Extension Tubes

[Andy77]

hi there peeps, does anyone have anyone have any experience with kenko extension tubes and are they worth buying, looking to do some macro and ive read that its worth buying the extension tubes to first try out macro before forking out on a nice expensive macro 1.1 lens, so do they work and are the results any good

thanks

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

hi there peeps, does anyone have anyone have any experience with kenko extension tubes and are they worth buying, looking to do some macro and ive read that its worth buying the extension tubes to first try out macro before forking out on a nice expensive macro 1.1 lens, so do they work and are the results any good

thanks

Andy which lens are you going to be using them with ?

 

[Andy77]

im using a canon 400d and ill either be using the standard kit lens or a tamron 55-200mm f4-5.6

thanks

 

[tikkathreebarrel]

im using a canon 400d and ill either be using the standard kit lens or a tamron 55-200mm f4-5.6

thanks

My advice is to buy your Kenko tubes and have fun but....

1. Be prepared to build up skills with your zoom lenses at their short end to begin with. I'd start at the short end of your kit lens and gro from there.
2. Be ready to go to MF rather than AF.

 

[Teshi]

Dont even bother with Kenko's. Ebay knock offs are just as good. You are paying for empty air. Unlike TC's, there is NO glass internally so all you pay for is a different material used in its construction.

Heres some taken with tube+flash

Not 100000% tack sharp but my fault for not stopping down a touch or using a decent lens for it. 50 1.8 works well. I did prefer the 85 1.8 for extension tubes.

Ebay extension tubes (fraction of the cost of Kenko's)

You can also use a reverse ring for your 18-55mm kit lens - LINK

 

[michaelgreen78]

I agree with Mitesh. I have the cheapo ebay tubes and use them with an old Pentax 50mm 1.7 lens that has a manual aperture ring. There's a small learning curve to using this approach but you get used to it after a while.

It looks like this: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5209326&postcount=237

and gives results like this: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=475517&highlight=mallorcan+macros

That said, with the kenko set you keep the ability to autofocus (which is not really needed) and you keep control over aperture settings which is a bonus.

 

[Deleted member 3428]

Kenko tubes, quality is fine, I have a set of the older ones that don't fit ef-s lenses so make sure the ones you get do if you are going to use them on ef-s lenses. Then enjoy and post up some macro shots The cheap ones don't maintain the electrical contact with the lens so you have to stop down first which can be a pain.

 

[cowasaki]

I bought some cheapo ebay ones for £9 a set. They were absolutely pants! Would be REALLY interested to see the results of a good few examples of the Kenko tooobs !

 

[Teshi]

I bought some cheapo ebay ones for £9 a set. They were absolutely pants! Would be REALLY interested to see the results of a good few examples of the Kenko tooobs !

Can ask, what was so pants about them?

 

[cowasaki]

Can ask, what was so pants about them?

No electrical pass through, poor build quality so they are difficult to unscrew and the so called nikon mount is absolutely rubbish and it is REALLY difficult to get off the lens. Do you want to buy them off me

The "no electrical pass through" means that you get no AF etc...

 

[Teshi]

No electrical pass through, poor build quality so they are difficult to unscrew and the so called nikon mount is absolutely rubbish and it is REALLY difficult to get off the lens. Do you want to buy them off me

Nah, my Canon fit ones have been kick ass.

Price vs what they do, no issue for me.

Not had a problem with any AF since i never use them.

 

[cowasaki]

Nah, my Canon fit ones have been kick ass.

Price vs what they do, no issue for me.

Not had a problem with any AF since i never use them.

I have a decent Nikon macro lens but quite like that idea of getting even closer as my wife is a goldsmith with a serious gem collection ! I am buying a proper macro light table too so I might well have a punt with the kenkos

 

[Chappers]

Have Kenko tubes, work OK.

However remember that the tubes effectively reduce the amount of light reaching the AF sensors so it's likely they wont be able lock on the subject. So it's back to good 'ol manual focus. Also the effective aperture of the lens will increase so you'll need more light than you may think, although the TTL metering should take care of exact exposure

 

[michaelgreen78]

I bought some cheapo ebay ones for £9 a set. They were absolutely pants! Would be REALLY interested to see the results of a good few examples of the Kenko tooobs !

Did you look at the examples I posted for the cheapo set? I'll post it here again: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=475517 Please do have a look and see what can be achieved with just a little effort.

I cannot be happier with the results from these tubes for the price. You don't need autofocus at the distances you'll be using these - manual focus is easy enough. Don't forget that with the cheap set you need to have already stopped the lens down before taking the shot. I usually set to at least f/16

 

[Dogfish_magnet]

im using a canon 400d and ill either be using the standard kit lens or a tamron 55-200mm f4-5.6

thanks

Andy i'm not sure what sort of reproduction ratios you will get with these lens - i have only used extension tubes with the nifty 50 (gives 1:1 ish) and a sigma 105mm macro (Gives 2:1 ish) I've used both the ebay cheapies and the Kenko tubes - the ebay tubes are a pain to use as you need to manually use the aperture ring on the lens usually wide open to to frame / focus the shot then step down to f11 / f16 ish to take the shot - OK for static object when tripod mounted but a nightmare when you've tracking a moving object - the kenko tubes are 100% easier to use as the camera still controls the aperture so just frame, focus and shoot much much easier and you will use them a lot more than the ebay copies.

 

[jgs001]

I've ebay tubes and whilst they do work, as Paul said there are drawbacks. Also, I've read that being simple screw threads to change the space, means that you can also get bits of paint and metal coming off them, I've no experience of this though. I ended up buying a Raynox DCR250 and use that on my 55-250. That gives me approx ratios of 1:1 at 100mm, 2:1 at 200mm and 2.5:1 at 250mm, control of the aperture is still from the body and AF confirm works (although I use manual focus), and it appears that the IS does it's best too. The Raynox is more expensive than Ebay tubes.

 

[The Lorne Ranger]

I have recently bought the Raynox DCR-250 & a set of kenko extension tubes.

I prefered the kenko's as i can still control apperture, i picked up a mint set off ebay for £75, and the raynox i got from a TP member for £28.

I havent had a proper play yet, but here's what i get with the kenko's + DCR-250 on my Tamron 28-70mm.

1. small writing on the side of my sigma 18-200

2. Button on my sky remote

 

[Andy77]

Impressed by all your replys peeps thankyou, after reading all your info i think im going to go for kenko tubes after all, just see how it goes eh, practice makes perfection !!!!!!!!!!!!