Very dark viewfinder (7D)

So, I'm getting into macro and whenever I have my extension tubes with my 50mm lens, my viewfinder is always so dark even in broad daylight that I can barely ever get a shot worthy of keeping, let alone getting in focus at all. One of my best friends, who shoots Nikon was taking pictures with me the other day, and with the same lens / extension tube setup, his viewfinder was broad as daylight. Does anyone know why?! I'm getting very discouraged.

Your extension tube is the type with no electrical contact?

orionmystery wrote in post #15959236
Your extension tube is the type with no electrical contact?

Yes, I use http://www.ebay.com …Tubes&hash=item​5d3f0a00a6

But on the other hand, my friend uses the exact equivalent for Nikon.

Have you set aperture prior to mounting the lens on the extender then? If yours is at f/22 and your friend is at, say, f/8, that'd explain the difference.

edit: have you tried live view mode? Maybe it'll compensate; the image on screen would be crud but at least bright enough for you to see (then again, with the noise, maybe focusing won't be much easier)

Megapixel123 wrote in post #15959250
Yes, I use http://www.ebay.com …Tubes&hash=item​5d3f0a00a6

But on the other hand, my friend uses the exact equivalent for Nikon.

In your case, the aperture has closed down already i.e small opening. Not sure how you did that. What lens did you use? And your friend's?

In your friend's case, the aperture was still at its widest. i.e didn't close down.