Extension tube ...strange problem

08/05/2011 01:54:15 AM · #1

Hello,

Ive been using a 27.5mm tube on my 60mm 1:1 lens. All is good. Have to set by manual. My 60mm has the click apperature ring on it. I usually set it to F11 or higher when I'm using the tube. No matter what I set the f-stop on, I still have all the light coming in and can see the subject...well lit. I can set my shot up with no problems b/c I have a well lit view....this is exactly how it works when I DO NOT have the tube on also.

Now the strange problem:

I borrowed another tube and joined them together like I've seen a billion times before on macro websites. When I put the two together and then on the cam with my 60mm the light dims as I adjust my aperture ring to higher numbers. At about f6 I lose all light and the camera is useless. If I dial down to 2.8, the light comes back. I know this is because the blades are being activated as I click in a higher f-stop, making the view DARKER.

My question is...why does this only happen with two tubes and not a single one? When I use one tube, I can dial all the way up to f22 and still lose NO light when setting up my shot?

One tube is a keno and the other is a Nikon. Both have NO contacts and do not relay any info to camera.

What am I missing?

dswann

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

08/05/2011 02:01:12 AM · #2

I'm not sure what is going on. I have an el cheapo set of tubes with no contacts and they always behave the same as you describe with 2 tubes. I have to open the aperture up to see to focus, then stop the lens down to the aperture I want for the shot before pressing the shutter. I don't understand why your camera behaves differently with one tube.

Does the camera act the same with one tube regardless of which brand it is?

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

08/05/2011 07:01:03 AM · #3

In order for your lens to stop down on shutter press, which is the behavior you describe with the 27mm tube installed, there has to be communication between lens and camera. It sounds like your tube has contacts, but the other tube does not. The behavior you describe with both tubes attached is how the lens should act when there is no communication.

Edit for clarity

Message edited by author 2011-08-05 07:16:14.

dswann

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

08/05/2011 07:13:33 AM · #4

Originally posted by kenskid:

One tube is a keno ......

Did you mean kenko? If so, I believe those tubes have contacts to maintain communication between lens and body.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

08/05/2011 10:15:55 AM · #5

Update:

More info:

Both say Nikon Pk-13 27.5 - Both are full manual - No auto contacts on them.

I've had mine for over a year and have used it often. I just tested both.

When mine is attached to the camera with my 60mm f2.8D lens (this lens has the hardware f-stop dial - (You can set it on the lens OR "in cam")....when mine is attached, I can dial in at 2.8 all the way up to f32 with NO LOSS OF LIGHT in the viewfinder. When a snap the photo, it behaves correctly and stops down to the f-stop that I had set.

However, when I put my borrowed one on my cam (in place of mine), the view in the viewfinder reacts as I dial the f-stop on my lens. If I go "up", my view gets dark...very dark when I reach f6+. So it is some how closing my blades before the snap....something "my" tube does not do !!!

In viewing both tubes side by side, it seems they are EXACTLY the same. Also, there does not seem to be any damage to the borrowed one.

Very strange....

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

08/05/2011 10:18:48 AM · #6

Unless Kenko makes another model of tube, the Kenkos have pass through contacts to the lens. Normal behavior with or without a tube should be full light until the shot is taken. Your camera should have a DOF preview button somewhere that will stop it down momentarily if you need that.

Message edited by author 2011-08-05 10:22:10.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

08/05/2011 10:31:28 AM · #7

Yes...when using "my" tube, I have to use the DOF button in order to stop the lens down if I want to "see" the DOF and/or the "light"....however, when using the borrowed one OR both at the same time, it seems that the DOF preview button is ALWAYS pressed.

I can't see any damage to the borrowed one. I'm really stumped !

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

08/05/2011 10:44:08 AM · #8

Originally posted by kenskid:

It seems that, as I suspected, your tube has contacts, the borrowed tube either does not, or they are not working.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

08/05/2011 11:17:50 AM · #9

rugman1969 was defective since the day he got it off Ebay. He always told me that it was always dark and he could not see to "focus". I simply told him to learn to use his camera ! LOL.

After comparing the two, I found that on the borrowed tube the little "tab" that actually "hold" the blades open when attached to he lens was sitting lower and was "missing" the tab on the lens. Therefore, it would NOT hold the blades in the open position (like mine does).

I tore my house apart looking for my tiny flathead screwdriver and when I found it on the floor under my toilet, my problems were solved. I bent the tab up and now it works ! Get ready for some hugh ass macros !

Oh...don't tell Rugman that I fixed his tube because he'll want it back.

See photo below.

Thanks for help !

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

08/05/2011 12:11:00 PM · #10

Ah, yep. So the "communication" is mechanical, not electrical in this case! I had forgotten that the stop-down mechanism is mechanical. That 'splains it!

MelonMusketeer

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

08/05/2011 12:17:40 PM · #11

Glad you got the problem solved without damaging your camera or anything else. I use those too, and was going to suggest you check that linkage out while I was reading down to this point in the thread. With the D7000, the camera meters in aperture mode with them, as with all the older Ai style lenses. The linkage in the camera moves that lever and closes the aperture to the selected value when you operate the shutter.
eta, Have you tried them on the 80-200? You can shoot bugs from two feet away with that setup, but have to use flash, a tripod, or be very steady, to not get camera shake blur.

Message edited by author 2011-08-05 12:29:54.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

08/05/2011 02:36:50 PM · #12

I haven't tried with the zoom. You are right about being steady though ! Should I even try BOTH tubes with the 80-200...or is that asking too much? !

Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

rugman1969

Nikon D90

08/05/2011 07:14:47 PM · #13

Originally posted by kenskid:

Solved !!!

Both tubes are the same. Neither has the "auto" contacts. I put on my READING glasses and my HEAD LAMP (My daughter was laughing her butt off) and examined each. It seems that the one I borrowed from rugman1969 was defective since the day he got it off Ebay. He always told me that it was always dark and he could not see to "focus". I simply told him to learn to use his camera ! LOL.

After comparing the two, I found that on the borrowed tube the little "tab" that actually "hold" the blades open when attached to he lens was sitting lower and was "missing" the tab on the lens. Therefore, it would NOT hold the blades in the open position (like mine does).

I tore my house apart looking for my tiny flathead screwdriver and when I found it on the floor under my toilet, my problems were solved. I bent the tab up and now it works ! Get ready for some hugh ass macros !

Oh...don't tell Rugman that I fixed his tube because he'll want it back.

See photo below.

Thanks for help !

First off, "borrowed", as you stated, means using for a short period of time, then returning to the owner. Second, STOP breaking my stuff!!!! ROFLMAO! Puss

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

08/05/2011 07:29:53 PM · #14

Ha....it was broke when u bought it.....you could never get it to work.....I FIXED IT because I'm the king.

Originally posted by rugman1969:

Originally posted by kenskid:
Solved !!!

Both tubes are the same. Neither has the "auto" contacts. I put on my READING glasses and my HEAD LAMP (My daughter was laughing her butt off) and examined each. It seems that the one I borrowed from rugman1969 was defective since the day he got it off Ebay. He always told me that it was always dark and he could not see to "focus". I simply told him to learn to use his camera ! LOL.

After comparing the two, I found that on the borrowed tube the little "tab" that actually "hold" the blades open when attached to he lens was sitting lower and was "missing" the tab on the lens. Therefore, it would NOT hold the blades in the open position (like mine does).

I tore my house apart looking for my tiny flathead screwdriver and when I found it on the floor under my toilet, my problems were solved. I bent the tab up and now it works ! Get ready for some hugh ass macros !

Oh...don't tell Rugman that I fixed his tube because he'll want it back.

See photo below.

Thanks for help !

First off, "borrowed", as you stated, means using for a short period of time, then returning to the owner. Second, STOP breaking my stuff!!!! ROFLMAO! Puss

rugman1969

Nikon D90

08/05/2011 07:31:01 PM · #15

Originally posted by kenskid:

Ha....it was broke when u bought it.....you could never get it to work.....I FIXED IT because I'm the king.

Originally posted by rugman1969:

Originally posted by kenskid:
Solved !!!

Both tubes are the same. Neither has the "auto" contacts. I put on my READING glasses and my HEAD LAMP (My daughter was laughing her butt off) and examined each. It seems that the one I borrowed from rugman1969 was defective since the day he got it off Ebay. He always told me that it was always dark and he could not see to "focus". I simply told him to learn to use his camera ! LOL.

After comparing the two, I found that on the borrowed tube the little "tab" that actually "hold" the blades open when attached to he lens was sitting lower and was "missing" the tab on the lens. Therefore, it would NOT hold the blades in the open position (like mine does).

I tore my house apart looking for my tiny flathead screwdriver and when I found it on the floor under my toilet, my problems were solved. I bent the tab up and now it works ! Get ready for some hugh ass macros !

Oh...don't tell Rugman that I fixed his tube because he'll want it back.

See photo below.

Thanks for help !

First off, "borrowed", as you stated, means using for a short period of time, then returning to the owner. Second, STOP breaking my stuff!!!! ROFLMAO! Puss

You still don't get the concept of "BORROWED". I see you didn't comment on that!

Message edited by author 2011-08-05 19:31:33.

08/05/2011 07:42:04 PM · #16

I said borrowed at least 5 times....get you head out of JL's ass.

Originally posted by rugman1969:

Originally posted by kenskid:
Ha....it was broke when u bought it.....you could never get it to work.....I FIXED IT because I'm the king.

Originally posted by rugman1969:

Originally posted by kenskid:
Solved !!!

Both tubes are the same. Neither has the "auto" contacts. I put on my READING glasses and my HEAD LAMP (My daughter was laughing her butt off) and examined each. It seems that the one I borrowed from rugman1969 was defective since the day he got it off Ebay. He always told me that it was always dark and he could not see to "focus". I simply told him to learn to use his camera ! LOL.

After comparing the two, I found that on the borrowed tube the little "tab" that actually "hold" the blades open when attached to he lens was sitting lower and was "missing" the tab on the lens. Therefore, it would NOT hold the blades in the open position (like mine does).

I tore my house apart looking for my tiny flathead screwdriver and when I found it on the floor under my toilet, my problems were solved. I bent the tab up and now it works ! Get ready for some hugh ass macros !

Oh...don't tell Rugman that I fixed his tube because he'll want it back.

See photo below.

Thanks for help !

First off, "borrowed", as you stated, means using for a short period of time, then returning to the owner. Second, STOP breaking my stuff!!!! ROFLMAO! Puss

You still don't get the concept of "BORROWED". I see you didn't comment on that!

MelonMusketeer

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

08/05/2011 08:29:54 PM · #17

The pair of them and the zoom will work, but your max focus distance will be pretty close, like maybe 3 ft.

08/05/2011 08:58:08 PM · #18

Here's one with both tubes attached. Read description for details.

Thanks.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

08/05/2011 11:28:05 PM · #19

rugman1969

Nikon D90

08/09/2011 01:14:52 PM · #20

skid. Thanks for fixing my extension tube. U ar da man U are a great photographer. I hope one day I can take a picture as good as ur worst one. I don't know what I would do without you. U are so smart and kind and generous. I hope when I grow up I am just like you. ;)