Page 1 of 1

Anyone use extension tubes for MACRO

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:24 am
by blackD200
Anyone use these type of extension tubes for their Nikon Digital gear..

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... :middle:au

Any good ????

Thanks...

Re: Anyone use extension tubes for MACRO

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 1:39 am
by young_einstein
blackD200 wrote:Anyone use these type of extension tubes for their Nikon Digital gear..

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... :middle:au

Any good ????

Thanks...


I use exactly the same set of tubes - except in a Canon mount - and they work flawlessly.

There's not really much that can go wrong as far as extension tubes go. They don't contain any optics/electronics/moving parts etc. As long as you've got the pins to maintain communication between the lens and body, then you're good to go.

This is shot with the Canon 100mm macro, and the complete set of tubes.

            Click for Large
            <a href="http://www.davidtomic.com/popular/1/143564941#143564941-L-LB">Image</a>

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:34 am
by Bluebell
I am new to macro photography and have been considering these Kenko extension tubes for my Nikon D80. However I noticed in the fine print at the bottom of the specs information on this product that it is not autofocus compatible with Nikon AF-S Silent Wave lenses. Manual focusing is required with these lenses. I have an 18 - 200mm VR lens so that's an issue for me and may be for you too. I plan to test out extension tubes on my camera before I make a decision.

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:27 am
by gstark
Bluebell,

I wouldn't worry too much about AF when shooting macro. Your distances and DoF are issues that probably (and stongly) suggest the use of manual focus when shooting macro.

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:28 am
by Oneputt
I have a set of Kenko tubes and AF is retained with all of my lenses. However as most of my macro work is done using manual focus, it would not be an issue for me. :D

Re: Anyone use extension tubes for MACRO

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:47 am
by moz
young_einstein wrote:There's not really much that can go wrong as far as extension tubes go. They don't contain any optics/electronics/moving parts etc.


Cheap third-party air doesn't work as well as the real Canon air in those tubes :P

I have both Kenko extension tubes and a close-up lens, and that gives me nearly 1:1 on a 70-200 lens so I'm pretty happy (I don't do a huge amount of macro work). It does look kinda cool:
ImageImage
From that link you can get to actual macro shots taken with the setup. I should redo those with a better target and without the broken arm I had at the time :)

Re: Anyone use extension tubes for MACRO

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:39 pm
by blackD200
moz wrote:
young_einstein wrote:There's not really much that can go wrong as far as extension tubes go. They don't contain any optics/electronics/moving parts etc.


Cheap third-party air doesn't work as well as the real Canon air in those tubes :P



:D lol --> what about them NIKON air - I hear that they are slightly better specd....

I dont do much macro work either hence couldnt justify the spend for a dedicated macro lense..

Also having the extension tubes would be lighter in the bag than an entire lense... The Kenko tubes look to be a good alternative. I dont mind too much with the manual focusing as thats what i do now with my 35-70 capable of macro.. But having AF would be handy too - am assuming the KENKO tubes will AF..

like the tele converters, does the f stop change at all ??? BTW, usage will be for wedding Rings and fine details during such events.

Anyone in SYDNEY HIlls District willing to give me a demo of the Kenko Tubes in question for a NIKON.. Always good to try before you buy ...

:D

Thanks.

Re: Anyone use extension tubes for MACRO

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:56 pm
by young_einstein
blackD200 wrote:like the tele converters, does the f stop change at all ???


The f-stop doesn't actually change, but the tubes do cause some loss of light.

I think with the full set of tubes on it gets near to 3 stops of lost light.

Re: Anyone use extension tubes for MACRO

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 6:01 pm
by blackD200
young_einstein wrote:
blackD200 wrote:like the tele converters, does the f stop change at all ???


The f-stop doesn't actually change, but the tubes do cause some loss of light.

I think with the full set of tubes on it gets near to 3 stops of lost light.


how does the camera metering behave ???
i guess it just needs to be overexposed to compensate and get the correct exposure ???

thanks...

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:11 pm
by christiand
Hi BlackD200,

I have been using exactly that type of KENKO tubes with my D70 and also D200 without any hassles.
Exposure (or metering with these tubes) doesn't seem to be a problem.
The auto focus will work (also with 70-200mmVR), however due to the incredible small DOF you will most likely switch to manual focus and also perhaps consider using a tripod.
I was using flash on the following image and got the focus actually by moving the camera to and from the object.
Lens was 50mm f1.8 taken with f16 and flash.
My dream would be to have a RRS sliding plate, etc etc ...

Image

HTH,
CD

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:01 pm
by chrisk
no dramas with tubes here, i love em. meters perfectly, AF perfectly, (although i generally use MF). btw, i tested the light loss a few times with negligible results, maybe a stop at most of light loss from what i could tell in the conditions i was shooting.


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10435080@N00/850863267/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1354/850863267_bc0db744cd_o.jpg" width="800" height="588" alt="Water Drops" /></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10435080@N00/927125268/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/927125268_025346ff8b_o.jpg" width="800" height="597" alt="Itsy Bitsy Spider" /></a>

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:52 pm
by blackD200
Rooz wrote:no dramas with tubes here, i love em. meters perfectly, AF perfectly, (although i generally use MF). btw, i tested the light loss a few times with negligible results, maybe a stop at most of light loss from what i could tell in the conditions i was shooting.



stunning work mate... I think I'm sold.... :o

Re: Anyone use extension tubes for MACRO

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 12:27 am
by young_einstein
blackD200 wrote:
how does the camera metering behave ???
i guess it just needs to be overexposed to compensate and get the correct exposure ???

thanks...


Nope ... as long as you're shooting TTL, then the camera meters/compensates for it automatically.

You just need to keep in mind that you're going to end up with slower shutter speeds to get the right exposure.

PostPosted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:36 pm
by benhoskin
They work well, its just working with the shallow DOF and focusing!
(set of 3 kenko tubes, tamron 90mm 2.8 macro ) on 30D.