A half macro lens focuses close enough to fill the frame with a protea bract, a beetle's back or the stitching on a leather bag, without asking for the working distance and focusing precision that a full 1:1 macro lens demands. Its maximum magnification is 1:2, meaning the subject is recorded at half life size on the sensor. That halfway point turns out to be a useful place to stand: close enough for real detail, far enough back to keep some of the setting in frame, and forgiving enough that you come away with the shot rather than a sequence of near misses. This article covers what half macro is, how it differs from full macro, what it suits, and what to check when choosing one.
What is a macro lens, and where does half macro fit?
A macro lens is built to focus far closer than an ordinary lens, so small subjects are rendered large on the sensor. Two figures describe that ability, and both appear on every spec sheet.
Maximum magnification is the ratio between a subject's real size and the
