Macro lens and Extension Tubes

[flaclick]

Hi

To all you serious Macro users: do you use extension tubes along with your macro lens?

I have the Canon 100mm Macro lens. I was thinking of getting the Kenko set of 3 extension tubes, but was wondering how many users use them with the macro lens (is that close enough by itself??) or are the tubes used mostly with other lenses that aren't macro?????

If you do use the tubes, which one do you use the most?

Thanks,
Ruth

[troypiggo]

Short answer: I have in the past, but not now since I got the MP-E 65.

Long answer: How much do you shoot at "true" macro, ie 1:1, minimum focus/working distance? Are you comfortable shooting that close. I started out with the same lens as you, and tried shooting closer and closer until I was ok at shooting 1:1. Then I started using the extension tubes to shoot up to 2:1, much closer. Once comfortable with that, I splashed out on the MP-E 65.

You realise the implications of shooting with the extension tubes? Lose infinity focus, and can only shoot object from around 300mm away and closer? And light becomes more important? And sensor dust spots become more noticeable so you have to clean sensor more? And it's highly addictive? :)

After saying all that, I'd say get them. They're pretty cheap, and eventually you will want them if you're bitten by the macro bug.

PS - this is the photo sharing section, should post these type of questions in the talk/discussion section. ;)

[tripsis]

I JUST bought some actually :) Mostly to get closer to water drops, which I have a bit of an obsession with.

As troypiggo said, why not? They're really cheap (I got mine for just under $100 on eBay), so they're not that much of a blow to the wallet if it turns out you don't like them or use them much.

[racketman]

hardly ever now for same reason as Troy but they do allow you closer with the standard macro lenses, definitely worth having.