extension tubes ..

D

Danny133

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,530
Name
Daniel
Edit My Images
Yes
very impressed with my 24-70 ..

would love to do some macro work but dont have the goods ;)

would extension tubes do the job for me?

If so which ones will give me maximum zoom for bugs and things ..

my 24-70 has 0.38 focus distance btw ..
 
Didn't you get the 24-105?

The extension tubes aren't bad... Aren't brilliant either, but for a very cheap way of getting into macro, they do the trick.

http://takemetoanotherplace.deviantart.com/gallery/24193320#/d26w91x

I shot that over a year ago when I was still a complete amateur, with a 1000D and a cheap and nasty kit lens. Haven't touched my tubes since really after a panic when they got stuck to my 70-200L and took several hours to get off (Dont even ask!)
 
Extension tubes would certainly do the job. Not to the same degree as a dedicated macro lens but they still allow you to focus coser with a normal lens.

There are two types - full auto focus tubes and manual focus tubes.
Needless to say the former costs more than the latter.

When using extension tubes things get a lot darker when viewing through the lens so you somethimes need a good light source on your subject if using indoors as well as being able to use your flash on your subjects.

Others will come along and fill you in more with greater detail
 
Extension tubes.

You can get cheap manual ones from Ebay, fully compatable ones from the camera manufacture (OEM) or Kenko.

Wouldn't recommend the cheap ones, there is a story on here of them getting stuck on some chaps lens/camera.

The OEM ones usually cost an arm and a leg.

The way to go, if you are serious, IMVHO is Kenko.

All sorts of prices, £100-£150, I was very fortunate and picked a 'as new'
set for £40 inc. P&P.

I use mine with a Nikkor 50mm 1.8f.

D in W
 
how about canon oem ones?

surely they are not dodgy as there oem .. and would they fit on my 24-70?
 
I also use extension tubes and they are excellent.

However I have also used cheap close up lenses on the kit lenses on my 450D and 350D and they are the cheapest way to try macro:

Taken with a 350D with +4 Dioptre close up lens on the 18-55mm kit lens
11042.jpg


Taken with a 350D with +10 Dioptre close up lens on the 18-55mm kit lens.
11191.jpg


But if you go for the extension tubes then definitely go for Automatic tubes - I have the Kenko DG AF tubes bought on here for about £75.00 and they are excellent.
​

.
 
Don't bother with the canon ones, FAR too expensive.

The kenko ones are great, made of metal so solid.

I know someone who owns both kenko and canon tubes, and he says the built of the kenko is so similar to the canon, he could imagine the canon one's being re-branded kenkos!

The kenko one's have all the contacts so you keep AF and aperture control.
You get a set of three, so it's far more flexible than the canons.
 
One odd thing is it says that "Canon EF-S lenses will not mount on the KENKO DG Extension Tube Set" but in fact they DO!

In fact I have just tried them on a 17-85mm IS USM fitted to a 36mm Kenko extension tube on my 1Ds Mk II and they do fit.

However the AF seems not to work very well at close quarters and just "hunts".

.
 
Danny133 said:
need to find a cheap set on kenkos then!
Click to expand...

Just keep a lookout on here.

I've been very pleased with everything I've bought on here - and I'd certainly buy on here rather than Ebay for photographic goods.

.
 
You could try the manual ones for around £7...I've got a set, its a throwaway cost mate.

I think manual focus is generally preferred when doing macro - esp with the live view and magnification x10 feature.

The biggest problem is lack of aperture control as your depth of field is small and the aperture remains fully open with these manual tubes - there is a workaround but some people think its a PITA to do each time.

Definately go with Kenko over Canon, alternatively I saw a set of Opteka's (auto tubes) on Amazon for £80 - they are out of stock just now, I can only find the Nikon ones :(
 
dentedshed said:
Not all of them do. You have to make sure that they have the white square as well as the red dot for lens alignment.
Click to expand...

Both the EF-S lenses I tried do have a white square.

.
 
my lens is 77mm mate raynox wont fit ..

and id like to go tubes route :)

the link you posted looks good .. were they alright?
 
Depending on what you spend on tubes, remember you could be a £100-200 away from a dedicated macro lens.

Thats what I done...except I pushed the budget even more:eek:
 
AndyB1976 said:
Depending on what you spend on tubes, remember you could be a £100-200 away from a dedicated macro lens.

Thats what I done...except I pushed the budget even more:eek:
Click to expand...

dont even get me started mate!
 
Danny133 said:
dont even get me started mate!
Click to expand...

:lol:

I'm just saying....as you only have the one lens maybe the extra cash would be better spent on another lens.

It would likely be around 100mm (close to the upper range you had with the 24-105) and its also f2.8..


Andy:naughty:
 
AndyB1976 said:
:lol:

I'm just saying....as you only have the one lens maybe the extra cash would be better spent on another lens.

It would likely be around 100mm (close to the upper range you had with the 24-105) and its also f2.8..


Andy:naughty:
Click to expand...


my next lens is a 70-200 so no lol
 
Danny133 said:
my lens is 77mm mate raynox wont fit ..

and id like to go tubes route :)

the link you posted looks good .. were they alright?
Click to expand...



toonamp said:
I bought a set of these, they're from Poland, but arrived within 3 days.

Excellent set and as robust as you'll need.
Click to expand...

There are examples on the last page of the link I gave with all 3 tubes, with and without the Raynox.
 
Mmmm a nice 100mm f/2.8L IS macro would fit the bill nicely. Doubles up as a cracking portrait lens.
If you sell the 7D you'll be able afford one!

:naughty:
 
dentedshed said:
Not the white square on the lens, the white square on the tubes.
Click to expand...

Nope - my tubes have a round red and a round white dot yet the EF-S lens DO fit and work on auto exposure but not on AF - mind you that close you would really need to use MF anyway.
 
dentedshed said:
I'm guessing that they are a cheapish set? I have a kenko set with the white square mark and they autofocus.
Click to expand...

Nope - they're the Kenko DG AF set.

And I just tested the smallest one (12mm) and the lenses DO autofocus provided they're within the range the lens can achieve focus.

Obviously before I was outside the focussing range of the lenses.

Mind you on my 1Ds Mk II (FF) the 17-85mm isn't much good because it doesn't cover all the sensor but on a crop camera should be fine.

Oddly enough an 18-55mm kit lens covers much more of the sensor.

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top