Kenko Extension Tubes

[photofinish]

What do you guys think about using Kenko Extension Tubes on a 50mm 1.8? Are these the "preferred" entension tubes for macro? Or would you just wait and get the 100mm macro? I'm using the 20D.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Well,. the actual macro lens is certianly a great thing...

But for $100.00 the Kenko set is hard to beat. You can turn almost any lens you own into a good 1/1 or more macro lens with no loss of image quality.

Frankly,. I usually recomend this set to any SLR owner who is thiking of "trying out" the macro scene.. it is a better investment than jumping onto a macro lens i that sense.. as it gives you a feel for shooting Macro without the large cash outlay.

[Hatem Eldoronki]

I bought a set a couple of weeks ago from B&H, and would highly recommend Kenko tubes.

[Scottes]

What kind of stuff will you be shooting? I'd think that you'd have to be *very* close with a tube on the 50mm.

But I agree with CDS - they're great to try it out. And they'll still work with the macro lens which could allow far greater than 1:1. And they'll work for close-focusing a telephoto, too.

Handy things...

[transcend]

Would these actually work well with a 100-400? It will be my only long glass for awhile, but I also want to do some macro stuff recently as my girlfriend's father is an entemology professor. Lots of good opportunities there!

[Jon]

They'll get you closer, but maybe not true macro, which is defined as in the 1:1 range at the sensor/film plane (not the enlargement). 68 mm (IIRC Kenko has a 12/20/36 mm set) would get you pretty close to 1:1 at 100 mm, though.

[photofinish]

Thanks for the info! I will want to shoot the usual butterflies, flowers, bugs, etc. I'd like to explore this side of photography first. Is there anything special to look for in the kenko's? Just the canon flavor? How about buying through eBay??

[Scottes]

Would these actually work well with a 100-400? It will be my only long glass for awhile, but I also want to do some macro stuff recently as my girlfriend's father is an entemology professor. Lots of good opportunities there!

I have hundreds and hundreds of butterfly, dragonfly, and flower shots using tubes on the 100-400. When I go shooting birds in the field I generally bring the tubes just in case. And the case has often been BFs or DFs. I also visit a few different butterfly houses and I use either the 100-400 with tubes (60%) or my Sigma 105mm Macro (40%). The IS is nice inside the butterfly houses.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Christ,. a 100-400mm will fill the frame with a butterfly WITHOUT a tuube attached... the lens will do wonders with tubes.

[transcend]

excellent. I knew it'd be nice, but i am thinking i will probably use it with a tube at 100mm for bugs and junk, thus needing a nice short focusing distance.

thanks for the tips!

[EdViesturs]

Does anyone have experience using the Kenko tubes with an EF-S lens? Apparently Canon produced a Mark II line of their relatively more expensive extension tubes to accomodate the protruding element of the EF-S lenses... I suppose that would mean that the Kenko Tubes, which seem to have not changed in terms of design would not be compatible with them.

Correct me if I'm wrong here.

[robertwgross]

Despite what CDS suggests, an extension tube works nicely on a 100-400 lens, since it simply allows you to get closer to the subject. The minimum focus on that lens is 1.8 meters. A short extension only helps a little, but a longer extension helps more.

---Bob Gross---

[mjordan]

I really like my Kenko tube set. It's one of the few non-Canon lens items that I've bought for my camera. I use it with my 24-70 2.8L, 85mm 1.8 and 100-400L lens, but it works the best on my 70-200 4.0L or 70-200 2.8L lens. I like the 70-200 because it lets me be a good working distance from small items but still get a good close and tight shot.

Mike

[Tom W]

I think that the 300 f/4 with its good close-focus setup would produce good results with macro rings. That said, I've used them with good results on the 24-70 and on the 28-105 f/3.5-4.5. I have also used them on the Sigma 70-200 with good results. Use them in conjunction with a teleconverter for even more magnification.

[Mark Mathews]

Like one of the above replies, they're the only non-Canon items in my case. Have had good results with them. :)

[C.S.I.]

What do you guys think about using Kenko Extension Tubes on a 50mm 1.8?


Ill let you know.....just went to B+H 2 days ago for each!

[wolf]

Does anyone have experience using the Kenko tubes with an EF-S lens? Apparently Canon produced a Mark II line of their relatively more expensive extension tubes to accomodate the protruding element of the EF-S lenses... I suppose that would mean that the Kenko Tubes, which seem to have not changed in terms of design would not be compatible with them.

Correct me if I'm wrong here.

I just checked mine and no the Kenko tubes will not work with an EF-S lenses. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/icons/icon9.gif

[blackviolet]

i picked a set up in japan a few weeks ago - i love being able to use multiple sets on different lenses to get differentperspectives. for example, i put the 20mm on the 85 1.8 to simply lessen the minimum distance, without going full-on 'look at the molecules in my eyeballs' mode. in this shot i just wanted to show the size of the ant (that freakin' bit my arm) last week in lamington rainforest.

http://www.pbase.com/image/38867165.jpg

but when you do want to go up close, change the lens and/or add extra tubes...

http://www.pbase.com/image/38870568.jpg

(50 1.8 + 20mm & 36mm) this is towel fibres, not carpet... i think i've been watching too much CSI :o
sorry - i don't have any better examples with me at the moment...

[EdViesturs]

I just checked mine and no the Kenko tubes will not work with an EF-S lenses. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/icons/icon9.gif

Ok, thanks.

[oslavens]

I hope I'm doing this right. I don't see a button for POST A QUESTION, so here goes. I'm purchasing the Canon EF400 f5.6, which I'll use main for flight shots. But I'd also like to use if for more general work. Could you tell me what the minimum focusing distance is with each of the tubes in Kenko's three set group????? THANX... oslavens

[robertwgross]

I hope I'm doing this right. I don't see a button for POST A QUESTION, so here goes.

Near the top of each forum section, there is a button for New Topic.

---Bob Gross---

[Tom W]

http://www.pbase.com/image/38870568.jpg

(50 1.8 + 20mm & 36mm) this is towel fibres, not carpet... i think i've been watching too much CSI :o
sorry - i don't have any better examples with me at the moment...

Looks like some DNA samples there.

[Raj]

If I am not wrong, dont we loose light adding these tubes ? so lets say I put a 20mm tube on a f2.8 lens, will i still be able to use it wide open ?

[Tom W]

If I am not wrong, dont we loose light adding these tubes ? so lets say I put a 20mm tube on a f2.8 lens, will i still be able to use it wide open ?


You will lose a bit of light. Let's say that you use a 50 mm lens at f/4. At f/4, your aperture diameter will be f/4 or 50/4 which is 12.5 mm. Now, add a 25 mm extension tube. You've effectively increased your focal length to 75 mm, but your aperture's diameter is still the same at 12.5. The effect on brightness is the same as stopping down from f/4 to f/5.6. The camera will still display f/4, but the amount of light coming in through the lens will be as though you have an f/6 lens. The camera will still meter correctly as it will still be reading the light through the lens, but will compensate for the reduced light with a longer shutter speed.

[Raj]

You will lose a bit of light. Let's say that you use a 50 mm lens at f/4. At f/4, your aperture diameter will be f/4 or 50/4 which is 12.5 mm. Now, add a 25 mm extension tube. You've effectively increased your focal length to 75 mm, but your aperture's diameter is still the same at 12.5. The effect on brightness is the same as stopping down from f/4 to f/5.6. The camera will still display f/4, but the amount of light coming in through the lens will be as though you have an f/6 lens. The camera will still meter correctly as it will still be reading the light through the lens, but will compensate for the reduced light with a longer shutter speed.

Thanks for the explanation Tom. So it means, I will still be able to use desired aperture, i.e. if I put a 12+20+36 on my 100 mm macro or 70-200 f2.8, I will be able to use any f value I want to control DOF but the exposure time required will be longer than using the same lens/f value without tubes.
I guess this is not bad because one still have control over DOF.