I love macro photography, and have read about extension tubes, but have never used one. I am just wondering if they degrade the picture and whether or not they really work. I guess the theory is that the farther away from the sensor the lens is, the closer it can focus. If these do work I think I will pickup a set. What are your guys thoughts on them?

 

Tubes do not have glass in them, they just push the focal length of your lens away from the camera. Want to get close to an object, tubes are what you want. You don't have to use them with micro/macro lens, other fixed length or zooms can be used. But using on macro will get you way close.

For below I think it was just a 10mm or 15mm tube, but you can stack different sizes.



<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reverseimage/2378023851/" title="droplets-1 by jupitersolo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2378023851_ccff50d3d5_z.jpg" width="640" height="198" alt="droplets-1" /></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reverseimage/2378862256/" title="droplets-2 by jupitersolo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/2378862256_0f013b1ea4_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="droplets-2" /></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reverseimage/2378024071/" title="droplets-5 by jupitersolo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2378024071_6ce75d0d01_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="droplets-5" /></a>

 

Awesome pictures and exactly what I am looking for. Thank you for posting up those as examples. I was just browsing on Amazon looking for reviews. The only complaint I saw with some was that they were made of plastic and not that strong. I would have to assume my money would be better spent on a metal set.

 

Most items are plastic, but not really cheap plastic. Canon tubes are very well made, as are the Kenko one's.

 

I have a Nikon. I was about to purchase a set from a company called Cowboy Sudio but do not know a lot about them. They are pretty inexpensive (<$100). I don't mind spending the $100 more if say the Kenko are really worth it. I just want to purchase once and get a good product.

 

I bought Kenko because the Nikon one's haven't been updated for a long time. They won't work with someone the newer lens, electrics and cpu stuff. As least that was the poop a year or so ago.

I haven't had problems with mine, but have only used once, but reading the comments at amazon.com or bhphoto.com, they have good reviews.

 

I've got a set of Kenko tubes and they work just fine. I don't use them all that much because most of my lenses focus close enough for their intended purpose, but I do use them for very close macros and sometimes with the 85mm for flower shots.

 

I've always enjoyed taking very close macro shots. My old Sony DSC F717 did an amazing job of it actually. So I am looking forward to trying out a set of these tubes. I just cannot afford a the $800 for the lens I want, so this coupled with my zoom hopefully will suffice.

 

Using tubes with an ultra wide lens is a different look, can't find the pics that I did about three years ago.

 

Different good or different bad?

 

good,

 

I find that tubes are most at home on lenses over 50mm. The wider the lens, the more effect the tubes will have, and if you go too wide, the infinity focus will be inside the lens (i.e. not usable).

 

I was thinking of trying it out on my new 18-250mm. Not really planning on using it on anything less then 100mm most likely.

 

I used a 12mm tube on my then 16-35, I have (somewhere) a couple pretty good flower shots from it. Damn I can't find them though.

 

If you find them I'd love to see them.

 

Jupitersolo, clean shots

 

Get the Kenko, it has the electronics for AF and Metering purposes. although for Macro you should be using manual focus. Another option you have is reverse rings. You can buy a filter reverse ring and BR-3 nikon to protect the other end of the lens. I just tried this yesterday with a 18-105 and i like the results. Still getting use to Macro photography. This picture is full resolution, no cropping.

 

Very nice picture.

 

I got my extension tubes yesterday. I am still experimenting with them. Takes a bit of getting used to. Do you guys use a tripod or monopod when using yours? I did get some clear examples inside last night. When I went outside today I found it a lot more difficult to get any good shots handheld. I am about to go experiment some more with the tripod. It is soooo hard to get a good picture of a bee that will not stand still. Makes me appreciate even more all the great insect shots people post.

 

Forgot to mention. I bought the tubes from Cowboy Way by way of Amazon. They were $80 and I figured I'd try something less expensive to see if I will use them. The other reason was that they are made of metal. The brand is actually MeiKe and the build quality is pretty solid. The lens will autofocus, although I did have a few instances using multiple tubes that it did not. I have not figured out a pattern for when it will and will not work yet. Its not a huge deal as I use manual mostly for macro. Overall I think its a pretty good set.

 

You can handhold, but tubes make you loose light so it's hard to get a faster shutter speed, a tripod is almost a must.

Have fun, can't wait to see what you can do with them.

 

I didn't get a chance to play around too much today. I just did a few handheld shots. Hoping to get a chance to try out some shots with the tripod this weekend if I can find the time. Anyway, here are some mediocre at best shots:

 

Here are some more I got while messing around:

















I like some but overall they could be better. I was using the 55-200mm "kit" lens (same as kit lens but doesn't have VR)