Can you still use your lens normally with an extension tube on?

Hi, I was wondering when you put an extension tube on your lens, lets say a 12mm, can you still take "non-macro" photos with it? Or you need to put out the tube first?

Im asking because I will go to some big park next week and I plan to get the kenko set. However if I want to take pictures of the kids, it will be a bother to put out the tubes each time.

any idea?

thanks

Not with any lens I've used them on. The lens becomes very near sighted with a tube on.

Ok, that mean you can focus very near but not very far anymore... thanks!

You lose infinity focus with tubes. Depending on the focal length of the lens, and tube size, you might not be able to focus beyond 5 feet(or even much shorter). Just pop the tube out for "regular" shots, and back in for macros.

Ok thanks!! That's answer the question.

I'm still not sure anyway about the Kenko... Taking photos of flowers and all is very nice but it's a bit on the easy side. I'll just get thousands more useless photos on my drive! I might keep that money for a future lens. If the kenko were 80$, ok, no trouble... but at 160$, it's almost the new 40mm 2.8!

Earwax69 wrote in post #14714782
Ok thanks!! That's answer the question.

I'm still not sure anyway about the Kenko... Taking photos of flowers and all is very nice but it's a bit on the easy side. I'll just get thousands more useless photos on my drive! I might keep that money for a future lens. If the kenko were 80$, ok, no trouble... but at 160$, it's almost the new 40mm 2.8!

A knowledgeable fellow in the macro section recommended Polaroid tubes, they're about $75 on Amazon. I've seen his photos, they're really amazing.

http://www.amazon.com …ywords=polaroad​+extension

Earwax69 wrote in post #14714782
I'm still not sure anyway about the Kenko... Taking photos of flowers and all is very nice but it's a bit on the easy side.

It still requires choosing a destination, finding a suitable subject, looking for the right light, and getting good composition just like taking any other picture.

These are with Kenko extension tubes:

Buy used.

Earwax69 wrote in post #14714287
Hi, I was wondering when you put an extension tube on your lens, lets say a 12mm, can you still take "non-macro" photos with it? Or you need to put out the tube first?

Using extension tubes limits your focus from just a few inches to maybe a few feet depending on the lens you are using. You can not take "non-macro" photos with them.

You are correct. It is a bother, but it is manageable. It only takes a few seconds to remove the tube and put the lens back on the camera. There's nothing on the tube itself that can be easily damaged, so you can just drop it in your pocket without worrying about a case or properly putting it away.

I like using extention tubes when shooting in arboretums or flower gardens if I am shooting individual flowers.

I will say that if you have a lens with a fairly long minimum focus distance (my 200L for example) popping a small tube in there is useful in a non macro setting. Pulls the close fou7cs in from 5 or 6 feet to just a few feet. Still not infinity focus, but not exactly macro either. I find this useful sometimes.

Jim

the tubes help alot, I use them when shooting flowers as I never can get close enough with my 70-200 as the MFD is to far. The tubes help with this, and lets you get a nice close up with almost a full frame shot. I dont do much "macro" with them, just like to get in close.

like this.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/steveja/7529712​310/]

rick_reno wrote in post #14715207
A knowledgeable fellow in the macro section recommended Polaroid tubes, they're about $75 on Amazon. I've seen his photos, they're really amazing.

http://www.amazon.com …ywords=polaroad​+extension

Rick,

Thanks for the suggestion and link. I have had the Kenko tubes in my wish list for awhile now. The Polaroid price of $75 sure beats the Kenko price of $199!

The polaroids are 130$ here in Japan... snif!

I love taking flowers and leaves with my 55-250mm. However with the tubes I might be able to use my 85mm or my 50mm.

I dont know if it's realistic to think I can take nice macro pictures without lighting or studio set-up... I just plan to mess around at the park, not bring back insects and flowers at home and shoot them on special backgrounds.

thanks for the replies!! Nice photos guys.

http://www.gadgetinfin​ity.com …non-eos-ef-ef-s-dslr.html

I bought a set of these.. waiting for them in the mail

I also purchased a 3rd party grip for my t4i so I saved on shipping

Just found that the well reviewed Sigma 50mm f2.8 Macro is only 230$ here in Japan... Kenko tubes are 167$...

I guess the main difference would be that I would have to be near the subject with the 50mm lens. Kenko tubes on the 55-250mmm would give me more working distance.

The lens is 1:1. How all the kenko stacked give me?? The more magnification the best!