Extension Tubes and Autofocus ???

I have the three-piece set of the simple manual-focus extension tubes.

I have been considering getting a set with auto-focus capability.

I cannot afford an expensive set.

The camera/lens these would most likely be used on is Canon 7D with Sigma 18-250 Macro (the later 62mm version).

Also, some use on a Canon 7DMkII with identical 18-250 Sigma.

Subject matter would mostly be the occasional bug or flower.

Would the auto-focus on such a setup work consistently; or, would I be in for a disappointment ?

Thanks for reading and all help is appreciated.

I got cheap set of Ebay and don't have any problems with AF - I don't see the point in expensive branded set as there is no optics to worry about and the AF is just a set of pins to link the contacts in the body to the lens.

HTH

birderman wrote in post #19154262
I got cheap set of Ebay and don't have any problems with AF - I don't see the point in expensive branded set as there is no optics to worry about and the AF is just a set of pins to link the contacts in the body to the lens.

HTH

I bought some cheap extension tubes from Amazon which worked perfectly! Unfortunately the build quality was not so great and some plastic elements that held the screws in broke. This potentially could have resulted in a lens falling to the floor but I was lucky and this didn't happen. So worth reading reviews of cheaper varieties. As I said, it worked perfectly!

birderman wrote in post #19154262
I got cheap set of Ebay and don't have any problems with AF - I don't see the point in expensive branded set as there is no optics to worry about and the AF is just a set of pins to link the contacts in the body to the lens.

HTH

PSteven wrote in post #19154277
I bought some cheap extension tubes from Amazon which worked perfectly! Unfortunately the build quality was not so great and some plastic elements that held the screws in broke. This potentially could have resulted in a lens falling to the floor but I was lucky and this didn't happen. So worth reading reviews of cheaper varieties. As I said, it worked perfectly!

Thanks for your input and experiences.

I will go ahead and give one of those inexpensive sets a try.

Do you guys remember what brand you got ?

I am looking at at least five offerings for between $17 and $20 and all have decent reviews.

Mine were Neewer. The Neewer ones were auto focus. A friend bought some other brand off Ebay for half the price of the Neewer and he is happy with them - I am not sure what brand they were.

I replaced them with Kenko off Ebay which have been rock solid so far

At macro distances, many macro shooters focus by moving the camera rather than relying upon AF.

The real benefit of the tubes with electrical contacts is not for AF., but to maintain automated control of the aperture...wide open for focus and stopping down automatically at time of exposure, and retention of f/stop selection by the body