Rent Macro Lenses to Take Incredible Close-Ups

The right macro lens gives photographers a way to capture amazing close-ups. With an ability to shoot 1:2 or 1:1 magnification ratios, macro lenses offer great flexibility to shoot amazing imagery not only up close but also from a distance for portrait photography. Some even work for time lapse and video projects, too.

How Macro Works

When you’re looking at the specs of one of our rental macro lenses, you may notice a magnification factor, such as 1:1. You’ll also sometimes see it written as 1x. This is because some manufacturers show the magnification factor as a ratio (1:1, 1:2) while some use decimals (.25x, .22x). A ratio of, say, 1:4 is the same as 0.25x – you can think of ratios as fractions (instead of 1:4, think ¼). 

Want to convert one to another? Say a lens is listed at 0.19x. Take 1 divided by 0.19 and get 5.26. That lens has a magnification ratio of 1:5.26, which means the objects it photographs are approximately 5 times larger in real life than what will be projected on the sensor. This is a simplification, as other factors are involved such as sensor size, object distance, and overall object size but this at least gets you started in thinking in macro terms. Conversely, a lens with a 5:1 ratio can project an image five times the size of the object. 

Generally speaking, if it’s a true macro lens you’ll see a magnification ratio of 1:1 or higher. For standard lenses, you’ll more often see this spec written as a decimal. This is what sets macro lenses apart from regular lenses: a macro lens has the ability to focus from infinity to 1:1 magnification. 

Like regular lenses, macro lenses come in a wide variety of focal lengths. The longer your focal length, the further you need to be from your subject. A 100mm macro lens will be at twice the working distance of a 50mm macro lens, meaning you have to be twice as far from your subject. Why this matters is that some subjects, especially when shooting insects and other animals, are more skittish than others and may be frightened away by you. The further you can be from them when shooting, the better.

At BorrowLenses, we rent an extensive variety of lenses in the macro category, including Sony macro lenses, Canon macro lenses, Nikon micro lenses (their version of “macro”), and so many more.

Find the Best Macro Lens for Your Camera

Great macro photography relies on the best macro lens for your camera. From weddings to wildlife, photographic art and architectural shots to really any project where magnification is needed and/or desired, BorrowLenses has a wide range of macro lenses for Canon, Nikon, Sony cameras and more – to meet every need.

Macro Lens Options

Our most popular macro lenses available to rent from BorrowLenses:

- The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro USM Lens is a true 1:1 macro lens, which means it can reproduce items at life-size magnification. It also offers image stabilization that produces sharper images for both macro and portrait shooting.

- The Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 G OSS Macro Lens is also a 1:1 macro lens with image stabilization. It has a quiet linear motor for near-silence autofocusing.

- The Nikon 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED AF-S VR Micro Lens supports a 1:1 reproduction ratio and image stabilization. It has an internal focus system allowing for a very balanced body.

- The Fuji XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro Lens has a 1:1 reproduction ratio, image stabilization, and a linear motor for quick and silent autofocus. Like many Fuji XF lenses, it is also weather-sealed.

- The Tokina Cinema AT-X 100mm T2.9 Macro E Mount Lens brings true macro to the filmmaking world. This lens has 0.8 pitch gears and a de-clicked aperture for smooth depth of field transitions.

Macro Lens Resources

Learn more about this incredibly rewarding speciality lens type:

- What is a Macro Lens? Everything You Need to Know as a Beginner

- What Meditation and Macro Photography Have in Common

- A Photographer’s Guide to Macro Lens Photography

- Macro Photography Tricks for Beginners

How Much Does it Cost for a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro USM Lens Rental?

Our most popular Canon macro lens rentals rent for as low as $6 a day as part of a 7 day rental. To rent Sony macro lenses, our most popular lens, the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 G OSS Macro Lens would rent for as low as $10 a day as part of a 7 day rental. At BorrowLenses, you can rent macro lenses for 3-90 days with no or low deposit. Check gear availability now.