Extension tubes for Macro

I was just wondering if anyone has used extension tubes with their lenses for macro photography with any success. I do have the Kenko tubes and a 50mm lens but have not really tried using the combination.

Thanks,

Brian

I have used the Kenko tubes occasionally.  They've worked well on my Canon 24-70mm 2.8 lens, which already had "semi-macro" capability.  Attaching one tube gave the lens pretty decent macro capability.  I've also used the tubes on rare occasions on longer lenses, which trying to photograph venomous snakes while maintaining a safe distance.  Though they don't get a lot of use overall, I think they work nicely if you don't have a true macro lens.

Max

Brian ..until mid 2015 ..all my macro work has been on extension tubes.

Here are a few examples....of 70-200+various combinations of Kenko Extention tubes. 2006 until 2015 i was doing my macro work on extension tubes.

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=247259&CGISESSID=ba876d914d27106769368bc0b74327d6&u=19778&title_action=

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=245163&CGISESSID=ba876d914d27106769368bc0b74327d6&u=19808&title_action=

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=244566&CGISESSID=ba876d914d27106769368bc0b74327d6&u=19966&title_action=

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=242462&CGISESSID=ba876d914d27106769368bc0b74327d6&u=19966&title_action=

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=236019&CGISESSID=ba876d914d27106769368bc0b74327d6&u=20232&title_action=



Balan Vinod

Brian.  I use them on and off.  Since there's no glass you don't lose image quality and they let you get closer than the normal minimum focus distance.  I've even used them for small birds with a long focal length lens to let me get closer and fill the frame.  They work well.

Brian,  extension tubes are a great way to get started in macro using "conventional" lenses.  I started with them and continue to use them with a "true" macro lens to get extra magnification.  I strongly suggest trying it.

The major limit is that all lenses are designed with an "enlargement limit" or close focus target.  Once you get beyond that limit you start to lose image quality.  As a guess, I'd say that with your 50mm lens, you'll notice the loss of sharpness (especially near the edges) using 50 mm of extension tubes.  You'll probably find acceptable performance with about 30 mm or less of extension.  You can estimate you maximum magnification using the ratio of extension tube length to lens focal length.  With the lens focused at infinity, the Kenko 36 mm extension tube will give you 36/50 (or 0.72 life size) magnification.  You get more magnification as you focus the lens closer than infinity, but that also increases the loss of sharpness and chromatic aberrations.  The other factor to keep in mind is the subject to lens distance.  With a 50mm lens and that 36 mm extension tube, your subject to front-of-lens separation is about 5 inches.

I have used the Kenko tubes with Canon 70-200 with great success at all distances.  I bought a set of 3 and used them individually, in pairs and even all 3.  Great way to see if you really have the macro bug before plopping down big bucks for a good macro lens.  One thing to note, you lose infinity focus so if you're shooting bugs and Bigfoot comes out of the woods in the distance, you can't focus on him.  One of the many plusses of the macro lens...you can go from bugs to Bigfoot instantly.
JR

Hi Brian,

Extension tubes are ideal pieces of equipment that enable photographers to increase subject size of an image by reducing the working distance.  The working distance will get pretty tight with a 50mm lens, but will enable you to get some frame filling shots of small subjects..................................Jim

I have used the Kenko exetension tubes with my 105 macro lens when I want extreme closeup work.  The work very well with that lens.  I also sometimes use the smallest tube with my 80-400 when I need to get closer than the minimum focusing distance of the lens.  These results have also been good.