Would this be a good extension tube set?

[MrGibbage]

I have the DR 300D and would like to try my hand at macro photography. At $53.11 US Dollars, it seems kinda cheap though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30059&item=7527979100&rd=1

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[weemannie]

Generally, extension tubes are not very expensive anyway as there are no optics involved. If you're happy with the vendor, then go for it.:) The fact that its only manual focus shouldn't put you off, as macro work tends to require manual focusing anyway.

[chemicalbro]

the thing about these extensions is that they do not retain electronic function to the lens....(not a problem for focusing) but you will have to shoot with the aperture WIDE open............ the complete opposite of what you want in macro photography

..(i researched them myself and questioned the vendor about electronic function, He refrained from answering my question)........

to get decent depth of field at 1:1 i've found you need at LEAST f/11....
if you look on the macro photo the guy has provided he's geting about 1-2mm of focal plane (if you're lucky)........... (thats also why the guy has been very careful with his camera angles on the product shots and why he has a lens cap on them) so that you can't see that they don't have the little pins that retain contact with the lens....
the build quality also looks dubious..... (also it doesn't state on the tubes what length they are so its gonna be harder for you to work out your magnification)
I wouldn't touch these with a barge pole......
i'd spend a bit more cash and go for either a set of Kenko or jessops tubes... (roughly $140 new)

heres a pic of the tubes i have (you can clearly see the pins inside the tubes) you will also notice that the build quality is much better
the tubes on offer do not have the little white square guide for ef-s lenses either
http://www.hellmouth.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/tubes.jpg

[weemannie]

the thing about these extensions is that they do not retain electronic function to the lens....(not a problem for focusing) but you will have to shoot with the aperture WIDE open............ the complete opposite of what you want in macro photography



Why would you have to shoot wide open? Yes, I can understand the need to focus at a wide aperture, so you get enough light to view the subject, but why can't you then close down to a suitable aperture for the capture :confused:

[Ikinaa]

Why would you have to shoot wide open? Yes, I can understand the need to focus at a wide aperture, so you get enough light to view the subject, but why can't you then close down to a suitable aperture for the capture :confused:

How would you close the aperture? Modern lenses don't have an aperture ring, the aperture is controlled from the cam, and if you have no electronic contact between the cam and the lens, you have to take the aperture the lens has actually and normally its wide open...

[foxbat]

the thing about these extensions is that they do not retain electronic function to the lens....(not a problem for focusing) but you will have to shoot with the aperture WIDE open............ the complete opposite of what you want in macro photographyThat is an extremely good point and renders those tubes about as good as sawn off sections of drainpipe. Avoid like the plague.

I have a set of three Kenko's off ebay. They are well made, well respected amongst users and retain all electronic connections between the lens and the camera. You can even stack the tubes on a real macro lens to increase the magnification beyond 1:1 opening up a whole new world of frame filling possibilities.

[weemannie]

Thank you IkinaaMrGibbage, I apologise, unreservedly.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Look at the Kenko set of three tubes.. for a little over a hundred you get full AF and aperture control.

[Ikinaa]

I know it's not as cheap as extension tubes, but have a look at a real macro lens, like the EF-S 60 Macro or the EF 100 Macro.

I bought a set of Kenko tubes too, but was a bit disappointed because the distance from the subject where you can focus in is very limited.
A 'real' Macro lens can also be focussed at infinity and they are really sharp (I have the EF-S 60 and can confirm, and from what I've heard of the EF100, it's razor-sharp too)
The 60 is equivalent to a 96 because of the 1.6 crop factor and makes a great portrait lens too.

So if you can spend more, consider this : get for about $125 a set of specialised items that can only be used for one purpose or spend 3x more and get a razor-sharp prime that can be used for much more than only macros...

[foxbat]

I bought a set of Kenko tubes too, but was a bit disappointed because the distance from the subject where you can focus in is very limitedThat depends on the lens that you attach them to. Put all three on the 70-200L and your working distance is much more than on a 100mm lens although not quite at 1:1 ratio. I know because I have both. They're not really a substitute for a proper macro lens but they do give you options.

[dkord]

I like the Promaster Extension Tubes I have, though they won't work with EFS lenses. Ideally you want to use ETs with longer focal lengths anyway.
Get a set that is fully functioning in program.

[Gadget-Guy]

I am also thinking of purchasing the Jessops set of tubes till i can save some more money after buying the 70 to 200 f2.8 L IS to add to the standard lens i got with the 20D and the 50-500 EX DG Sigma i have had for a while and was wondering if anyone has used tubes with the 50-500 and if so what sort of results you might get from these lenses?

[chemicalbro]

a 50 - 500 on a 65mm tube set (3 stacked) would give you a magnification range of x1.3 lifesize(with hardly any working distance..say a 3 -4 inches.........at 50mm and x0.13 with a HUGE working distance at 500mm
I sometimes use my 90-300mm on the full set of tubes and at 90mm it's still x0.7 from about 3 feet working distance............ not bad results but its hard to frame your subjects sometimes becasue they are so tiny (usually).the slightest movement and you lose the framing (its also a LOT more prone to camera shake, multiplied by the fact that youhave to have a slower shutter speed to compensate for the aperture setting...... most of the time i take insect pictures and its not very practical lugging a tripod around in the bushes, the neighbours call the police on you for stuff like that :)
I'm only using the tubes as a stopgpap until i can get enough money together for a dedicated 105mm macro lens..... I'm fairly happy with them for now :)

[Gadget-Guy]

Thankyou Chemicalbro think i might just hang on and save up for a while then.

[Ballen Photo]

the thing about these extensions is that they do not retain electronic function to the lens....(not a problem for focusing) but you will have to shoot with the aperture WIDE open............ the complete opposite of what you want in macro photography

..(i researched them myself and questioned the vendor about electronic function, He refrained from answering my question)........

to get decent depth of field at 1:1 i've found you need at LEAST f/11....
if you look on the macro photo the guy has provided he's geting about 1-2mm of focal plane (if you're lucky)........... (thats also why the guy has been very careful with his camera angles on the product shots and why he has a lens cap on them) so that you can't see that they don't have the little pins that retain contact with the lens....
the build quality also looks dubious..... (also it doesn't state on the tubes what length they are so its gonna be harder for you to work out your magnification)
I wouldn't touch these with a barge pole......
i'd spend a bit more cash and go for either a set of Kenko or jessops tubes... (roughly $140 new)

heres a pic of the tubes i have (you can clearly see the pins inside the tubes) you will also notice that the build quality is much better
the tubes on offer do not have the little white square guide for ef-s lenses either
Hi Alan, This is the kind of info I'd like to see going into the macro tips sticky at the top, including your illustrations here. I feel this might spare someone who is looking into macro for the first time a lot of frustration. ;)
-Bruce