Nice idea if you're desperate, but having to sacrifice a camera body cap and rear lens cap pushes the actual cost quite high unless you have spare ones.
That gives you the flexibility of different lengths as well (depending on what lens you want to use, different lengths will give different focusing ranges).
@abirkill you are absolutely right of course. A cheap set of tubes is the easiest answer. I just thought the article might be of interest to some DIY 365er's.
I would rather use an approved product with my camera for me, My camera was very expensive! and was not an easy buy so I personally would not risk damaging it with a DIY idea sorry Joseph but I cant approve :-/
I've also seen some where you can turn a pringles can in an extreme extension tube http://www.pixiq.com/article/macro-photography-on-a-budget
Like the other example, you do need to sacrifice some caps but once you get it lined up and focused correctly I imagine you could get some really awesome shots
I agree that you can pick up inexpensive plastic extension tubes rendering this idea less attractive, but it saddens me that the long standing DIY approach to photography is dying. It was not so long ago when a roll of gaffa tape, some drawing pins and a few sheets of cardboard were essential parts of a pros kit, and people were doing this kind of thing on Hassleblads, view cameras and much more expensive and delicate kit than your current range of DSLRs.
How times change. :-(
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Be aware you can pick up a set of basic tubes (for Canon, at least) for just over $6 US delivered (anywhere in the world) on eBay, e.g.:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Macro-Extension-Tube-Ring-Canon-40D-50D-5D-Rebel-XSi-XT-/350141949902?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51861627ce&_uhb=1#ht_2414wt_1163
That gives you the flexibility of different lengths as well (depending on what lens you want to use, different lengths will give different focusing ranges).
Like the other example, you do need to sacrifice some caps but once you get it lined up and focused correctly I imagine you could get some really awesome shots
How times change. :-(