Okay so after doing some reading of threads and looking at posted images I have decided to purchase a set of extension tubes to use with my new 50mm 1.8 lens on my D7000. I really want a macro lens but just cant afford it right now. My only question is...
Which tubes and why did you decide on them? I am kind of leaning towards the Kenko set after reading some reviews but want to be really sure :)
I'm interested to see the replies, as I'm in the same situation! Glad to see someone's research is lining up with mine as far as "Kenko" being the highly recommended brand (for Canon as well)!
I strongly recommend going with a set of tubes that are specifically intended to pair with your camera body and lens. You really want to ensure all of the communication is there between the two. There are some really cheap manual tubes out there, but you'll have absolutely no control over anything, including focus (which will have to be manual) and aperture. The better tubes are more expensive, but then, they do offer functionality that you want. I have the two Canon tubes since my body and all of my lenses are Canon. I chose them specifically because they are designed for that body and those lenses.
I was looking into this as well. The ones recemmended to me matched my lens and camera and they were about $250. I can't remember the brand...will look into it!
I have the Kenko tubes (12, 20 & 36 mm). My mom & I went halfsies on them (and then I've been hoarding them). We got them for the same reasons you're thinking about getting them @k1w1 ... cheaper than a macro lens. And I LOVE them! I use them frequently in my project.
I have a full set (all 3) kenko tubes, they're great... i use ours a lot, you'll need to be able to make sure your flash can reach your subject or you'll end up with very dark photos...
I have manual tubes and they are pretty easy to use. Yes, the exposure is way off sometimes, but it usually only takes a minute of experimenting and checking the display to dial in the correct settings. Same goes for focus; shoot, check, adjust. I did need an older lens with manual aperture control, but it was very cheap. was taken with these tubes, hand held.
The only time I miss the autofocus and aperture control is for moving subjects where I don't have time to check and adjust.
I vote go cheap and play around. It's fun and if you think you will be taking lots of macro shot then invest in the proper equipment. I got tubes for around $10 on Amazon. I've used them maybe 3 or 4 times and I was pleasantly surprised with the results.
It really doesn't matter which you get, as long as they come in a variety of sizes (most are sold in packs of three of different lengths) and provide electronic pass-through from the camera to the lens (allowing you to easily set the aperture).
The great thing about extension tubes is that they have no glass in them, so you don't need to buy expensive ones to get good quality -- the air inside them is just as good whether they're made by Canon, Kenko, or some unnamed brand. (This is contrary to anything that goes in the image path which has glass involved, such as filters or teleconverters, where cheapness is almost always a false economy).
I certainly wouldn't spend anything like $250 on a set -- that's getting close to the money of a good macro lens! (And extension tubes will never be as good as a good macro lens). You might get a slightly better build quality with the branded tubes (although I reckon my unbranded ones will outlast me!), but you won't get better picture quality.
I'm a big fan of eBay for these kind of things, as you can usually find them from a seller in Hong Kong for a very decent price (as long as you don't mind waiting a while for them to arrive).
Here is a Canon set very similar to the ones I have, and here is a set for Nikon DSLRs.
I use the Kenko set and they function beautifully. All the auto-focus functionality still works great and you have some flexibility on how far you pull your lens from your camera. I definitely don't recommend getting the Canon ones because you'll spend a lot of money for no reason.
If you're planning to use a 50mm lens only though, you're going to want to stick to some of the shorter extension tubes. I find even the 20mm tube is too long to work well no my 50mm lens, because the maximum focusing distance becomes too close that I'm basically putting the front glass on my subject and you will never get enough light to it. Working with 85mm or more it starts to be more useful with the longer tubes, in my opinion. I looked at some of your exif data and see you have longer lenses... you might have more luck with those than with the 50mm.
@colosimo Thanks for that info John. As I was reading your comment I was thinking about my two other lenses. I have an 18-120 and an 80-400 so will maybe look at using it with those.
@abirkill Thanks for the response. I'm thinking about Vivitar or Kenko from eBay. Kenko are more expensive but like you say they are half the cost of a macro lens so I'm not sure I want to spend the extra. I have a macro lens for my Minolta film camera but not sure that I can get an adapter ring for it. I have not managed to find one yet. I'll keep looking for a while before I jump into a purchase.
I have some cheap 10 USD tubes, and I love them, I use them with a 50mm 1.8 lens, they get in really close and the results are stunning, and for the price you can´t go wrong. The last few photos in my project (waterdrops) were taken with the extension tubes. Manual usage is fine for me and also a great way to learn, although i do recommend using RAW if you have the option, this way you can easily adjust the photo in an editing program
I have nothing helpful to add just that I'm glad you asked this question. I want a macro lens but just can't justify it. I've seen these extension tube and couldn't decide if I should get some or wait a bit and get a macro lens. I feel like the more responsible thing to do would be to fully explore the equipment I have now before I get anything new but then I remember that in my entire life I've been accused of a lot of things but being responsible is not on the list.
I also have a set of cheap-o tubes from amazon. They are great for what they are, everything is manual so it really makes you think before you click the shutter button.
@joreasonable@mwac
I'm thinking of purchasing a set of Vivitar tubes from Ebay. They are around $70. I looked at the Kenko ones and felt that they were just a little too expensive. @aponi
Responsible is not on the list of things I have been accused of either so maybe we should jump together. I have seen some of the shots posted by others who have responded to this thread and they are great. It seems to me to be the best way to explore macro photography without having to spend a bundle of money.
@k1w1 I did break down and get extension tubes. I was forced to, I need to spend $12 on Amazon to get free shipping. That's how they get you.
The only thing is there are three rings; 7mm, 14mm, and 21mm. I get the idea of mixing them up in various iterations but either the 7mm one is stuck on the side that attaches to my camera or it isn't removable. I'm afraid to really force the issue because I don't want to bend them. At any rate, they're keeping me from spending the money on a macro lens at least for now.
@aponi
Oh dont you just hate when they tell you to only spend $$$ more so you can get free shipping :)
The tubes should all come apart so you can use them stacked or individually. I know mine were a little tight when I first unpacked them but they do all come apart. Maybe you should look at sending them back.
@k1w1 I was going to look up the info on them to make sure. It's one of those things where if I'm sure they come apart then I'll use a bit more force, but if I'm not sure I'm afraid of bending it. I feel like they should come apart though. Maybe I'll try again when the husband isn't there to **help** - haha
@aponi It sure looks like it. On one of the threads or discussions I was reading before I purchased I think I read that someone else was having a similar issue. My tubes are auto focus ones. A little more expensive but with it. I have to say though what you got is much better than dog poop bags :)
I "won" a set of Kenko tubes on eBay last week for $40. But the seller changed his mind because it was too low.. He refunded me of course, but Paypal has a temporary hold on the money. Zzzzz annoying!
Thanks for the link! You were saying everything is manual with the tubes-- which is fine because I shoot in manual anyways! But do I need to set my aperture BEFORE putting my tubes on? I've read that with some tubes you do.
So I sent the ones I got that were stuck back, got in a set that was defective. The part that attaches to the lens wouldn't lock so my lens would fall off. I sent those back and got a 3rd set thinking this was it, if these don't work it's a sign. They seem fine. I used them for my sad attempt at a snowflake picture today. The flaw is not with the tubes. ;-)
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http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/macro-extension-tubes-closeup.htm
The only time I miss the autofocus and aperture control is for moving subjects where I don't have time to check and adjust.
The great thing about extension tubes is that they have no glass in them, so you don't need to buy expensive ones to get good quality -- the air inside them is just as good whether they're made by Canon, Kenko, or some unnamed brand. (This is contrary to anything that goes in the image path which has glass involved, such as filters or teleconverters, where cheapness is almost always a false economy).
I certainly wouldn't spend anything like $250 on a set -- that's getting close to the money of a good macro lens! (And extension tubes will never be as good as a good macro lens). You might get a slightly better build quality with the branded tubes (although I reckon my unbranded ones will outlast me!), but you won't get better picture quality.
I'm a big fan of eBay for these kind of things, as you can usually find them from a seller in Hong Kong for a very decent price (as long as you don't mind waiting a while for them to arrive).
Here is a Canon set very similar to the ones I have, and here is a set for Nikon DSLRs.
If you're planning to use a 50mm lens only though, you're going to want to stick to some of the shorter extension tubes. I find even the 20mm tube is too long to work well no my 50mm lens, because the maximum focusing distance becomes too close that I'm basically putting the front glass on my subject and you will never get enough light to it. Working with 85mm or more it starts to be more useful with the longer tubes, in my opinion. I looked at some of your exif data and see you have longer lenses... you might have more luck with those than with the 50mm.
Thanks everyone. I'm going to search eBay to see what I can find.
I'm thinking of purchasing a set of Vivitar tubes from Ebay. They are around $70. I looked at the Kenko ones and felt that they were just a little too expensive.
@aponi
Responsible is not on the list of things I have been accused of either so maybe we should jump together. I have seen some of the shots posted by others who have responded to this thread and they are great. It seems to me to be the best way to explore macro photography without having to spend a bundle of money.
Then converted to B&W
I used the 12 and the 20mm tubes stacked. @mwac @aponi @joreasonable @abirkill @shuttermonster
The only thing is there are three rings; 7mm, 14mm, and 21mm. I get the idea of mixing them up in various iterations but either the 7mm one is stuck on the side that attaches to my camera or it isn't removable. I'm afraid to really force the issue because I don't want to bend them. At any rate, they're keeping me from spending the money on a macro lens at least for now.
Oh dont you just hate when they tell you to only spend $$$ more so you can get free shipping :)
The tubes should all come apart so you can use them stacked or individually. I know mine were a little tight when I first unpacked them but they do all come apart. Maybe you should look at sending them back.
so it looks like in this picture the 7mm ring is removable
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003Y60DZO/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
by the way I found a tutorial on the subject, thought you might be interested: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/macro-extension-tubes-closeup.htm
I "won" a set of Kenko tubes on eBay last week for $40. But the seller changed his mind because it was too low.. He refunded me of course, but Paypal has a temporary hold on the money. Zzzzz annoying!
Maybe I'll take a look into Vivitar tubes!
I'm pretty happy with them :) Sorry about your bad luck with ebay.
I got mine from here... http://www.ebay.ca/itm/130814130807?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
They seem to be a pretty good seller. I have picked up stuff from them before.
Thanks for the link! You were saying everything is manual with the tubes-- which is fine because I shoot in manual anyways! But do I need to set my aperture BEFORE putting my tubes on? I've read that with some tubes you do.