How do you know it's actually macro with a digital camera?

Thanks for all the comments. This helps: "By the original definition, a macro photograph is one in which the size of the subject on the negative or image sensor is life-size or greater. In some senses, however, it refers to a finished photograph of a subject that is greater than life-size."
So it can be both: if the subject on the negative or image sensor is life-size or greater. Or if it's not but cropped to the extent that the subject is life-size or greater. Is that how to interpret this statement?
 
In common usage, "macro photography" has for many years had a pretty loose meaning. It just means close, probably closer than your normal equipment could easily manage. The formal definition is that the magnification of the image is greater than or equal to 1:1, but I have also heard it stated as greater than 1x.

These definitions aren't very useful, IMO, because they ignore sensor size. Thus, while a frame-filling image of a 3 centimeter bug would be considered macro on a full frame camera, it wouldn't be when taken on a phone.

We don't have a better definition of macro for now, but for most of us, if it looks closer than normal, it is macro.
 
This helps: "By the original definition, a macro photograph is one in which the size of the subject on the negative or image sensor is life-size or greater.
I get that—in theory. I'm sure I'm being very stupid, but how can you tell that your sensor is showing the subject at a ratio of 1:1? Personally I'll settle for "If it looks like a macro, it's a macro".
 
Jack, that was my thought also. Easy to measure an image on a negative, not so easy with a sensor. I suppose there could be a way to count pixels, but I’m not smart enough for that.
 
Jack, that was my thought also. Easy to measure an image on a negative, not so easy with a sensor. I suppose there could be a way to count pixels, but I’m not smart enough for that.
The whole image is 36mm wide for FF, and about 23mm for crop.

If you are shooting with the RF 100mm macro lens, the magnification is shown in the viewfinder.

You don't need to know the image size, but it isn't hard to work it out if you want to know.
 
A photo is a macro when the subject is focused on with much sharper-than-usual details, and the rest is slightly blurred out. Then again, the "Macro" setting helps with this wonderfully :P
 
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