Extension Tubes - demonstration on various lenses

The questions I faced awhile back - sell dedicated Macro lens (100mm) to fund Holy Trinity? Would I be able to maintain my enjoyment of casual Macro photography with extension tubes? What effect would these tubes have on the lenses I have and plan to purchase?

This website has been helpful to me, so I'd like to return the favor. I have a friend considering buying Extension Tubes, so hopefully this will benefit him as well as others.

ALL of these shots were taken with ambient light, wide-open on each of the lenses I currently own, with a 5D. CS2 processing was minimal and consistent on all shots. Slight smart-sharpening @ 50% was added to each re-sized jpeg file. Each shot manually focused at the minimum focusing distance, aiming for the center point.

35L

35mm @ 200 f/1.4, 1600iso - No tubes.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

135L

135mm @ 200 f/2.0, 1600iso - No tubes.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

and finally, the 24-70L

24mm @ 80 f/2.8, 1600iso - No tubes.

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

actually this is insanely interesting and needs to be saved. thanks!

Here is one from other side of the spectrum (canon 500mm f4 with all 3 extenion tubes), almost full-frame,

In case someone is interested:
This is a table of Canon Lenses
http://www.usa.canon.c​om/app/pdf/lens/EFLens​Chart.pdf

You can find the magnification factor for each lens in the table.
For example if we have a 50mm lens with 0,19x magnification then
0,13 = X /50
X = 6,5mm
If we add a 12mm tube
6,5mm + 12 mm = 18,5 mm
The new maginification is now:
Magnification = 18,5 / 50 = 0,37x

Hope it helps
Luigi

[QUOTE=bobbyz;6718311]​Here is one from other side of the spectrum (canon 500mm f4 with all 3 extenion tubes), almost full-frame,

How far from the bird were you?

Thanks

Thanks for the pics. I only have the 20mm tube and haven't used it on the 17-40 yet. I'll give it a shot.

4x4rock wrote in post #6718832
Thanks for the pics. I only have the 20mm tube and haven't used it on the 17-40 yet. I'll give it a shot.

Don't be surprised to discover an inability to focus close enough, when using 20mm tube and the short FL settings of the lens...from 17 to about 20mm, for example.

[QUOTE=I DREAD ME;6718814]

bobbyz wrote in post #6718311
Here is one from other side of the spectrum (canon 500mm f4 with all 3 extenion tubes), almost full-frame,

How far from the bird were you?

Thanks

Pretty close, like 5-6 feet but I am not good at guessing distances.

luigis wrote in post #6718342
In case someone is interested:
This is a table of Canon Lenses
http://www.usa.canon.c​om/app/pdf/lens/EFLens​Chart.pdf

You can find the magnification factor for each lens in the table.
For example if we have a 50mm lens with 0,19x magnification then
0,13 = X /50
X = 6,5mm
If we add a 12mm tube
6,5mm + 12 mm = 18,5 mm
The new maginification is now:
Magnification = 18,5 / 50 = 0,37x

Hope it helps
Luigi

I must be missing something here. Your table shows 50 mm magnification factor of 0.15 for both 50mm lenses. You speak of 0.19 but use 0.13 in your formula. I'm lost.

Very interesting. I've been thinking about getting a set of extension tubes for a while now, just haven't done it (spending that money elsewhere). Thank's for taking the time to put this together.

[QUOTE=bobbyz;6719891]

I DREAD ME wrote in post #6718814
Pretty close, like 5-6 feet but I am not good at guessing distances.

So by using the extension tubes you reduced the MFD by 66%?
Does that work for most lenses?

Sorry for my stupid question

[QUOTE=I DREAD ME;6721098]

bobbyz wrote in post #6719891
So by using the extension tubes you reduced the MFD by 66%?
Does that work for most lenses?

Sorry for my stupid question

At infinity focus, the reproduction ratio of the lens is in proportion to the extension tube length...e.g. 12mm tube on 36mm lens is 1:3 final size (on sensor) while 12mm tube on 120mm lens is 1:10 final size.

But 'How much closer than without extension tube' is dependent upon the internal focusing mechanism built into the lens itself, and this is very design dependent... the 'how much closer' would be very different for 50mm f/1.4 lens vs with the 50mm f/1.8 lens, for example.

Glad this is proving somewhat helpful. For the casual macro-photographer, extension tubes may prove to be the best choice. For me...

1.) I saved money to put towards other items that better suited my shooting style.
2.) I saved weight and opened an extra space in my bag.
3.) I added functionality to all of my lenses.

I found the following post helpful this summer while I was making my decision: https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=5708562&p​ostcount=7