Holy Trinity + Kenko tubes = useable macro results?

I recently sold a few lenses I hadn't been using in order to fund my quest for the Holy Trinity (35L/85L/135L) combo to mount onto my 5D. The last lens I am considering selling is my Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, however I am semi-reluctant to lose macro capability in my bag.

Most important issue to note in my situation: I onlyoccasionallyshoot Macro.Never of bugs or wildlife. Most Macro that I do shoot is inside and in controlled conditions. I only have a limited need for Macro, but nevertheless do wish to have a close-focusing capability in my bag.

My question: having sold my 100mm, if I bought a set of Kenko extension tubes for use with any of the Trinity members, would these satisfy my limited need for close focusing photography? In other words, disregarding any of the other drawbacks associated with tubes, would a whole set of Kenko tubes help me achieve the 1:1 ratio that my 100mm achieves?

Thank you kindly for your help in this matter!

You can reach 1:1 with the 35, but it'd be awfully close to the front element. The 85L can't reach 1:1 with a set of Kenko tubes, but it can get very, very close (1.2:1). If you're shooting with tubes, it's more the cumbersome usage (each tube only gets you a small focus range, so sometimes you're switching tubes a lot.) I shot with tubes and a 50mm f/1.8 for a long time before getting my first macro lens, and it worked very well...extremely sharp images, so the quality of the pictures is not something you'll need to worry about. Honestly, it might be worth picking up a 50 f/1.8 just for that purpose. 50mm with tubes is a good compromise between length and magnification, and with all 3 Kenko tubes, you'll get greater than 1:1 magnification.

Here are a few shots I took with my old 50 f/1.8 and Kenko tubes:

Thank you for posting examples - these seem awfully convincing! I assume that I could expect to achieve similar results with the 35L + set of tubes?

More and more this seems like the route I should go... after purchase of the tubes and sale of the lens I should have an extra 300 bucks towards the Trinity and a lighter bag to boot.

I use Kendo extension tubes with my 135L all the time. It's a great combination and I'll often carry that instead of my 100 macro for the extra reach. I don't know how close I get to 1:1, but I've always gotten what I was after. I don't think you'll be disappointed in the quality, but you do lose the convenience of focus at long distances/infinity with one or more tubes.

I've got a combination of lenses and need to get of my lazy butt and do some comparisons, but I've been saying that for a year now...

^ What Jman13 said. Tubes do work with the trinity lenses, though the 35mm really won't be too useful since the working distance is almost zero (but the magnification is huge). I typically use a 50mm or 85mm prime, even the 70-200mm makes a nice macro lens with tubes. Image quality is very good, in my experience. I prefer not to buy a dedicated macro lens either, since I don't do macro all that often.

A nifty and a set of tubes comes out to around ~$200, which is still half the price of a 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens.

Thank you all so much for your replies. I am very close to putting this lens on Craigslist and parting ways with it.

Here is an example of something recent (last 6 months) that I have shot with it:

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Mostly goofing around, but not a single one of these shots were shot with a macro lens. Ranging across all sorts of lenses, mostly with tubes, the earlier ones with stacked, very cheap close-up filters.

Double Negative wrote in post #5708562
Mostly goofing around, but not a single one of these shots were shot with a macro lens. Ranging across all sorts of lenses, mostly with tubes, the earlier ones with stacked, very cheap close-up filters.

WOW. I'm sold. Or, rather, it's sold! Thank you!

This is a 135L with a full set of (Kenko) tubes. Minimum focus distance is about 1ft (30cm)

Thank you everyone. I was convinced enough that I just put an ad locally on Craigslist. Lets hope someone bites!