Extension Tubes - Pics Added 5-21-08

[AndrewWG]

I recently purchased a set of extension tubes from Adorama. They are the Pro Optic extension tube set in 13mm, 21mm and 31mm lengths.

For those of you who do not know what I am talking about, these are just glassless tubes that fit between your cmaera body and your lens. They allow your lens to be used as a sort of macro lens. I will state right here at the beginning, that I don't think that these will ever replace a macro lens for me as the use of them has drawbacks such as loss of light, focusing abilities, etc. Since I just got them, I don't even know all of the pluses and minuses of them just yet. Every lens has a mimimum focus distance of, for example, 2 feet. They are all different so this is just an example. These tubes allow you to focus at a much closer distance, thus getting the subject to fill the frame more. They don't actually magnify the image as there is no glass involved. They just get the lens closer to the subject.

I took my 70-200mm f2.8 lens out to test them. I stacked them all together so that it was a total of 65mm of tubes attached. I immediately found that auto focus was going to be a pain in the rear. It seems to drift quite a bit as compared to just the lens alone which is rock solid with focus, so I ended up manually adjusting the focus quite a bit. I did manage a few nice shots, but the subject should be as still as possible as the DOF is GREATLY reduced and any movement can move it right out of focus quickly.

Here are a couple shots that are somewhat comparable to show the difference between the best pic that I could take without the tubes and the best that I could take with them. The focal length is about 135 to 145 mm for these pics to make them as equal as possible.


This is as close as I can focus using the 70-200 at 145mm f2.8:

This is as close as I can focus using the 70-200 at 135mm f2.8 using the 65mm of tubes attached as well:

The sized down pic with the tubes attached doesn't do it much justice as in the full original it shows just the very center yellow part in full clear focus.

Overall, I am somewhat impressed with these. I see alot of use for them, at least until I can afford a nice macro lens. Until then, I think I will be giving these a good workout using all the different length tubes in various ways.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

You will find that autofocus and macro don't work very well together anyway. Most serious macro work is done using manual focus.

If your camera does some form of magnified Live View, I strongly suggest that you use it for focusing. The macro people are loving Live View (while pretty much everyone else is yawning).

A few key things about macro:
1) Always use a tripod. I know that you hear this about all photography, but it's much more important for macro work.

2) You are really DOF limited. Use smaller apertures and try to align things so that your plane of focus works well with your subject.

3) If you get serious, consider a ring flash. The small apertures leave you wanting lots of light and an on camera flash often isn't positioned well for macro.

 

[AndrewWG]

Yeah, I have been looking into macro more and more lately. I think that is Yekcim's fault!

I have to get used to the manual focus alot more and trying the tripod at those lower settings. I think that my tripod can get real low, I just haven't tried it yet.

I would really want a ring flash if I do someday get a nice macro lens. I remember with my old macro on my film SLR, the lighting was always a pain. It was usually my shadow or the shadow of the camera that I was shooting.

 

[AndrewWG]

Ok, so I took my 30D, 30mm f1.4, and my 13mm extension tube for a walk around the yard today. I could really get to like this type of photography. It was fun seeing the smaller life in the yard. I focused primarily on flowers that are in the yard. You see them everyday, but never really get a look at how intricate the insides of them are. Although I still feel the need for a macro lens of some sort, these results have put it on the back burner for a bit. The problem I had was having a working distance of a couple inches. Felt like Super Macro with the S2 IS! Here are some of my results, some cropped, some not:

 

[YEKCIM]

I think that is Yekcim's fault!

"That's right...blame it on the little guy"
-Mike Wazowski

Let me quickly add that I am really enjoying the new Sigma macro lens. I have not spent much time using it, but what little I have spent has convinced me that it is one very fine, and versatile lens.

Start saving your pennies, Andy!

~Ed

 

[AndrewWG]

"That's right...blame it on the little guy"
-Mike Wazowski

Let me quickly add that I am really enjoying the new Sigma macro lens. I have not spent much time using it, but what little I have spent has convinced me that it is one very fine, and versatile lens.

Start saving your pennies, Andy!

~Ed

Oh, I'm saving them, that's for sure. I will have that lens eventually. The tubes just give me a bit more time before I have to pull the trigger. Kind of like patching a muffler. Sure it works for now, but you're getting a new one eventually.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Very nice, Andy! I like this one a lot.

 

[DueyDooDah]

I recently purchased a set of extension tubes from Adorama. They are the Pro Optic extension tube set in 13mm, 21mm and 31mm lengths.

Andrew, I bought the same tubes. I find them very useful, especially when I need to get closer. My lens set just won't allow me to get as close as I want, sometimes, so the tubes come in handy. Here's a couple I got last weekend using the 13mm:

This little guy is a warbonnet, His face is about 1 1/2" in height. (He reminds me if a muppet)

These anemones are less than 1/2" in diameter.

One thing that would be nice would be if the EXIF data reflected the added focal length or indicated, somehow, that the tube was added. I guess I'll have to add a keyword in LR.

 

[jann1033]

Oh, I'm saving them, that's for sure. I will have that lens eventually. The tubes just give me a bit more time before I have to pull the trigger. Kind of like patching a muffler. Sure it works for now, but you're getting a new one eventually.

there was a canon macro 100 on ebay last night
You've inspired me Andy,
i might pull out the non auto everything extension tubes i bought a 1 1/2 or more yrs ago( a big oops ) and see if i can use them without blowing the highlights out of everything like I did when i first got them

 

[AndrewWG]

there was a canon macro 100 on ebay last night
You've inspired me Andy,
i might pull out the non auto everything extension tubes i bought a 1 1/2 or more yrs ago( a big oops ) and see if i can use them without blowing the highlights out of everything like I did when i first got them

Jan,

I had that problem as well. I found that I can only use these in Manual mode and have to futz with it to get the "right" exposure. Some would come out completely white and some completely black even though it looked ok through the viewfinder. It is trial and error I suppose. I do think, (and I could be wrong) that you cannot put on more mm in tubes then the lens you are working with. The 31mm tube would not work with the 30mm lens. This is just an initial observation, and could be completely off the mark.

Get them out and start shooting. I will add that you should use a tripod. I didn't for these shots, but I should have. Most were ground level though so it was hard. I may try picking some of the flowers, bringing them indoors and trying them with the tripod and a nice background.

 

[AndrewWG]

Andrew, I bought the same tubes. I find them very useful, especially when I need to get closer. My lens set just won't allow me to get as close as I want, sometimes, so the tubes come in handy. Here's a couple I got last weekend using the 13mm:

This little guy is a warbonnet, His face is about 1 1/2" in height. (He reminds me if a muppet)

These anemones are less than 1/2" in diameter.

One thing that would be nice would be if the EXIF data reflected the added focal length or indicated, somehow, that the tube was added. I guess I'll have to add a keyword in LR.

Sweet pics! Nice job. I could grow to like these things. They don't have a ton of uses, like a real macro lens would, but they are useful just the same. I wil lpost some that I did at work the other day. They are of my Tom Brady little statue that someone got me as a joke gift when I wouldn't stop talking about how great he was last season. The DOF in them is well under an inch and made for a real intesting shot.

 

[jann1033]

i wonder what would happen if i put them on my 70-200 with the teleconverter as well...if bugs have ears i might be able to pick up the hair in them

 

[AndrewWG]

i wonder what would happen if i put them on my 70-200 with the teleconverter as well...if bugs have ears i might be able to pick up the hair in them

You could certainly tell male bugs from female bugs that way I would think!

 

[DueyDooDah]

OK, here's what I was shooting (the lense cap is for reference):

And here it is with my 70-300mm (zoomed to 115mm focal length) with 64mm in extension tubes (yes, I used all three. And auto-focus still worked). Note the extremely shallow DOF. (I just placed the camera on the floor so could not quite hit the target (keen)):

 

[AndrewWG]

OK, here's what I was shooting (the lense cap is for reference):

And here it is with my 70-300mm (zoomed to 115mm focal length) with 64mm in extension tubes (yes, I used all three. And auto-focus still worked). Note the extremely shallow DOF. (I just placed the camera on the floor so could not quite hit the target (keen)):

Great shots! I did the same thing when I was at work last week. Here are the pics with one showing the lens cap for comparison:

I must say that I see no real practical use for these tubes in WDW, but they are fun to play with, don't you think?

 

[DueyDooDah]

If I were to take them to WDW, it's only be the 13mm on my 50mm, for those flower shots I always miss. But, then I'd have to tote the tripod, so maybe not. Although, then I could pick up that Slik 714 I've been eying.

 

[jann1033]

well since i must have somehow broken my macro lens i guess i'll be trying the tubes sooner than later