Extension tubes

[barry boswell]

I use a Canon 1D with a variety of lenses. I purchased a set of Kenko extension tubes, mainly to get better close-ups of butterflies, dragonflies etc.
They are OK but far from perfect, mainly due to hunting on the autofocus.

I am just wondering if the Canon ones are any better. A friend told me that they are all essentially the same and even produced by the same manufacturer.

Does anybody have recent experience of genuine Canon tubes compared to other makes such as Kenko?

Canon tubes are much more expensive and I just wondered if the extra cost was justified in any way.

Thanks. Barry Boswell

 

[Phil Young]

Barry, expect to be swarmed with responses stating to expect focus hunt in macro distance. The camera just can't AF at that distance/depth of field so always best to set your focus manually and then move in and out to hit that focus point.

Cheers.

 

[HoppyUK]

Barry, expect to be swarmed with responses stating to expect focus hunt in macro distance. The camera just can't AF at that distance/depth of field so always best to set your focus manually and then move in and out to hit that focus point.

Cheers.

^^^ This

AF is usually just a PITA with macro. What Phil means above it to focus up roughly manually, and then move your whole body back and forth to focus. Just watch the plane of sharp focus move over the subject, you'll soon get the knack.

 

[barry boswell]

Thanks guys - but I would still like to know if there is any effective difference in quality/results between the Canon branded tubes and other makes such as Kenko.

Also, I am using these tubes mostly on a 100 - 400 mm Canon lens to get a closer focusing distance

 

[Phil Young]

Thanks guys - but I would still like to know if there is any effective difference in quality/results between the Canon branded tubes and other makes such as Kenko.

Also, I am using these tubes mostly on a 100 - 400 mm Canon lens to get a closer focusing distance

Physics suggest not

You could be better off using the tubes with an 18-55mm as the maximum magnification is greater = closer focusing.