©Darwin Wiggett
Settings: ƒ1.6@1/200 sec., EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100, 20mm of extension

Story and photography by Darwin Wiggett

Over the course of 25+ years in photography I have owned at least six different macro lens. And the fate of every single one of these lenses has been the same: I sold them!

I know that macro lenses allow me to focus really close and make detailed photos of small objects. I know that macro lenses are among the sharpest made by lens manufacturers, and yet in spite of all these pluses, I still ended up doing what most photographers who own macro lenses do – leave them at home! My macro lenses were rarely used except at home, and so they were just excess baggage when travelling.

I admit it, I am a slow learner, but I have finally learned my lesson – no more macro lenses for me! But what about close-ups? Am I giving up on the small details in nature? Absolutely not. With a lightweight, inexpensive alternative I can turn any of my lenses into close-focusing machines.

To read more of Darwin Wiggett’s column on “Forget the Macro Lens”, please pick up the October 2013 issue of OPC today!