Extension tube question

[superdiver]

I am looking at getting extenions tubes. After reading all the different threads and looking at them I still cant figure out which one I really want.

I would like to retain AF and all the electronics, but how important is that with these. It sounds as though you have to use MF most of the time anyways, right?

Please give me some guildence....

[Omri Alon]

The Kenko tubes retain everything. Most people use them.

[LordV]

I am looking at getting extenions tubes. After reading all the different threads and looking at them I still cant figure out which one I really want.

I would like to retain AF and all the electronics, but how important is that with these. It sounds as though you have to use MF most of the time anyways, right?

Please give me some guildence....

Having used manual ext tubes I can say it is very important- what you actually need is the automatic aperture shut down when taking the shot, otherwise you have to preset the aperture and look through an extremely dim viewfinder. You are quite right about not needing AF though.
Brian V.

[AirBrontosaurus]

Definitely get one with the electronics. It's about 100x harder without them.

[superdiver]

So the Kenco tube set DG for Canon is what I want, that retains everything?

[superdiver]

Also, Is there a differnce between the Kenco and the Canon, besides price?

[Crypto]

I use the Kenko tubes. There is only one catch, one extension (the mounted to the lens) will require modification if you use it on EF-S lenses.

here is a thread with pictures if you need it
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1031&message=7890522&changemode=1

[superdiver]

What happens when you put these on a large zoom lens?

[dpastern]

What happens when you put these on a large zoom lens?

You'll lose the ability to focus to infinity, and be able to focus a bit closer. As to the difference between Kenko and Canon, not much, although the Canon TCs seem to fit better from what I've seen reported from a few others. The Kenkos occasionally have the habit of unlocking themselves and that's a very nasty thing to have happen - I've had it happen once but thankfully my 70-200 was only a few cm from the ground.

Dave

[AirBrontosaurus]

On long zooms, it allows you to focus closely at the minimum zoom, where the lens is a lot shoarper. So, if you have a 70-300mm zoom len, put the tubes on and focus the lens at 70mm. you'll have about 3-4 inches working distance, but you gain a ton of sharpness over the long end (300mm).