The macro* lens I use allows zooming between 1X and 5X magnification. At 1X the breadth of field is about 1.4 inches. At 5X it is about 0.28 inches. (The advertisement for the Canon 5DSR states that a grain of rice will fill the sensor at 5X.) For anything larger, I use a nonmacro zoom lens. The Filaments Sequence (in the Dried and Nonflowers gallery.) illustrates magnification differences. The subject of Filaments I, taken with a nonmacro lens, is about 6 inches. The subject of Filaments II, taken at 1X, is about 3/4 in. The subject of Filaments III, taken at 3X, is about 1/3 in. An example of 4X is Octipul Embrace in the Stamens and Pistils gallery. A 5X example is Candle ala Dahlia in the Surreal gallery.

So, on one hand, we can talk about the magnification of the lens. However, when discussing a picture of something that is small, but enlarged, it is common to ask what magnification has it been enlarged to. For example, if the subject is 1 inch then printing it at 20 inches implies 20X magnification (or enlargement.) A 1/4 inch subject printed at 20 inches is 80X magnification. Some of my photos can be printed at 15 feet without much loss of sharpness (due to the 50 megapixel camera sensor.) So a 1 inch subject would be at 180X magnification. A 1/4 inch subject printed at 15 feet would thus be 720X magnification.

* People sometimes wonder why it is “macro” instead of “micro” photography. Well, Canon uses “macro”, Nikon uses “micro”. Either way it is the process of taking pictures of small things and enlarging them.