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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Extension Tube on Tamron 28-75 F2.8 XR Di?
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 01/01/2006 11:58:39 AM · #1
Has anyone tried this combo?

I got the Tammy lens for christmas (thanks to my wife) and I'm very impressed. I know it focuses pretty close but I'm wondering how it would perform with a 12mm or 25mm extension tube. I suspect a 25mm tube would make use of the widest zoom settings impossible but give pretty good magnification above around 40mm zoom.

Extension tubes being nice and cheap I'm hoping I can "make-do" until I can afford a true macro. If it works well a canon 10-22 of 17-40L may be in line before the macro lens anyway.

Thanks in advance
 01/01/2006 12:07:33 PM · #2
from what i understand the magnification you get is about 1:1 when you extend the same length as the focal length. IE 50mm extention on 50mm gives you true macro. The quality of the image suffers more and more the farther out you push a lens. Probably won't show up too much on a 1.6x sensor.
 01/01/2006 12:36:29 PM · #3
The Tammy is already a "near macro": it goes down to 1:2. I use mine for nearly all my closeups, and only use my 60mm true macro when I need to go really tight. Since the Tammy goes 1:2, I'd assume it would not need that much additional extension to get 1:1, or contrariwise with a more significant extender it might go deeper than that. I'm not an expert on extension tubes though.

Certainly, from my experience, the Tammy is perfectly adequate for closeup work and the true macro is rarely needed, so certainly go with the 10-22mm next, that's just a wonderful lens that will change your life :-)

R.
 01/01/2006 01:37:57 PM · #4
Rather than speculate, I tried it. The first shot is just the Tamron 28-75 at closest focus. The second shot is the Tamron with 25mm extension tube. The third is the kit lens with a reversed 50mm f/1.8 attached to it. All three images have been sharpened and show the full frame to give you an idea of how close you can get. A 100% crop is almost useless because at 640px, you only see an eyeball. ;-)







Hope that helps.
 01/01/2006 01:45:09 PM · #5
Thanks Scalvert =)

I already have the reversing ring and 50mm 1.8 but I find the combo a bit unwieldy anywhere but on a table-top. The 25mm extension/Tammy shot looks impressive from that 640 pix image.

I'm not interested in pixel peeping, but, would you be happy with full-res macro shots taken with that combo? If you say yes I may just be ordering an extension tube later =)
 01/01/2006 02:01:54 PM · #6
Well, let me put it this way... I spent several hours yesterday trying to take pictures of snowflakes with a reversed 50mm. With the greater DOF, sharpness and focal distance of the Tamron + extension tube, I'll probably go that route next time.
 01/01/2006 02:18:22 PM · #7
I shot these with my Tamron 70-300mm 4.0-5.6 zoom with extension tubes.

01/01/2006 02:32:00 PM · #8
Originally posted by scalvert:
Well, let me put it this way... I spent several hours yesterday trying to take pictures of snowflakes with a reversed 50mm. With the greater DOF, sharpness and focal distance of the Tamron + extension tube, I'll probably go that route next time.


Were you problems mostly due to the greater magnification you got with the 50mm reversed? Doesn't DOF depend on magnification? I tried a 50mm reversed on a 400 mm lens. You could just breathe on the camera to change where it focussed.
 01/01/2006 02:51:36 PM · #9
Originally posted by AJAger:
Were you problems mostly due to the greater magnification you got with the 50mm reversed?


Well, that's part of it, but the Tamron/extension tube combo is sharper and has a larger field of view than a kit lens + another lens.
 01/01/2006 03:39:37 PM · #10
thanks for posting this question! I have the Tamron lens and I'm trying to figure out what extension tubes to get for it. Is it better to get the Canon 25 over the Kenko set of tubes? Does the Kenko set get you closer/better quality?
 01/01/2006 04:01:44 PM · #11
There are no optics in an extension tube, so the Kenko and Canon tubes should be equal. The only advantage to Kenko (besides price) is that you can get the set and stack several together to increase magnification.
 01/01/2006 06:32:24 PM · #12
ah, okay. And if I got the Canon 25 and the Canon 12, I could stack those together as well, right?
 01/01/2006 06:36:45 PM · #13
I just saw this review of Kenko extension tubes:

//www.northrup.org/equipment/extension.htm

are they REALLY that difficult to use?

Message edited by author 2006-01-01 18:37:08.
 01/01/2006 07:17:24 PM · #14
also, does anyone know what the difference is between the DG version of the Kenko tubes and the non-DG version?
 01/01/2006 08:08:52 PM · #15
Originally posted by ktrame:
...if I got the Canon 25 and the Canon 12, I could stack those together as well, right?


Sure, but it would cost you $60 more than buying all three Kenko tubes.
 01/01/2006 08:12:51 PM · #16
Originally posted by ktrame:
...are they REALLY that difficult to use?


Well the DOF and focusing distances DO get really short. You need a lot of light and a small aperture to get any decent depth, and handheld shots are impractical. That said, I just focus the lens manually to its farthest point and then move the camera itself to get the subject in focus. It's not THAT hard.
 01/01/2006 09:42:32 PM · #17
I have been follwing this thread with interest. I have (cheap) extension tubes and have used them on an old vivitar 135mm lens (cheap tubes mean no aperture adjustment, but hey for $20) There is no lens of any kind in extensiuon tubes, so there can be no image degradation. the light has farther to travel from lens to sensor, so you get some light fall off.

and got this with one tube (the longest) so we're nowhere near 1:1.

Today i had my first opportunity to try a real macro lens, the canon 100 2.8. I got several shots with iffy focus (at least on the item i wanted to focus on) but did get this one that i like
(not at 100%)
I like this lens...not sure it will be my next lens, but soon.

I have not tried the reversed 50 1.8...i may have to - i don't have the kit lens, so what is the best focal length to attach it to? How does hat affect the magnification?

Message edited by author 2006-01-01 21:43:24.
 01/01/2006 09:48:27 PM · #18
Originally posted by ktrame:
also, does anyone know what the difference is between the DG version of the Kenko tubes and the non-DG version?


To quote the b&h site: This DG Extension tube set has upgraded "Gate-Array IC" circuitry to work better with digital SLR's and some of the digital SLR lenses*.

*Note: Not compatible with the Canon Digital-only EF-S lenses, 18-55 f/3.5-5.6, 17-85 f/4-5.6, 60 f/2.8 macro.

i did not see a Non DG set listed for Canon.


01/01/2006 09:52:39 PM · #19
I found a non-DG on ebay (I think it's at like $15 now) but decided to go the DG route for $115. Sure beats a $500 macro lens, at least. :)

I'll post some photos here after I get the tubes and have a chance to test it out.
 01/02/2006 11:48:54 AM · #20
Sorry to extend this subject but I did some checking into prices of extension tubes, Canon, Kenko and Jessops. I was surprised to discover it's possible to buy 77mm 500D closeup lenses for comparible prices on ebay. A 77mm 500D + step down rings would fit any lens I'm likely to own (I have my sights set on a 300mm F4 L eventually) as well as tubes.

Has anyone ever tried this combo? =)
01/02/2006 12:01:55 PM · #21
Originally posted by ZorbaTheGeek:
Sorry to extend this subject but I did some checking into prices of extension tubes, Canon, Kenko and Jessops. I was surprised to discover it's possible to buy 77mm 500D closeup lenses for comparible prices on ebay. A 77mm 500D + step down rings would fit any lens I'm likely to own (I have my sights set on a 300mm F4 L eventually) as well as tubes.

Has anyone ever tried this combo? =)


IMO extension tubes are much better than add-on optical elements. Purely from a quality POV. This might be less true with really first-rate optics, but I have never had really first-rate close-up screw-ons so I don't know.

R.
 01/02/2006 12:06:40 PM · #22
The 300L/4IS is one lens that works great with extention and the 500D. Head over to fredmiranda.com and check out the macro section. There is a huge wealth of information, and you can probably even find examples of this combo.
 01/02/2006 12:06:49 PM · #23
Originally posted by ZorbaTheGeek:


Has anyone ever tried this combo? =)


Here's a bit of info. In fact I'm thinking of getting a 500D instead of my macro lens, as there's no room for it in my camera bag.
 01/02/2006 12:27:05 PM · #24
Here are some shots with my 70-200mm + 2x Extender + 500D



Here are some 100% crops. I definitely need to get better light than camera mounted 580EX. The flash is powerful enough but cause I was shooting nearly straight down I got some "flash bounce" back. I am new to macro. But this gives you a little bit of what it is capable of.





Here's a penny



However, there is a very shallow DOF, this is the tip of a 2" square cut nail standing on it's head atop of a white paper background.

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