macro rings (auto)

Bobby uk · 4 Jan 2013

Although I would love to have a proper macro lens, with two small children and a mortgage to sort out there well out of my budget :-(
So for a while now I have been using macro rings and have got on fairly well with them although always abit of a pot luck to the out come. But I have just stumbled apon some Polaroid auto macro ring set on amazon and was intrigued to know if anyone has used them and if they are better then just the extension tubes?
And they were only £60

jackthekipper · 4 Jan 2013

They're really one and the same Robert just Extension tubes at the end of the day. They include electrical contacts to maintain Auto Focus and Auto Exposure capabilities so yeah they have a little more going for them.
They seem to get reasonable reviews in most places and are certainly a lot cheaper than the Kenko ones and an arm and a leg cheaper than Canon or Nikon's own.

Bobby uk · 5 Jan 2013

Thanks for the reply. Yep they are a hell of a lot cheaper especially the canon ones!
I suppose I dont want to waste £60 if there no better then my £10 jobbies. But I'm still tempted if it gives you better control

Dogfish_magnet · 5 Jan 2013

Bobby uk said:
Thanks for the reply. Yep they are a hell of a lot cheaper especially the canon ones!
I suppose I dont want to waste £60 if there no better then my £10 jobbies. But I'm still tempted if it gives you better control

The main advantage is you retain aperture control from the body, so you will be able to shoot at higher f numbers for maximum DOF but the view finder will still be bright enough for you to focus.

Echo Johnson · 6 Jan 2013

The cheaper ones often have no electronic contact with the camera, which means no aperture control and no autofocus.

I have the Polaroid extension tubes (with AF and aperture control) & can recommend them, they work very well with my Canon 50/1.4.

stu.artd · 6 Jan 2013

I have the Polaroid ones as well and would be happy to recommend them after use with my 7d and 60mm macro.

Bobby uk · 7 Jan 2013

Thanx for the input guys. Strangely enough my next question was going to be what sort of lens do people like using with there macro rings?

Cagey75 · 7 Jan 2013

Don't expect the AF to be much use, you'll still end up focusing manually. AF works fine for close ups on still subjects, but forget about it for anything like bugs or flowers in a mild breeze. Having aperture control is handy, especially if you're not using a lens with an aperture ring. I've used tubes with anything from a 50mm to an 80-200.

petersmart · 7 Jan 2013

Bobby uk said:
Thanx for the input guys. Strangely enough my next question was going to be what sort of lens do people like using with there macro rings?

You can use almost any lens you like although smaller focal length lenses may mean that you have to get too lose to your subject.

I have used extension tubes on the 18-55 kit lens, the 50mm f1.8 and my 70-300mm L IS USM zoom lens where they give excellent results and allow me to get close up shots of things like butterflies, bees, wasps, hoverflies etc without getting too close and scaring them off.

All in all if you're into macro one of the best buys you can make.

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