Ok ... enough said, I LOVE my macro lens!
So here's the thing about a macro lens ... your lens can be really close to your subject when you shoot. So all lenses have a minimum distance that you have to have between the lens and the subject before it will focus and macro lenses do too it's just that that distance is like super close ... like 8 inches or less!
This lens that I own is a Canon 100mm f/2.8. This lens can be used just like any other lens, it's just that it's a fixed lens so you have to walk your body in to zoom in. It makes a good portrait lens as well although I prefer the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens so that I can have some distance from the person I'm shooting and it also provides a range focal lengths with the zoom factor.
Yes, these are socks that I'm knitting!
Here are a few links to the Canon 100mm Macro lens.
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens ... this one has IS or image stabilizing ... which I highly recommend!
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Fixed Lens ... This one does not have IS or image stabilizing which means you can practically see your pulse when you look throught he viewfinder. This lens works great in a studio situation where there isn't a breeze and you can use a tripod!
I love the shallow depth of field that you can see so clearly here ... This was shot at ISO 400 f/2.8 1/400 sec.
Happy Shooting and Happy Macro LOVE!