85 f/1.8 with tubes samples?

Since I got into photography, I went through a lot of lenses. And after all this time, traveling, testing things out, I've become an ultra minimalist when it comes to my gear. I guess I've gone the opposite way of every one else and have been trying to create the lightest, most compact set up but not at the cost of quality. At this point, I'm pretty much settled and for the things I like to photograph, I'm in excellent shape. Now, after my latest trip, I learned that I don't really need a macro lens so I sold the dedicated macro lens I had. What I do like on occasion is a nice close up shot of objects but that doesn't happen often enough to justify bringing and owning a dedicated macro lens. Unfortunately none of my lenses have a very good MFD so logically, tubes should do the trick. If my SIGMA 30 had a slightly better MFD (like the one of the 35L), I' wouldn't need anything else. People mention that the 85 f/1.8 with tubes can produce excellent close up shots. I've searched but haven't seen many examples. Do any of you have some shots that show the 85 in combination with tubes? Thanks much in advance!

For traveling light, you may consider a nice acromatic macro adapter (the kind that screws on your filter threads). The higher end ones like the Canon 500 D, are really very good, unlike the cheap Tiffen macro sets. Worth a look anyway.

Sorry I don't have an 85 or samples, though.

As it turns out I do have the 85mm 1/.8 and a set of extension tubes (manual, not electronic). I'll try to post some samples later today.

Hyun wrote in post #7915978
As it turns out I do have the 85mm 1/.8 and a set of extension tubes (manual, not electronic). I'll try to post some samples later today.

Yes!!! Thanks much! This would be a great help!

tkbslc wrote in post #7915952
For traveling light, you may consider a nice acromatic macro adapter (the kind that screws on your filter threads). The higher end ones like the Canon 500 D, are really very good, unlike the cheap Tiffen macro sets. Worth a look anyway.

Sorry I don't have an 85 or samples, though.

I'll take a look at this. I don't even know what it is. Thank you.

Hyun wrote in post #7915978
As it turns out I do have the 85mm 1/.8 and a set of extension tubes (manual, not electronic). I'll try to post some samples later today.

Looking forward to the samples too. Was thinking of getting tubes with my 85 1.8. Can you post the working distance you have with a full set of tubes on the 85 1.8?

Thanks!

OK, guys, here are a couple of quick tests. The macro extension tube set was an $11 (including airmail shipping from Hong Kong!) set of three tubes of various length, plus lens adapter and EOS body adapter. Regardless of the item title on eBay, it'll work with any EF or EF-S lenses:

eBay $11 manual macro extension tube set for EOS bodies

Keep in mind this is a manual extension tubes--there are no electrical contacts, so the lens does not (cannot) pass back the aperture and metering information back to the body. You have to set the aperture on the lens manually beforehand (in Av mode, set to desired aperture, engage DOF preview, and while preview is on, remove the lens. This will lock the aperture at the value set in Av, and the next time the lens is mounted to an EOS body, the aperture will set back to normal wide open). Metering is trial-error type, although with experience you can guestimate pretty well from the get-go.

I really haven't used the set, as I bought it on a lark and haven't had a chance to use it properly. So please bear with me. The focusing distance with all three tubes stacked is about 5 inches (much better than the EF 85mm f/1.8 lens' true MFD of 2.8 feet!). None of the images have been post-processed in any way other than resizing.

Here's a penny (ISO 100, 1 sec, f/ 8 ):

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

Son of a gun, I NEVER noticed the Lincoln statue inside the Memorial on the back of the penny! Learn something new every day...

the benefits of having a raynox adapter is that you can literally switch to macro in a few seconds. just place the adapter on the end and release the holding springs and instant macro adapter. cost is significantly more then the tubes though $50 vs $11. i had purchased the raynox to use with my canon s5.

wow, the tubes look pretty good. they just look like they'd be a pita to switch.

c2thew wrote in post #7918252
the benefits of having a raynox adapter is that you can literally switch to macro in a few seconds. just place the adapter on the end and release the holding springs and instant macro adapter. cost is significantly more then the tubes though $50 vs $11. i had purchased the raynox to use with my canon s5.

wow, the tubes look pretty good. they just look like they'd be a pita to switch.

The kinds of tubes you would want to use are not $11, more like $100 for a cheap set. The $11 ones don't let you change aperture very easily as they have no electronics.

Thanks Hyun. 5" isn't too bad for working distance. Too bad it only goes up to 0.8ish:1 mag with the full stack of tubes and the 85 1.8.

I'm planning on getting a set of Kenko tubes so the aperture and af will still be there. Seems like a cheap alternative to hold me off until I get my hands on a cheap Canon 100 2.8. Even though it doesn't do 1:1, 0.8:1 is still not bad. Not to mention the IQ is still pretty sharp from the images you've posted.

Thanks again!