There isn't really a quick source of information for extension tubes so i decided to make a crash-course on them instead of having people search and browse through all the threads related to them to understand what they do. This is mainly a for-reference-use-only type of deal and i am by no means an expert or professional on anything photography related. This is just my take on what extension tubes do after my little experimentation.
First off the test bed:
Canon 50D with 50mm 1.8 mk 1 (Most shots were at ISO 400 f/8 except for 2)
Kenko Extension Tubes 12mm, 20mm, 36mm
No flashes were fired
Distance shots (the one with the ruler) were taken by a Canon IXY point and shoot mounted on Manfrotto 190XPROB + 322RC2 ballhead
Cactus Wireless Shutter Release to eliminate shakey hands
The standard distance and how far away the subject has to be to focus properly
![]() | PHOTOBUCKET EMBEDDING IS DISABLED BY THIS MEMBER. Photobucket sends ads instead of embedding photos from their free galleries. Click the link (if available) below to see the image in a gallery page. http://i536.photobucket.com …sion%20Tubes/NoTubeIQ.jpg ![]() |
![]() | PHOTOBUCKET EMBEDDING IS DISABLED BY THIS MEMBER. Photobucket sends ads instead of embedding photos from their free galleries. Click the link (if available) below to see the image in a gallery page. http://i536.photobucket.com …nsion%20Tubes/NoTubes.jpg ![]() |
Now we use a 12mm Extension Tube. Notice the subject has to be closer now.
![]() | PHOTOBUCKET EMBEDDING IS DISABLED BY THIS MEMBER. Photobucket sends ads instead of embedding photos from their free galleries. Click the link (if available) below to see the image in a gallery page. http://i536.photobucket.com …ension%20Tubes/12mmIQ.jpg ![]() |
![]() | PHOTOBUCKET EMBEDDING IS DISABLED BY THIS MEMBER. Photobucket sends ads instead of embedding photos from their free galleries. Click the link (if available) below to see the image in a gallery page. http://i536.photobucket.com …xtension%20Tubes/12mm.jpg ![]() |
And now the 20mm Extension Tube. Notice the distance is shorter and also the subject fills-up more of the frame.
![]() | PHOTOBUCKET EMBEDDING IS DISABLED BY THIS MEMBER. Photobucket sends ads instead of embedding photos from their free galleries. Click the link (if available) below to see the image in a gallery page. http://i536.photobucket.com …ension%20Tubes/20mmIQ.jpg ![]() |
![]() | PHOTOBUCKET EMBEDDING IS DISABLED BY THIS MEMBER. Photobucket sends ads instead of embedding photos from their free galleries. Click the link (if available) below to see the image in a gallery page. http://i536.photobucket.com …xtension%20Tubes/20mm.jpg ![]() |
And lastly the 36mm Extension tube. It was real hard trying to get a focus because with extension tubes you lose infinity and it was real short between MFD and infinity. Shot @ f/8 ISO 800 exposure time 25sec
![]() | PHOTOBUCKET EMBEDDING IS DISABLED BY THIS MEMBER. Photobucket sends ads instead of embedding photos from their free galleries. Click the link (if available) below to see the image in a gallery page. http://i536.photobucket.com …ension%20Tubes/36mmIQ.jpg ![]() |
![]() | PHOTOBUCKET EMBEDDING IS DISABLED BY THIS MEMBER. Photobucket sends ads instead of embedding photos from their free galleries. Click the link (if available) below to see the image in a gallery page. http://i536.photobucket.com …xtension%20Tubes/36mm.jpg ![]() |