Extension Tube Macro

[SteveGriffin]

The following pix were taken using a Nikkor 75-240 and Kenko 62mm extension tube set. Any comments about the results in comparison to what I could expect from the Nikkor 105 macro or Sigma 150 Macro would be appreciated

[Glen]

Steve, great detail in the water droplets on the ladybird

[yeocsa]

I like the first one. Definitely not inferior to macro lens. The picture will appear more flat if taken by macro lens. You had use flash attached to the camera body. Would be better if it is off the camera body and at 45 degrees to the subject in relation to the lens.

regards,

Arthur

[MHD]

Definitely not inferior to macro lens. The picture will appear more flat if taken by macro lens.

Please explain??? (flat if taken with macro?)

And yes... first image is great! Second image seems soft

[Onyx]

These Kenko tubes bloody marvellous. As long as your primary lens is sharp, you'll inherit yourself a macro lens on the cheap.

Fantastic results Steve.

[yeocsa]

Definitely not inferior to macro lens. The picture will appear more flat if taken by macro lens.

Please explain??? (flat if taken with macro?)

And yes... first image is great! Second image seems soft

Hi

Macro lens are highly corrected lens. When capturing images at high magnification, uncorrected lens tend to have spherical effect such as pinchusion etc. Thus, macro lens especially focal length of 180 - 200 or above gives you a more flat effect.

Using extension tubes which are hollow, retains the optical quality of the lens but in no way correct the lens imperfections e.g. inherent distortions.

regards,

Arthur

[redline]

yeah 2 pic is really soft.
not sure what yesoca meant by flatter image by using the macro, i guess he meant that if you used a telephoto lense on a exetension tube it would produce a flatter image?


but there the other are right by using an extension tube increasing the distance of the lenses to the "film" plane hence increasing magifiction without reducing the image whereas a close-up filter would.

[mic]

One of the best close ups I've seen here.

Good work,

Mic.

[Dargan]

Price of Kenko sets? Would like to see the spider right side up, might change viewers perception of sharpness. No just saved and rotated, it is soft comparatively. Nice subject though, I would revisit this chap and ask his permission for another portrait.

[Gordon]

The picture will appear more flat if taken by macro lens.

I think what yeocsa is saying is the fact that macro lenses are designed to have a flat focal plane, mainly for reproduction of flat documents, artwork etc. Other lenses have a slightly curved focal plane.

Gordon

[Matt. K]

A Nikkor 75 - 240...? Where did that come from?

[SteveGriffin]

I agree the spider image is a bit soft. I found it a very difficult subject - not much colour variation and so small it made it very difficult to get a good focus on - my nasty cheap tripod didn't help much either.

The Kenko tubes cost about A$180 landed on Ebay which is significantly cheaper than a good macro lens.

The 75-240 was a kit lens with an F80 that I bought a couple of years ago - fairly average lens.

Will have to do a bit more research on the difference in macro & telephoto lenses - all a bit techo for me at the moment

Thankyou all for the comments so far