Extension Tubes - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 200-400mm f/4.0G IF-ED

04/28/2006 05:54:31 AM · #1

I've got 2 extension tubes: EF12 II, and EF25 II.
Which one should i use more? can i use both or it is not recommended? i tried one of them each and both but i don't know what the difference will be, so anyone tried any of them or both on Canon 100mm Macro? or with another lenses?
I hope is someone can add some sample images to see the differences.

Message edited by author 2006-04-28 05:55:10.

spydr

Nikon D850

04/28/2006 07:35:45 AM · #2

I'm not familiar with that exact model you have but I use extention tubes and can answer your questions I think. The tubes will decrease your minimal focal length of the lens it is used with. It looks like you have a 12mm and a 25mm tube. 25 mm will decrease MFD more than 12 mm. You can use them together. 37 mm will really decrease the MFD. Keep in mind that the tubes will also effect Depth of Field, and focal range also. I mostly use tubes with a 105 macro lens. The MFD of the lens is 1 ft. without tubes. With 37mm of extention it is more like 1 in. However the DOF at F40 is wafer thin.

Let me see if I can find some examples in my portfolio. Be right back.

spydr

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 200-400mm f/4.0G IF-ED

04/28/2006 07:52:17 AM · #3

I'm back

Without tubes-

With 20 mm of extension-

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

04/28/2006 08:02:15 AM · #4

thank you for your response. I know what they do, just i want to know what time should i use them, and about quality, will extension tubes decrease the quality of photos?
I used both and each one separately and the focus is only for close-ups

deapee

Kodak V803

04/28/2006 08:21:29 AM · #5

just use them both.

This is a leaf hopper on a small flower...with 105 and 68mm worth of extension:

//www.davidpaullphotography.com/macro/small.jpg

This is a really small fly on a dandelion same setup:

//www.davidpaullphotography.com/macro/webflyfront.jpg

--

And here's a fly with no extension tubes:

//www.davidpaullphotography.com/macro/websmallfly.jpg

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Not sure if that helps...as far as whether to have both on or not, I would...you can always focus further away if you have to, like 1:1 or whatever...but it'd be too big of a hassle if you see something quickly to put another one on most of the time.

Hope that helps.

--

EDIT: ext. tubes do not decrease picture quality...because they are just hollow tubes that increase the size of the image that falls on the sensor.

Message edited by author 2006-04-28 08:22:22.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/28/2006 08:30:19 AM · #6

Originally posted by deapee:

Thank you for the information and images links. I will use both or one if needed and i don't use one or both if i need to focus for far and normal views.

jent

Canon EOS-90D

04/28/2006 11:36:03 AM · #7

Originally posted by UAE_Guy:

Well the longer you are sperating the lens from the body the more light you are going to lose. So it does not degrade the quality but will require a longer exposure/lower fstop. Also the as you increase the distance from the body your DOF will decrease, and thus you may need a larger f-stop.

I have the 12, 20, 35mm extension tube set. And with my cannon 100mm macro I never use more than the 12 and 20mm together. The only time you need them is when the lens needs to be closer to the subject than the lens by itself can handle. As you may know you lose your ability to focus your lens to infinity. sometimes for my aquatic photography where I can not control how far I am from the subject I will use my 100-300mm cannon lens with all three extension tubes pilled together. This is nice because then I can put the focus on manual (make the focus as macro as it can go). And then use the zoom of the lens to focus on the subject. I find this lets me get as close as possible to the subject. Here is an example taken from about 2ft away of this technique. (sorry not that great of a photo but it gives you an idea).

PhantomEWO

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/28/2006 11:40:18 AM · #8

With tubes because of the shallow DOF it is best to use a tripod if possible and have a subject that is not moving. If you look back at some of the challenge winners who had extreme macros of bugs they were dead bugs that were used because .... they didn't move! If you only want a good closeup just use the lens by itself, if you can keep the camera from moving and the bubject from moving stack them and have fun.

04/28/2006 11:49:56 AM · #9

ok people, what do you think of this image?
i took it with alot of difficulties using both ext. tubes
Macro Close up of a Fly

Prof_Fate

04/28/2006 11:52:25 AM · #10

fantatastic fly foto

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/28/2006 11:57:43 AM · #11

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

fantatastic fly foto

thank you

jent

Canon EOS-90D

04/28/2006 12:06:49 PM · #12

love the detail of the eyes of the fly....

also on my photo i wanted to clerify that the reason i used tubes on a telophoto lens is because i can't control the distance to the subject. So it is another method of use for the tubes beyond getting super close macros. Although I mostly use them for the close up macro shots. Just trying to show that they have multiple uses.