Getting into Basic Macro: Best Price/Performance Option Between the Following?

My $75 3 tube set non-Kenkos retain autofocus.....there are much cheaper alternatives.

I bought this set:

http://www.amazon.com …ics&qid=1284927​650&sr=8-1

Seems to offer everything the kenko tubes do at half the price.

I maybe wrong but a 25mm tube with your 50mm will give you 1:2 which should be enough except for bugs.I use a 25mm Canon tube(Paid $50) with my 50 1.8 for now.

Thanks for all the help guys. I've purchased a set and will let you guys know how I like them. I definitely don't need the Kenkos because I don't plan on shooting Macro seriously.

texascaoboy wrote in post #10938517
I've purchased a set and will let you guys know how I like them.

Which did you get?

toxic wrote in post #10932876
Kenko tubes retain AF.

g0bl0k wrote in post #10937656
if OP wants to retain AF, then kenko is better than other budget ext tube, even though for macro you will most likely use MF anyway.

OP, do a search in talk about macro section and most ppl will recommend kenko, budget permitted.

I've got the budget Pro Optic Ext. Tubes (all plastic) and I'm still able to use AF, change aperture and all that jazz. But at the same time...who cares? This is macro, you use manual focus anyway. I used the Plastic Pro Optic tubes on my Sigma 50 1.4 when I still had it and it worked great!
If you absolutely have to have the brand name and metal mounts for your own personal reasons or something, go for the Kenko tubes. But if you'd like to save $100 and get the exact same effect, I'd go with the Pro Optic tubes. Use the extra money and buy an off camera flash cable, it will come in very handy!

JBravo920 wrote in post #10942907
I've got the budget Pro Optic Ext. Tubes (all plastic) and I'm still able to use AF, change aperture and all that jazz. But at the same time...who cares?

I think people should stop describing the tubes as AF possible, but more as Aperture control and Focus confirmation beep possible. That is really the only thing you should be concerned about.

professorman wrote in post #10943037
I think people should stop describing the tubes as AF possible, but more as Aperture control and Focus confirmation beep possible. That is really the only thing you should be concerned about.

This.
I've got ProOptics and they will autofocus, but autofocus sucks with tubes. Aperture control is what you need and any of the ones with pins should be fine.

Actually, this is what you DON'T want: http://www.amazon.com …TF8&qid=1285022​331&sr=1-5

unless you have an adapted lense (like a Nikon mount or screw mount) that has a manual aperture control ring.

I ordered the ProOptic budget and a cheap eBay knock-off. I have good chunk of eBay credit in my account so I just grabbed them. $6.00 shipped...can't complain. I wanted to really see if there is much of a difference between the two. Mainly to see if the aperture control is necessary for my needs. I guess we'll see. I'll report back once I get them. It looks like I'll be getting the eBay knock-offs first. I don't plan on winning any awards with either set (just shooting fun little hobby stuff for the most part). Hell, if the knock-offs are easy to shoot with and provide some good quality shots, I may even return the ProOptics. After looking through random online portfolios, the eBay knock offs are capable of shooting good photos. Let's see what the ease-of-use is like though.

The tubes will NOT affect the quality of your images. The $6 ebay ones most likely don't have electrical connections so you'll be running wide open or stopped down doing the removal trick (unless you have old manual lenses)

^^Thanks, I was aware of that. The eBay ones definitely do NOT have the electrical connections. They seller made that clear in his description. The T2i is that in video mode, so removing it would be easy at any aperture. However, once I find that "sweet spot", I don't think I'll be changing it much. I assume it's somewhere between f/16-22, but I don't want to assume too early. I went ahead and canceled the other set just to test these first. If I do find myself going back and forth testing different apertures too often, I'll spring for the ProOptics "middle-grade" set.

In the end, I really don't plan on seriously pursuing macro, and the savings could really go towards the fish-eye I've been eying. I think my specialty lens would have to go towards that fish-eye realm first, but maybe down the road macro shooting will be more of an interest. We all know how photography works: hobby turned gear-lust. Fortunately in this case, it only cost me $6.00.

They should get here in 3-4 days. I'll report back with my thoughts then.

If you're lucky, you can get a set of Kenko's used, I did. However they don't come up that often, probably a testament to their popularity.

Alright, so just a quick updated. I got the eBay knock offs in and they turned out to be garbage. It fit too tight on the lens (almost forcing it on) and too loose on the body. I didn't even get to shoot with it because I didn't dare to force it onto my lens. Currently shipping it back. In the meantime, I ordered a mid-grade set (Opteka) on Amazon that does have aperture and exposure control. Should be here Saturday. I'll update then.

First few minutes right out of the box. Good quality. Very snug fit on the lens and body. It mounts easily and the locking clips are easy to use. Here are a few sample shots. Just to give you an idea of scale, each pedal is probably half the size of a dime. Initially, it was a bit hard familiarizing myself with it since everything was pretty much blurry, and I had no idea what I was pointing at, but I eventually figured it out. Sorry for the darkness of each photo. It's about 90 degrees outside, and I wasn't in a mood to set up my OCF in this heat.

In the end, I spent $80 for the set, but it was worth it. I would have settled with the Pro Optic budgets, but figured down the road, much more valuable lenses would sit on these extension. So I opted for the metal mounts. Like others have said, AF is unusable, but the aperture control was the one thing that was needed.

These photos were ran through a quick Photoshop. However, saturation and vibrancy are stock. Just bumped clarity, brightness/fill-light (since I didn't use an OCF), and added some vignetting for a focal point. It's no where near what the Macro guys produce here on POTN, but good enough for what I need.

By the way, these are weeds.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO