What is the difference,if any, between a Micro and/or Macro camera lens?

Question

What is the difference,if any, between a Micro and/or Macro camera lens?

Answer 1

Totally opposite, Micro is small and Macro, is large. Use a Micro lens to shoot insects, and use a Macro lens to shoot a Mountain.

Answer 2

The word "micro" is simply used for marketing purposes in this case, unfortunately.  The correct term for the type of photographic lens is "macro".  Strictly speaking, a macro lens is used to see things closer that can still be seen by the naked eye (such as an insect), while a micro lens is used to see things closer that cannot be seen by the naked eye (such as cells).

Answer 3

When talking about lenses, they are the same... Nikon uses the term Micro... Canon uses the term Macro.

Answer 4

If I'm not mistaken, a micro lens, is specially made to capture the 'smaller' objects and macro is made to capture 'bigger' objects. Besides that, I dont know how to explain it....sorry :(

Answer 5

Actually the Mirco-Nikkor is a Macro lens in the photographic sense

Vandal is right in the strict definition of Micro and Macro ... as in economics for instance.

Answer 6

HI Two.   Really a good question!!   In terms of camera lens and what they are desinged to do....  Micro and Macro mean the same thing.  Macro Photography is "close up" photography... in that, using the macro lens, when viewing the subject and shooting the picture, the subject will be magnified, focused and seen in the view finder the same size as will be on the film plane.  Confusing?  This means that the Macro lens has the capability to magnify 1 to 1.   If I am focusing in on an ant...  it will fill the viewfinder... and fill the frame on the film (or sensor in the case of digital) ... so I can get the large impressive close up picture detailing every feature of that tiny insect.   Micro really means the same thing when referring to the lenses' capabilities of  capturing  and enlarging a tiny subject.