How I capture macro images, without a macro lens

Here's how I get that macro look when taking pictures of wedding rings, without actually shooting with a macro lens. I'm saving up for the new-ish Canon 100mm f/2.8 L macro lens (which looks completely awesome), but until then, I use this "faux-macro" technique to capture sweet pictures of the wedding rings, and details that have tons of... detail.

Ingredients:
1) DSLR with interchangeable lens mount (I use a Canon 50D).
2) a zoom lens that goes from wide-angle to telephoto (I use the 17-55mm, or 17-85mm).
3) File size should be set to the max resolution (on the 50D, it's 4700x3300 or thereabouts).
4) Set the focus on the lens to manual.
5) If you have a lens hood attached, take it off (it might actually block the light).

(I'll use the 17-85mm lens here as an example).

Okay.
1) Zoom your lens all the way in (that is, 85mm).
2) Adjust the focus ring all the way to the minimum focusing distance (that is, the opposite of infinity). It might actually say "Macro" on the lens itself here.
3) For your exposure settings, have a high aperture (f/8 or more) and a shutter-speed fast enough to prevent blur (like 1/200sec or faster).
4) Now, see how close you can get to the subject until it's in focus. You'll find that you can get in pretty close. Fill the frame as much as you can without ruining the composition or losing focus on the subject.
5) Take the picture.

Since you're really close, though, and you're not auto-focusing, you might have to take several pictures to get one that's tack-sharp. I use a high aperture because at that proximity, a low aperture will make just the very tip of the ring in focus and the rest way out of focus. With a high aperture, you'll have more in focus.

Now even with these settings, you'll see that the ring still doesn't take up the whole space in the picture. You need an actual macro lens for that. So here's where you crop. Remember, you had your file size set to the max setting, so the pixels are more forgiving when you crop in, even a lot. The image would look more pixellated and un-natural if you had your file size smaller.

I'm sure there are macro options on point-and-shoot cameras, and you can get something similar without pro gear, but if you want control of all your options, then DSLR is the way to go.

Now go get it.


Canon 50D, 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM at 55mm
1/500sec @ f/2.8
ISO 250


Canon 50D, 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM at 55mm
1/90sec @ f/9.5
ISO 500