Canon or Kenko tubes?

Greetings all,

As a few others are doing, I've decided to purchase a new macro lens as a little Christmas gift to myself. I'm settled on the popular EF 100 f/2.8 macro, as this lens looks like it will satisfy my small appetite for macro photography. I'm also wanting to add extension tubes (I think), so I can get better magnification when desired. However, the info on B&H's site regarding the features of Canon's EF 12 and EF 25 doesn't tell me much.

I assume you get x amount of magnification from the 12, and x+ more from the 25? Is it enough to purchase both? Or would the set of three (12, 20 and 36mm) from Kenko be a smarter buy? Do you lose any functionality using the Kenko tubes instead of Canon's? Lastly, I've read you can use canon's teleconverters with canon's tubes. Is this also true for Kenko's tubes?

Sorry for the onslaught of questions, but the macro world is fairly new to me. (I almost posted this in another thread about the 100mm and mp-e65, but I didn't want to hijack)

Thanks in advance for any help,
WT

William,

I don't have any macro experience, but macro tubes are just hollow plastic tubes (hopefully stable enough) with a lens mount and thread on either end and some electronic cables to transfer signals between those.

I'd venture that you won't see any difference in image quality or functionality and getting 3 instead of 2 certainly would be an advantage (let along longer reach and lower cost).

But then, I haven't used them (only read about them in the forum now and then )

Best regards,
Andy

William Taylor,
I choose the Kenko tubes for my Canon 100mm f/2.8 lens for the following reasons.
1: why pay more for Canon air? the Kenko are cheaper in cost.
2: to achieve double the magnification ex 2:1 macro you need at least 68mm of extension tube and the Kenko set fits this bill well.

Oh and no you don't loose any function with Kenko tubes with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro lens other than infinity focus (which would happen with the Canon tubes also).

Kenkos work great.

Just my tuppence-worth.

Excellent, thanks very much John and Andy. The canon TCs are fine with the kenko tubes as well, right?

Regards,
WT

Not sure about TC's with tubes (or why you would bother) ... maybe someone here has experimented with that?

Anyway, I have Kenko tubes and like them. Some people here have had issues with heavier lenses 'escaping' from the Kenko tubes because the latch isn't tight enough, but my Kenko tubes lock in pretty firmly so either they've fixed the problem or I haven't used mine enough yet to experience the looseness.

The magnification will be proportional to the addend extension. Mag=E/F, where F is the focal length 100mm when the lens is at infinity and about 70mm when set at life size.

A stack of about 60-70mm will get you to about twice life size, twice what the basic lens can do, but be aware the working distance between the lens and subject will reduce.

I had some Kenko tubes but I found the lens kept falling off because they did not lock tight and the release spring on the tubes was weak. After a few times I changed to Canon ones which are much more secure.

I have two 25mm and a 12mm but I mostly use these with my 300mm f4 as I also have a MP-E 65mm for higher bagnification work.

Yes, TC and extension tubes can work together. You get a bit more magnification at a longer distance - if you decided to take a macro shot of a butterfly but can't get too close. It's difficult to get exact focus, but I've done a couple of tests with tubes and TC on my 100-400.

Thanks Pete and others for the replies. I was inquiring about the teleconverters plus tubes because I had read that it yields a better magnification value.

Lester and Luke, now you guys have me concerned, regarding your lens not securing to the kenko tubes (Luke, you said yours was fine, but had heard of the issue). Has anyone else had this experience as well?

Thanks,
William

William Taylor,
Yes it will work with a Canon TC, here on this page I show shots of a ruler taken with a FF camera showing the magnifications available with a Canon 100mm with extras

I have had no lens mounting trouble with Kenko tubes, even with my heavy 100-400L.

John_B, thanks for the feedback and the link - excellent information. I'm about to pull the trigger here soon on my order.

Regards
WT

I wouldn't worry too much about the Kenko tubes' locking mechanism. Mine are tight as ... so it was possibly a problem with older Kenko tubes.

William Taylor wrote in post #2415368
Thanks Pete and others for the replies. I was inquiring about the teleconverters plus tubes because I had read that it yields a better magnification value.

Lester and Luke, now you guys have me concerned, regarding your lens not securing to the kenko tubes (Luke, you said yours was fine, but had heard of the issue). Has anyone else had this experience as well?

Thanks,
William

For me it would have been a problem with any lens light or heavy. Here is my origional message on the subject for info:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=186161

As you say many others are fine with them. These Kenkos were new this spring.

I bought the Kenko tubes and they seemed to work fine. They are plastic but I was not going to use them in a heavy duty setting so they fit the bill for casual use. Good luck, Dennis

Dchemist,
Plastic?
Hmm... mine are solid metal