrower angle of view). This can make SLR cameras than for compact digital
an out of focus background look even more out cameras, because SLR cameras require a
of focus because its blur has become enlarged. longer focal length to achieve the same
However, this is another concept entirely, since
field of view.
depth of field only describes the sharp region of
a photo not the blurred regions.
CALCULATING DEPTH OF FIELD
In order to calculate the depth of
field, one needs to first decide on an
appropriate value for the maximum
allowable circle of confusion. This is
based on both the camera type
(sensor or film size), and on the
viewing distance / print size
combination. Needless to say,
knowing what this will be ahead of
time often isn't straightforward. Try
out the depth of field calculator tool
to help you find this for your
specific situation.
DEPTH OF FOCUS & APERTURE VISUALIZATION
Another implication of the circle of confusion is
the concept of depth of focus (also called the
"focus spread"). It differs from depth of field
because it describes the distance over which light
is focused at the camera's sensor, as opposed to
the subject:

Visualization: Aperture vs Depth of Field

The key concept is this: when an object is in

focus, light rays originating from that point
converge at a point on the camera's sensor. If
the light rays hit the sensor at slightly different
locations (arriving at a disc instead of a point),
then this object will be rendered as out of focus
and increasingly so depending on how far
apart the light rays are.