The Best Camera Settings for Macro and Close-Up Photography

This video simplifies camera settings for macro photography! The first part explains the optimal settings for close-up photography in general (including larger subjects like flowers, lizards, and crabs). The second part covers high-magnification macro photography, which uses more specialized techniques.

The tips in this tutorial apply regardless of the camera you have - whether DSLR, mirrorless, Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc... the system I cover works the same way no matter what.

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This video is not sponsored! You can support Photography Life and Spencer Cox Photography by buying anything through my affiliate links!

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This video ONLY covers camera settings, but it does so in more detail than I've been able to do before. Macro photography is very demanding on your settings, after all, so I hope you like the comprehensiveness of this guide.

I do want to make a quick note here. I said in the video that the best aperture depends on the camera you're using, and that's true. Something I've talked about before is that Canon calculates aperture differently from other manufacturers at these high magnifications. You'll need to divide my recommended values (f/16 to f/22) by two if you shoot with Canon. So, f/8 to f/11 is the equivalent, if you're shooting at 1:1 magnification. I'm sure this is something you've already figured out on your own (heck, it's in Canon's camera and lens manuals), so I'm only mentioning it just in case :)

If you have any questions or comments about this tutorial, let me know below! I'm planning to answer every question, so now's a good chance if there's anything you were wondering about macro photography.

~Spencer

#MacroPhotography​ #Photography​

[PhotographyLifeChannel]

I hope you enjoyed this video! I published it almost three years ago, or I would have mentioned this at the time, but I'm finally doing photography full-time now. It's been a difficult but rewarding road. If you liked this video, I just published a Patreon page with all of my newest projects, including my composition ebook and online workshops that I'm hosting. Thanks guys.

[DollhouseTutorials]

You are very good at explaining while keeping it short and sweet. You gave valuable information that wasn't drug out and I watched your entire video. Great job, great information ♡ thank you ♡

[mumo]

Top tips for non studio macro work. 👏👏👏
My tips for macro, If you have a basic lens you can always use extension tubes or a clip-on lens like the Raynox DCR-250. I never photo in direct sunlight, always use a flash & diffuser. You can you back button focus for continuous focusing if manual is not comfortable for you. Always start with a clean lens. For something non moving, I use a mini tripod & my live view screen. Zoom in on screen, you can then see full definition & if you need to tweek the focus. Get down to the level of your subject, think about interesting angles. And take a small spray water bottle with you, especially for flora (water droplets add interest) you can wet stones that brings out colours, puddles for reflection & if it's very dry it will attract insects because they're thirsty.

[WillySolares]

I am 42 years old man learning from a little boy. Thanks a lot. I love macro photography, juste gettings started with a Nikon D3500 and a 85mm micro.

[maik]

Thanks Dude. That 1:1 focusing info was on the money. Thanks.

[clovishound]

Good no nonsense tutorial. One thing I find very useful in my new Nikon Z5 camera is the user defined modes. I set up one for static bird/wildlife subjects, one for birds in flight, and one for macro. I may need to adjust a little, but the majority of settings are what I'll need for specific subjects, and I can change from one mode to another in seconds. This is especially useful in regards to focusing modes, which take some time to go through the menus to change.

[RustyBin]

great video - only thing I would say is that if you are shooting a burst of pictures for a focus stack then 1/4th flash power will likely have some images not flashing due to flash recycle time. I use 1/16th max normally and find the flash will fire every time that way. if test pic at 1/16th still comes out a little dark just pop the iso up to maybe 500 - the new denoise tool is superb at removing the small amount of image noise that results. Took a lot from your video though and keep up the great work. Thanks for sharing.

[genemcloud]

Well done. Nice differentiation between just casual shooting up close and true macro shooting. Thanks!

[IanWilkinson]

I think you covered most of the important aspects of successful macro photography very well. One tip that sometimes helps with high-magnification photos of bugs is to hold onto the insect's 'perch' with your left hand and rest the lens on that hand as well, for better control of the subject-to-lens distance and consistent manual focusing. And a lightweight monopod helps too. When the insects eventually reappear in the Spring I'll be breaking out the kit again.

[shelmana]

Great info, well presented and easy to understand. Some YouTubers seem to explain things in an overly complicated way, so I really appreciate the effort you have gone to for those of us who love Macro. Special bonus points for the mirrorless tips. 👍

[Namaste..]

Focus peaking is a real asset when shooting macro, especially handheld!

[stephaniemand]

This might be the BEST VIDEO about micro photography I've come across on yt !!
Thank you SO effing mucht for sharing you insights.
This was absolutely helpful !! greetings from belgium

[michaelscaife]

Spencer, you have a great presentation style and you are providing very useful, clear and precise advice. Please keep them coming!.

[uratasan]

I just dove into the macro photography world and quickly realized there’s so much more to learn than I expected. Your video was quick and filled with great info. Thank u!

[mindseyeproductions]

Your explanation and directions on how to achieve the images that you want are very concise and easy to understand thanks

[johnlochness]

I'd got a bit disheartened doing macro photography as so many of my pictures where out of focus or blurred. Your techniques have really inspired me to try again, thank you.

[joyceyang]

Hi Spencer, what a great video on Macro and Close-Up Photography, I would say that I have learned so much from this less than 10 minutes video of yours, very impressive content, love it! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙏😃💕

[highwayman]

Awesome video! I just got into photography at 55 years of age about 3 months ago and I'm learning a lot from watching these YouTube videos. I just got my olympus 60mm macro lens from FedEx today and have been playing with it all day. Lot's of stuff to learn that's for sure but man it's fun!

[acouragefann]

Tiny tip - grab a big step up ring since they're dirt cheap anyway (fx 62mm to 77mm) for your macro lens so your diffuser will never fall off the front - you can even cut a velcro ring to connect the two so it stays in the same position and flops/ spins around less.

If you want to make your own, I recommend a layer of tracing paper glued to one half of a slightly flexible see-through plastic binder - simply cut 2/3 of a circle with the paper in portrait orientation in the bottom (or a half circle in landscape orientation), bring the ends together around your lens and fasten them with a little clamp or paperclip. the binder will form a nice cone (how cone-ish depends on how big your circle cutout is) on top / in front of your lens.

[kejenkins]

This was Great for a beginner and even for a pro there are some tips. Like that Diffuser. I just use the one that comes with the Flash. (I'm a Nikon snob so this was great.}