Kenko Extension Tubes

[ATJ]

Greg (Mr Darcy) was very kind to me and lent me his set of Kenko Extension tubes which I have been using for the last few weeks. I love them and they are an improvement over my single Nikon PK-13 (27.5mm) tube. I have purchased my own set.

I have written a minreview and I'd like some feedback to see if I have missed anything or if people have questions I haven't covered.

Thanks.

Kenko extension tubes

[rookie2]

Thanks ATJ

I have had a set of Kenko tubes sitting idle for over a year but with a week off and no organised sport I have to shoot, it may be time to put away the telephoto and have a bit of fun with them again.

Your sharp colourful pics of the fly and spider are great - we have a family of huntsmen spiders around our place to work with and there's no shortage of flies this time of year!

Thanks for taking the time to share the key concepts involved..I will look over and refer back to again at a more reasonable hour!!

Festive cheers
R2

[Murray Foote]

Very useful review, Andrew

I was intending to get a set for a 300mm f4 AFS (probably only using one) but though I ordered the lens before the dollar collapsed, it didn't come though so now I'm waiting for a while (for both). My macro lens is a 105mm f2.8 AIS and my cheap manual extension tubes are probably just as good for that.

Regards,
Murray

[Alpha_7]

Thanks for the Mini review Andrew, it was very informative. I'm considering tubes to go with Santa's new gift of a 90mm Tammy, but I'm torn between getting the cheap manual ones and going all out for the Kenko variety.

[ATJ]

Craig,

Go for the auto ones - you know you want to. The manual ones will work fine but the auto ones are just easier to use.

[Mr Darcy]

This is in answer to a specific question in another thread
I have put it here as it seems more appropriate here than there.

The question was specifically about Kenko Tubes with the 105VR Micro Nikkor:
THe following are all of the same AUD2 coin (if you are not familiar with with Australian currency, this is 20.65mm across according to my Mitutoyo vernier Calipers)

All are taken at closest focussing distance with the 105VR lens Distance measurements are approx using a tape measure beside the camera. Distance is to front of lens. All photos are OOC simply resized using ViewNX

0: No tubes. Focussing distance was 310mm


1: 12mm tube FD= 142mm


2: 20mm tube FD=140mm


3: 36mm tube FD=133


4: All tubes stacked FD = 120

[DebT]

Thanks Andrew the information is excellent
- even though I have Canon 100m 2.8 and EF12 (so different but similar) I am now looking at the Kenko combination in a new light and will think about the less expensive option for stacking and thus achieving closer focus.

Gregg thanks also for the comparison shots as it makes it much clear what the benefits/differences are.

Information appreciated
DebT