Macro Extension Tubes

abulense

Hi there,
Can anyone advise me on buying/using macro extension tubes? I've heard they are a cheap alternative to a proper macro lens, but are they that effective? Can you get good close-up shots with them? Where's the best place to get them? I've seen some on ebay for about €20 for a canon dslr fit....

cheers

Fenster

I have diopter filters for my camera, but the distortions are pretty horrible. Here's a sampler:

elven

Not sure what kind you're looking at will be but I have the Jessops own ones, about €100 for a set of three different widths that you can stack up together. They work with my 50mm f1.8 and my canon 80-200mm (on the 350D) but I don't know if they work with EF lenses. Brian also had issues with one of his lenses not autofocusing after he borrowed them, so I have to include that as a side note just in case - although I haven't had any probs.

Here's a wee pic I took with them on with the 50mm...



I think it'll be a good while before I fork out for a dedicated macro lens since I have these - you do lose a stop or two but if you like the shallow DoF or are prepared to use a tripod, you'll be fine.

Wez

I was considering getting a set of these myself, they seem like a handy enough tool..

311

extension tubes are a great accessory to have ,but never have the lens on autofocus when using them ,especially a fast motor like usm or hsm.
I found that lenses with fast motors were moving too fast because of the tiny depth of field.I broke a lens.

abulense

Thanks guys. Some useful info there. And some good pics too. Dedicated macro lens are far too expensive for me at the moment so I'll probably give these extension tubes a go. These are a set I've seen on ebay just now:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/CANON-EOS-MACRO-EXTENSION-TUBE-for-400D-350D-20D-30D-5D_W0QQitemZ330073025822QQihZ014QQcategoryZ30059QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Any thoughts? Do you think these would be any good?

digitalage

I use the kenko extension tubes these allow you to auto focus but to be honest I always use manual focus with macro shots, the extension tubes you have listed abulense only allow you to manually foucs but otherwise I'd say they would be fine to use.

PaulieC

I have these tubes. As mentioned above, you cannot use autofocus with these tubes as they do not retain the electrical connection between camera and lens. Also, the lens you use can only be used at it's widest aperture (e.g. f3.5), so you get a very narrow DOF, making it quite hard to handhold and get focus...
They do work fantastically well though when you get it right

magicbastarder

i have a criminally underused set. thankfully, they retain aperture couplings with the lens, so allow full freedom on aperture selection.