Photography is full of well-established beliefs and expectations around the lenses you should own. Need a portrait lens? Get an 85mm lens. Do you shoot weddings? You need a 35mm lens; a fast one, probably f/1.4 There is truth to these conclusions, but they may be limiting your options when you decide what lenses you should consider buying.

The name “macro lens” often boxes them into a niche category that we don’t consider because we may not appreciate how versatile they truly are. However, macro lenses are useful for creative work that typically don’t use the macro moniker, such as portraits, food, and video. In this quick video, Peter McKinnon makes the case for why everyone should own a macro lens.

[REWIND: SLR LOUNGE’S TOP LENSES | WHY YOU NEED AN 85MM IN YOUR CAMERA BAG]

Macro Lens Options By Brand

Canon Full Frame

Canon 100mm 2.8L Macro IS – $899.00

Canon 100mm 2.8 USM – $599 (not image stabilized)

Canon APS-C

Canon EF-S 35mm 2.8 Macro IS STM lens – $349.00

Canon EF-S 60mm 2.8 Macro USM 2.8 – $469.00  (not image stabilized)

Canon (Mirrorless) APS-C

Canon EF-M 28mm f/3.5 Macro IS STM Lens  – $299.00

Nikon Full Frame

Nikon VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens  – $896.95

Nikon Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED Lens – $596.95 (not image stabilized)

Nikon APS-C

NikonDX Micro-NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR Lens – $526.95

Nikon DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G Lens – $276.95 (not image stabilized)

Sony (Mirrorless)

Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Lens – $1,098.00

Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro Lens – $498.00 (not image stabilized)

Sony (Mirrorless) APS-C

Sony E 30mm f/3.5 Macro Lens – $278

Note: Many Sony mirrorless cameras offer IBIS  (In-Body-Image Stabilization)

Sony A-Mount

Sony 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens -$798.00

Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro – $649.00

Fuji

Fujifilm XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro Lens  – $1,199.95

Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 XF Macro Lens – $649.00 (not image stabilized)

M43

Olympus

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens – $499.00 (not image stabilized)

Panasonic

Panasonic Lumix G Macro 30mm f/2.8 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. Lens – $397.99

Note: Many Olympus mirrorless cameras offer IBIS  (In-Body-Image Stabilization)

I’ve been considering adding a macro lens to my kit for some time and this video only reconfirms that it should happen sooner rather than later. Every time I use them, I wish I had already made the purchase.

But, what about you? How do you use your macro lenses?