The core advantage of an ML lens (macro lens) lies in its ability to achieve high-magnification imaging, typically reaching a 1:1 ratio or even higher. This allows it to clearly reveal the details of tiny objects, such as the fine hairs on an insect’s legs or the structure of plant cells. In contrast, regular lenses have limited magnification and struggle to capture the microscopic world.

• Higher magnification (e.g., 2:1, 5:1) allows capturing richer details of the object. However, it results in a shallower depth of field, increasing the difficulty of shooting: it imposes higher requirements on lighting (to avoid underexposure caused by smaller effective apertures at close range) and focusing precision (even tiny shifts in focus can blur key details).
• Lower magnification (e.g., 1:2, 1:4) is easier to operate, with a relatively larger depth of field. This makes it suitable for photographing slightly larger objects that require some contextual display—for instance, shooting a small potted plant (rather than just its individual leaves) or a handheld craft, where the background environment can complement the main subject to convey a more complete scene.