"DigiPhoto Guide For Beginners" is now available

t-photo.com "Macro" Oct.1, 2000--Knowlege P.1/2

Some may mix up with Macro and Close Up. In fact, they are based on Magnification to classify. Magnication is a photographic term, which means the ratio of image with the original object, e.g. if the object is 2 cm high, its image on film is 1 cm high, the Magnification is 1/2=0.5, if the image on film is 2 cm high, the Magnification is 2/2=1.0. Before it is shown as 1:1, 1:0.5 or 0.5:1, which might lead to confusion. Therefore, it is changed to 0.5X, 1X etc.

The term, Close Up, means the image of an object is only a part of it. In common dialogue, when we say, "Take a close up of him/her", we means that the image is half-length or head shot of someone.

For classification by Magnication, we have:

Close Up --- from part of the object to 1X
Macro --- from 1X to 10X
Micro --- from 25X up

Since for common use, which is not scientific, the Close Up and Macro are not clearly defined. Especially, the manufacturers, mostly in Japan, always use emphasis terms, e.g. 'Macro' instead of 'Close Up', 'Micro' instead of 'Macro'. This kind of confusion is not acceptable for education or research. But in commercial, when one company tell lies, the other one dare not to tell the truth, else they will suffer because most customers are lack of such kind of knowledge.