Macro capable lenses??

[payn817]

On my Minolta 70-210 f/4 it has "macro" printed at the 210 end. I have googled it to death, and can't find ratios, or anything. My question is:

If i zoom to 210, does it automatically go into a macro type mode, and reduce ratio to 1:4 or something?

I don't know the ratio of this lens. It has very good reviews, people apparently feel that it is one of minolta's best ever, but there is no info on this part of the lens. If it does reduce the size of the subject on film, shouldn't that be seen through the viewfinder, and if not, would a simple solution be to just zoom out a tad to back off the word macro on the lens??

[Peter_AUS]

payn817,

You need to keep in mind what macro means it is up close and personal to the subject usually within inches to the camera. Macro is close up work usually of flowers, insects and little things that you just can't see as well defined with normal lenses and your own eye. A lot like using a microscope. So the size would increase no reduce hence the word Macro, to get close to. Just like a zoom lens does on the image at a distance, except this is closeup work. Does that make sense.

I haven't been able to find the lens either on google searching.

[Trevor Ash]

In the case of the lens mentioned, macro simply means "close focusing mode".

It is not a macro lens.