Extension Tubes - Full Disclosure

[OBie]

You are speaking of a telecoverter An extention tube allows you to focus at a shorter distance, while a TC magnifies your focal length(making the subject larger in your frame)

Oh man - I can't believe after reading this entire thread that I got that wrong! Comprehension is not my strong suit. Good thing school is waaaay behind me.

So I need to look into a TC for the Sigma (assuming I keep it!)?

Why not put a feeder 10 feet from the window instead

:mad2: LOL! I thought of that just after posting.. DUH! That I can do.

[Loupey]

OBie, perhaps it will help to differentiate these this way:

1) If you're too close and your lens won't focus any closer, then think "extension tubes"

and
2) If you're wishing that the image in your viewfinder was closer/more magnified, then think "teleconverters". These are also called multipliers.

As for your Sigma, I'm kinda worried about that. If it isn't taking clear pictures already, adding any accessory will make the problem worse.

[OBie]

Thanks Loupey. Appreciate the explanation - and I didn't know that teleconverters (TCs?) were also known as "multipliers".

I'm going to take the Sigma into Wolf (Ritz) for a look-see. It did OK at the zoo, but other than that one day, I've not seen anything great.

[slayer7124]

Can you leave the extensions tubes on for a non macro photo? Like say a picture of a landscape?

[Loupey]

Can you leave the extensions tubes on for a non macro photo? Like say a picture of a landscape?

Only if you take pictures of miniatures.

As soon as you space out any lens, the focus range immediately shifts towards the close end.


Example 1: 20mm extension tube + 50mm lens: infinity = 5.2" out in front of the lens
Example 2: 20mm extension tube + 85mm lens: infinity = 15" out in front of the lens

If you notice this trend, the distance increases as the focal length of the main lens increases or if the amount of extension decreases.

And that is the only difference between using tubes and a true macro lens which can focus out to true infinity. When using tubes, you have to consider what distance range you want to be shooting your subject. Admittedly this can be a little tough if you have a highly animated subject (like a butterfly) that keeps crossing the focus range. But it just takes practice.

[paulnj]

You can, but you will loose infinity and have a shallower DOF than typical landscape images.

[paulnj]

I have only used tubes on 400mm + ;)

[slayer7124]

Thank you guys. I do not have any tubes yet but I'm considering it. Cheapest way to add something more to my camera instead if buying a new lens.

[victorhuang20]

yay, got my extension tubes today!

[mjs1973]

yay, got my extension tubes today!

Don't forget to send Loupey his commission! You will love them. They are a lot of fun to play with.

[webarchitect]

Nice demo...and good take.

[Ron Kruger]

Wow. Great effort and display. Thanks very much. I experiemented with extension tubes many years ago and decided they didn't give acceptable quality, but you've convinced me.
Man--now I have another thing on my want list.
This is a great forum, I've only been here a couple of days, but I've already learned a great deal.

[Loupey]

Hi, Ron. Please do get a set of tubes and try them out.

They work with all lenses but I try not to use them with zooms (causes softness around the edges of the frame). They work really well with primes - especially those with built-in image stabilization.

I use them on my 500mm as well.

[Ron Kruger]

Dear Loupey,
Thanks, but I have a question:
I do all my wildlife photography with a 200mm F2.8, because I can hand-hold it and I know how to get close. I shoot a Pentax K20D. The lens is not IS, but the one in the camera works suprisingly well. I've been able to get sharp shots with my 200 at 1/60 sec. handheld. What brand of extensions would you recommend?
Also, back when I was playing with them, they came in 2X, 3X etc., so it was simple. Now I see they come in mms. How does this translate?

[ScreaminScott]

Ron,
I think you are confusing extension tubes with teleconverters...But, there is a Vivitar (others made them as well) 2x Macro converter that when used with a 50mm lens, allowerd you to focus to life sized images...It is a quality 7 element converter that offered variable ratios without having to change out tubes

[poker]

After reading this thread for months, I finally bought a set of Kenko tubes. I really enjoy what I see at such a close distance but I haven't been able to take a photo I'd like to share.

I only have time to play around at night and I end up using artificial light. I find lighting up something for macro work challenging. No wonder they've created macro ring flashes.

I might get a macro rail from Ebay for $35 unless I figure out a DIY method. I'll keep experimenting with lighting my subjects.

[Loupey]

Hey, poker, yeah the close subject-to-lens distance can be a bit challenging to light. You probably already know this, but a single on-camera strobe can do beautiful work if bounced properly. Most of my "example" images I post here on PR are just quick, single strobe shots with the flashed typically pointing back and up over my head.

[Loupey]

Hi, folks, I thought I might mention something I hadn't even thought of before:

In playing with some equipment that I just bought my son, I found out that my tubes won't mount on his 18-55mm EF-S lens. My tubes (I think they are made by Kenko) have a baffle which hits the longer rear mount of the EF-S. I've mounted my tubes on every EF lens I've owned and never had an issue.

Something to think about. Make sure you get the proper tubes to match the format you use.

(EF lens on the left, EF-S lens on the right)

[poker]

Hey, poker, yeah the close subject-to-lens distance can be a bit challenging to light....

I have a light tent cube in the mail from an Ebay purchase. I hope to get it tomorrow so I can play with it this weekend. I can't wait for my first satisfying macro shot. I would due it in the day time but I've been so busy.

Regarding EF-S and the Kenko tubes, I did see some fine print regarding it's incompatibility with EF-S lenses. I forgot which vendor states it.

[Rivman]

Great comparison shots Loupey - good info., thanks for sharing !
According to reviews on B&H's web site, the newer style Kenko EOS set will work without problems on EF-S lens, while the Canon EF12 II, and EF25 II are EF-S specific, if you can afford them. :thumbsup:

[whoehei02]

Just ordered a set of Kenko tubes from Adorama's used department for 79 bucks w/shipping.never used them but heard lots about them,these tips will help..Thanks

[Frog]

I see I'm going to have to get used to using my tubes more.
Thanks for showing all the fine work, Loupey.

I wonder if this could be placed elsewhere along with the n/w forums for it is useful info for other than n/w work also. Don't know where it would go though.

[chaman]

My God...Im inspired to get some of these tubes myself. I ordered the cheap ones to see if I get the hang of it to later move over to the Kenkos. These pics are sublime, I can only hope to get a quarter (not even a half) of the quality you show here. Do you make some post processing work in these like saturation, contrast or curves??? They are just amazing.

[Loupey]

Thanks for commenting.

Frog - I think there is a link to this thread in the welcome thread within the Viewfinder Forum.

chaman - thank you very much for the kind words. Yes, every single image I take has to be massaged out with post processing. Camera RAW (without any camera processing) is an ugly thing to behold but contains the most amount of data because it hasn't been processed. Like peeling away the layers of an onion, one has to process the data until just the right amount of onion is visible.

[Iguanamom]

These are inspiring. I was just fooling around with my 90mm macro and a 25mm extension tube, but never thought of putting it on a telephoto. The difference it makes with my 180mm f2.8 is amazing and will certainly help in the field.