I saw an article earlier this morning about the new Nikon 50mm f/1.8G lens. Take a look at the photo below and see if you notice the first thing I noticed.
(In case you can't see the photo, here is the address Image)
The first thing I noticed was the lack of a precision-controlled focus ring. The second thing I noticed was the lack of an aperture ring.
This isn't just Nikon, but it's all the major brands: Canon, Tamron, Tokina, and Sigma. They are all switching over to these news lenses that have aperture and focus controlled by computer ships inside the lens body instead of an aperture ring on the outside.
What does this mean? It means you can't use these news lenses with Macro Extension Tubes. Extension tubes are wonder little gizmos that cost under $100, some as cheap as $20, that allow you to add distance between the lens and the focal plane of the camera, which changes the lenses minimum focus distance. In English...you can put the lens closer to the subject.
But with these new lenses moving aperture control strictly to computer chips, it means you won't be able to use these with extension tubes. If you have a lens without an aperture ring and a set of extension tubes lying around, slap it on and see what you get.
These lenses are designed to always use the smallest aperture by default, which provides you with the best depth of field but the least amount of light. Even on a fully sunny day, trying to focus a lens at an f/22 is near impossible.
Once these lenses become more prevalent, using extension tubes will become too difficult to make it worth the effort. You can read more about the redesigned Nikon 50mm f/1.8G here. http://cdn.press.nikonusa.com/static/evolution.html
I can't see the picture you posted, but I do NOT use ET's with my 50 f/1.8 - only with my 18-55 kit lens. Then again, I'm not "seriously" shooting with ET's, I just like to try it now and again to see what awesomeness exists in tiny things. :)
Anybody know if making extension tubes with contact extensions would work for these? Essentially the whole assembly could communicate fine in theory...
@sdpace Don't know why you can't see the photo, but I added a link just in case.
@killerjackalope I bought some extension tubes made by Nikon that have contact points so it still controls the focus and aperture, but I paid $200 for those. The really cheap ones don't have any contact points.
@jasonbarnette That's ridiculous, even for photography equipment, which is often extra for what it really is... Just had a look at my contacts and know a shop that has plenty of broken lenses, nick the plate out of a broken SLR and I'm there, think making my own bellows would be a fun project...
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@killerjackalope I bought some extension tubes made by Nikon that have contact points so it still controls the focus and aperture, but I paid $200 for those. The really cheap ones don't have any contact points.
@killerjackalope @christiq and there are extension tubes with contacts for autofocus too... because most modern lens focus rings suck ass...