Extension tubes ?

Crabbegom

Crabbegom

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mike crabbe
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Are Ext tubes a cheaper way of using existing lens as "Macro" lens
I have a canon 15-85, 55-250, and a 50mm. Could you use ext tubes with any of these. You will see from the question I am an enthusiastic amateur:
 
Yes and yes :-) They reduce the minimum focus distance so you can get much closer. Unless you get the Auto Focus tubes, which cost a bit more, your lens Will be fully manual. Focussing at that distance may be better manual anyway with the tiny depth of field but trying to focus with the aperture closed down to f.12+ requires lots of light.
 
Yes.. but remember that shorter focal lengths will get the most benefit. Using you're 55-250 at 250mm with macrotubes won't gain you very much unless you're using a huge length of tubes, using you're 15-85 at about 50mm will have a much greater benefit.
 
The main thing you asked about was the cost. My ext tubes cost about £100 and are very flexible. But recently I bought a Raynox 250 clip-on converter lens, which I got from Amazon for £42. I'm surprised how good it is. Very sharp and clear, although you don't get much DOF as it takes you pretty close to the subject. Raynox on Amazon Read the Amazon reviews. You need to make sure you get the right size as it has to clip inside the screw-thread of your lens.

This shot was taken with it on my Panasonic G1 at 85mm. It's a stack of several shots which is why it's so much in focus, but it shows what a good job the converter can do.


close encounters of the four-thirds kind by macro meister @ www.robmarshall.net, on Flickr
 
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