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12/26/2007 12:04:50 PM · #1 |
In my Christmas haste, I bought some CHEAP extension tubes from Gadget Infinity linky here
I was planning on using these tubes with my 50mm 1.8 for cheap macro work.
Now, however in looking at the info, I wonder if they won't work, as there may be no way for me to control the aperture on my lens. I had thought I could only use manual focus on these (not an issue for macro work), but now it appears I may not even be able to control aperture with these tubes...
Does anyone have experience with these extension tubes?
If the extension tubes do NOT allow my to stop down the lens, is there anyway I can get my 50mm 1.8 to stop down manually?
And yes, I do feel like an idiot :) |
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12/26/2007 12:40:10 PM · #2 |
The info on the link you gave says it couples with metering ("It perfectly couples with spot metering and AE mechanisms"), so if you can't figure it out, I suggest calling and asking for help.
However, the price seems to be more along the lines of tubes that don't pass along metering and aperture. If they don't, I'd ask them for a return because of incorrect advertising.
Message edited by author 2007-12-26 12:43:40.
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12/26/2007 12:51:17 PM · #3 |
Take a look at the tubes... do they have electrical contacts at all? If not, then there's certainly no way they will work to stop down the lens. They can still work with metering, of course, but metering is not the same as aperture control.
I think the problem in the description is that it was copied from a Nikon description; they've left some of the Nikon-related stuff in there. Most older Nikon lenses (non-G lenses) have an aperture ring, so lack of aperture control is no issue.
What you *can* do to force the aperture you want is:
- Mount the lens directly on the camera
- Set the aperture value to the desired setting
- Depress the DoF Preview button (if the 350D has one... I can't recall)
- While depressing the button, remove the lens. the aperture will remain closed down
- Now mount the lens on the rings, and the rings on the camera.
Using the above method, you can shoot at any aperture you choose, but you'll be focusing stopped down so the viewfinder will be quite dark. You'll also need to go through the above procedure each time you want to change aperture.
You're far better off finding a set of tubes that will allow full control of the lens. The Kenko tubes are a good value. |
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12/26/2007 01:01:04 PM · #4 |
I can definitely endorse the Kenko tubes because I use them.
Kirbic, your procedure intrigues me. My lenses are all spring-loaded to minimum aperture. As soon as I take 'em off the camera, they close down. Even the 50 1.8, which has aperture ring, stays at that aperture unless you move the tab to open it up more.
Are Canon lenses different that way?
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12/26/2007 01:05:09 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by levyj413:
Are Canon lenses different that way? |
They are. In fact, I did not know that you couldn't do that with Nikon lenses!
I just verified that the procedure does work with my Canon 70-200 zoom. |
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12/26/2007 02:15:22 PM · #6 |
Thanks all,
It looks like I will need to do the DOF preview procedure Kirbic described. I'm pretty sure now that the aperture won't adjust with the tube on.
I agree the Kenkos would be a much better product, but my Christmas money budget has already been spent on lighting.
So, I'll bite the bullet on these, enjoy them for a bit, and get some Kenkos when I can afford them. If I can still get good macro shots for $20 bucks (albeit with more hassle) it can't be all bad! |
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12/26/2007 02:39:29 PM · #7 |
| You could get an old M42 lens and an adapter for use with the tubes? M42 lense all have manual focus and aperture control, which is what you want with Macro work really. The adapter will probably cost you more than the lens... |
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12/26/2007 03:51:02 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by pix-al:
You could get an old M42 lens and an adapter for use with the tubes? M42 lense all have manual focus and aperture control, which is what you want with Macro work really. The adapter will probably cost you more than the lens... |
That's actually a very good idea. A decent M42-mount lens and adapter would probably run about $75 together. |
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12/26/2007 04:16:12 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by pix-al:
You could get an old M42 lens and an adapter for use with the tubes? M42 lense all have manual focus and aperture control, which is what you want with Macro work really. The adapter will probably cost you more than the lens... |
That's actually a very good idea. A decent M42-mount lens and adapter would probably run about $75 together. |
How about a not so decent M42 lens? I got a "Domiplane 50mm 1.8" for free when I bought a Zeiss Sonnar 135 M42 mount lens (yes, I know, it won't focus to infinity on my Nikon without a lensed adapter -- which kind of defeats the purpose of buying such pretty glass -- but it's still nice for closer work and portraits). I don't have a Canon adapter but you're welcome to have it for cost of postage if you want what I've got. I've never mounted it on my camera (I have a Nikon MF 50mm 1.8, so I don't really need another one), but I also can't say anything about quality . . . just an offer, feel free to decline (might be cheaper to buy one off eBay with the adapter than have me ship this little bugger internationally).
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12/26/2007 04:58:42 PM · #10 |
"How about a not so decent M42 lens? I got a "Domiplane 50mm 1.8" for free when I bought a Zeiss Sonnar 135 M42 mount lens (yes, I know, it won't focus to infinity on my Nikon without a lensed adapter -- which kind of defeats the purpose of buying such pretty glass -- but it's still nice for closer work and portraits). I don't have a Canon adapter but you're welcome to have it for cost of postage if you want what I've got. I've never mounted it on my camera (I have a Nikon MF 50mm 1.8, so I don't really need another one), but I also can't say anything about quality . . . just an offer, feel free to decline (might be cheaper to buy one off eBay with the adapter than have me ship this little bugger internationally). [/quote]
Thanks Rherverly for your generous offer! - I might take you up on it in the future. For now, I'm going to see how my current 50mm lens works with the DOF preview trick. I know it will be a bit of a pain, but I'll see how it goes.
Since I'm new to SLR photography, I'm not really familiar with old M42 lenses, and what's good or bad. So before I jump into the deep end of adaptors, etc... I'll see how this will work.
Did I mention that DPC folk are great?!!
Message edited by author 2007-12-26 16:59:09. |
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12/26/2007 05:15:44 PM · #11 |
| BTW for anyone who doesn't have a reversing ring, I read a suggestion to use a beer cozy (those foam cylinders). Fits my extension tubes and 50 1.8 quite nicely! |
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