Winged Power Photography

A Little Macro Photography Using Extension Tubes

When people talk about macro photography, usually, they are referring to closeup photography, where the reproduction ratio isn't quite up to 1:1. To the higher levels of magnification where you are approaching 1:1 reproduction, you typically need a "macro" designated lens, which can focus up close. Examples of such would be the various 105mm macro lenses, which allows for extremely high quality macro photography.

However, such lenses will typically set you back at least $400, or more. For the enthusiast, such costs are prohibitive.

Enter, the extension tube. Basically, this is just a tube with lens mounts on it, matching those of your manufacturer's. The effect is that it moves your lens a certain number of millimeters away from the sensor. This changes the relationship between the sensor and the subject. Ie, given the same lens, you are able to significantly focus closer than the lens was originally designed for.

The cost for extension tubes? They start at $50 and go up to around $200 for a set of three.
» Read More »»

asin: B000EEPMQY binding: Electronics amazon price: $169.00 USD

Extension tubes are designed to enable a lens to focus closer than its normal set minimum focusing distance. Getting closer has the effect of magnifying your subject (making it appear larger in the viewfinder and in your pictures). They are exceptionally useful for macro photography, enabling you to convert almost any lens into a macro lens at a fraction of the cost while maintaining its original optical quality. The extension tubes have no optics. They are mounted in between the camera body and lens to create more distance between the lens and film plane. By moving the lens father away from the film or CCD sensor in the camera, the lens is forced to focus much closer than normal. The greater the length of the extension tube, the closer the lens can focus. The KENKO AUTO EXTENSION TUBE SET contains three tubes of different length, a 12 mm, 20 mm, and 36 mm, which can be used individually or in any combination to obtain the desired magnification. » Read More »»

asin: B000A1N8F8 binding: Electronics amazon price: $169.00 USD

Extension tubes are designed to enable a lens to focus closer than its normal set minimum focusing distance. Getting closer has the effect of magnifying your subject (making it appear larger in the viewfinder and in your pictures). They are exceptionally useful for macro photography, enabling you to convert almost any lens into a macro lens at a fraction of the cost while maintaining its original optical quality.The extension tubes have no optics. They are mounted in between the camera body and lens to create more distance between the lens and film plane. By moving the lens father away from the film or CCD sensor in the camera, the lens is forced to focus much closer than normal. » Read More »»

asin: B0000BZLXK binding: Electronics amazon price: $89.95 USD

Kenko UNIPLUS TUBE (extension ring) is an accessory, exclusively designed for use with standard AF lenses to shoot subject at closer distance with higher magnification. It provides perfect coupling with automatic aperture, TTL metering and AE mechanism.

asin: B000KZ7A7G binding: Electronics amazon price: $59.00 USD

Image magnification ratios and exposure factors.-(50mm standard lens)Auto Extention TubeDistance Reading of MasterImage Magnification RatioField Coverage (cm)Distance from Lens Front to Subject (cm)Exposure Factor12mmInfinite-0.5m0.24-0.3510x15-6.9x10.321-161.5-1.8 DG Series New DG Series have upgraded "Gated-Array" circuitry to work better with the digital SLR's and some of the the new digital only lenses. They still work the same with film SLR Cameras and lenses as well

asin: B000GTPDFC amazon price: $169.00 USD

The Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG contains three tubes of different length - 12mm, 20mm, and 36mm - which can be used individually or in any combination to obtain the desired magnification. Actual magnification effect changes with each specific lens. Extension tubes are designed to enable a lens to focus closer than its normal set minimum focusing distance. Getting closer has the effect of magnifying your subject (making it appear larger in the viewfinder and in your pictures). They are exceptionally useful for macro photography, enabling you to convert almost any lens into a macro lens at a fraction of the cost while maintaining its original optical quality.

asin: B000AMHPZ6 binding: Electronics amazon price: $59.00 USD

Image magnification ratios and exposure factors.-(50mm standard lens)Auto Extention TubeDistance Reading of MasterImage Magnification RatioField Coverage (cm)Distance from Lens Front to Subject (cm)Exposure Factor12mmInfinite-0.5m0.24-0.3510x15-6.9x10.321-161.5-1.8 DG Series New DG Series have upgraded "Gated-Array" circuitry to work better with the digital SLR's and some of the the new digital only lenses. They still work the same with film SLR Cameras and lenses as well

asin: B00091V3KG binding: Electronics amazon price: $169.99 USD

Extension tubes are designed to enable a lens to focus closer than its normal set minimum focusing distance. Getting closer has the effect of magnifying your subject (making it appear larger in the viewfinder and in your pictures). They are exceptionally useful for macro photography, enabling you to convert almost any lens into a macro lens at a fraction of the cost while maintaining its original optical quality. The extension tubes have no optics. They are mounted in between the camera body and lens to create more distance between the lens and film plane. By moving the lens father away from the film or CCD sensor in the camera, the lens is forced to focus much closer than normal. The greater the length of the extension tube, the closer the lens can focus. The KENKO AUTO EXTENSION TUBE SET contains three tubes of different length, a 12 mm, 20 mm, and 36 mm, which can be used individually or in any combination to obtain the desired magnification. » Read More »»

Using Extension Tubes To Do Closeup and Macro Photography

I recently picked up a three piece extension tube set from Kenko. The Kenko DG Auto Extension Tube Set for the Konica - Minolta AF Maxxum Mounnt.. The tubes were fairly well constructed, not super solid, but they locked in place just fine and allowed AF and aperture setup to work. If you haven't got the money to sink in a true macro lens, you might want to give these extension tubes a try!

I'm continuing to shoot with them, but I have got some nice photographs... and a new appreciation of dust on subject matter...
» Read More »»