Extension tubes?

[Blue_In_AK]

My dear husband got me a set if three Kenko extension tubes for shooting macro. Anything I need to know?

[Mira]

1. I do reading this Alfredo?n/t

Last edited Thu Sep 11, 2014, 02:26 PM - Edit history (1)

I came back and saw my header
this is what happens when you talk into your ipad and don't check it

[Sherman A1]

2. I think just like everything else

There is a lot of trial and error. I got some a few years ago and did some shots on the kitchen counter which had under cabinet lighting to help out. It was a fun exercise for a day with lousy weather outside. Hope you enjoy them!

[Callalily]

3. I echo Mira's sentiments.

Alfredo is the extension tube expert!

[Major Nikon]

4. Extension tube primer

1) Extension tubes will work with just about any lens and will always reduce your minimum focusing distance. So it's best to think of them in these terms rather than just for macro because you can use them in situations where the lens you are using is not focusing as close as you'd like. So let's say you are trying to take pictures of dragonflies and your short lenses require you to get too close and the buggers fly away, but your long lenses won't focus close enough to give you enough detail. An extension tube on a telephoto lens is handy in this situation. I sometimes use extension tubes with my 135/2 or my 180/2.8 which transforms them into a pretty decent nature lens for small creatures because it gives you a lot more working distance than you'd get with a short lens. Extension tubes also work quite well with macro lenses and allows for much better maximum reproduction ratios.

2) Extension tubes always reduce your maximum aperture. So it's best to only use as much extension as you need if you have a set of 3 as the more extension you use, the harder it gets to focus due to the reduction in light.

3) For macro purposes, extension tubes work best with fast prime lenses. A normal prime lens, say in the 35-50mm lens for DSLR with a large maximum aperture, works great with extension tubes for macro.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Thanks, MajorNikon.

It sounds like they would work great with the 50 mm 1.8 and the 100 2.8. I'm always intimidated with new stuff, but I think this will be fun.

[Major Nikon]

6. In general, the shorter the lens is, the less extension you need for the same reproduction ratio

So while longer lenses give you more working distance for the same reproduction ratio, they require more extension to get there. IIRC, the rule of thumb was that for 35mm SLR photography, a 50mm lens will require 50mm of extension to get to a 1:1 reproduction ratio, while a 100mm lens will require 100mm of extension to get to a 1:1 reproduction ratio.

[alfredo]

7. Do the extension tubes have electrical connections? If they do, lucky you.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Do you mean those eight little gold circle things

where they screw into the camera body? If so, yes, yes, they do. There are three little tubes that can be used separately or in combination, 12 mm, 20 mm and 36 mm. They can be used with autofocus.

[alfredo]

9. That's it. I have to use manual lenses on mine because there's no electrical contacts

I don't mind that much. I set the f stop to 11 or 16, and move the camera to focus. Kicking it old school


BTW, the higher the magnification, the more difficulty doing it hand held. Go low power at first. There's no shame in using a tripod.

[Blue_In_AK]

10. Oh, I know there's no shame.

I was just having a hard time getting it up close enough to my subject, so gave up in frustration. I don't use my tripod often enough (I know, shame on me) to feel comfortable with it.

[alfredo]

11. I prefer hand held too. My preference is using a reverse ring. It's more compact.

[Blue_In_AK]

12. I didn't know about that reversing thing.

I just looked it up. It sounds like a good way to do macro for a very low cost.

I know I'm going to have to practice this quite a bit, but it's always fund to learn something new. I like that I can use the extension tubes on my 70-200 and get much closer to what I'm shooting. It cuts down on the amount of cropping I have to do. I didn't crop the flower shot at all.

[alfredo]

13. Come this winter you will be looking for things to photograph

from around the home. It's something to do on a winter's night.

[Blue_In_AK]

14. Yes, I can see how that would be.

I remember that from previous years when I was doing "photo of the day." This year I did "photo when I feel like it." A lot less stressful.

[alfredo]

15. I could fill a book of photos of the lamp near my computer. There was a time I felt compelled

to take photos every day. It's kind of like pushing yourself to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible. In my case, it was the dual diagnosis of Macular Degeneration and cataracts.

[Blue_In_AK]

16. That might have been subconsciously driving me, too,

in previous years because I had the dual diagnosis of cataracts and Fuch's dystrophy. Even after the surgery, I'm still not 100%, but at least the color is right. When I went back to look at some of my old photos, the color was nothing like I remembered. .

[alfredo]

17. One reason I shoot black and white is doubt over colors.