Extension tubes

[Allmost]

Hello all,
So in order to get macro shots even closer, I picked up a set of kenkos tubes.

36 mm and 12 mm and 20 mm.

when I use all 3 and my macro shot 100, I can get no focus ....

when I use the 36 mmm + macro lens, I get a VERY narrow band at which the pic can focus on, is this normal ? or am I misusing it ?
for example, I can take pics of corals at the back, and at middle of tank when macro lens is right against the glass. but with the tube, I can only take pics of corals about 20" away from the lens ! say about 19.5-20.5 " !

normal ?


how do the photographers on NAt GEO take pics of snow flakes ? or filament of flowers ? how do they get SOOO close up ?

thanks

 

[yardboy]

They use macro lens, say a 100mm macro. The depth of field is really wide so it's easier (well, relatively) to be in focus.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/87gJbh2o3pY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Allmost]

They use macro lens, say a 100mm macro. The depth of field is really wide so it's easier (well, relatively) to be in focus.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/87gJbh2o3pY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

thanks .. I have the same macro lens.

those images are nice, but I want a way to get closer.

 

[Allmost]

hmmm okay comparing images on bigger screen after white balance and cropping, seems like the Tube did work

Green Acro without Tube

With Tube :

its not pic of the same branch. this was the only branch of the colony I could take pics of with the tube ! any closer or furthur from the lens, and it would not focus !

 

[Allmost]

Hmm,
yap, talked tooo fast, seems like its not the camera, but the photographer lol


check this out

and it was taken with 50 mm focal lenght lens ! lol hmmm.

 

[Addiction2SPS]

Make sure when using the Kenko tues to keep your aperture high. This will help get the hole subject in focus. A tripod and remote helps tons with keeping steady also.

 

[Misled]

seems like its not the camera, but the photographer lol

This. I'll show you some shots I took today when I get home. When you get all three tubes on a macro lens you only have an inch or so of distance difference it will focus in. You will also have a very shallow dof. If you go back to the thread we talked about this in, you'll see it was talked about.
First move the camera back and forth till you get the focus close then fine tune it with the focus ring. Use manual.

 

[Allmost]

This. I'll show you some shots I took today when I get home. When you get all three tubes on a macro lens you only have an inch or so of distance difference it will focus in. You will also have a very shallow dof. If you go back to the thread we talked about this in, you'll see it was talked about.
First move the camera back and forth till you get the focus close then fine tune it with the focus ring. Use manual.

thanks alot man

yap, as I was taking pics I realized, AHHH, that's what they were talking about .... lol but had to make sure.
good thing is kenkos came with 3 different lenghts, so I can play with all 3 to see which fits better according to what Im taking pics of.

[and I was watching frozen planet last night] and was thinking how do they take pics of humidity or dust crystalizing and ... its just unbelivable ! you know what Im talking about ? those are taken with macro lens, and nothing else right ?

I guess I have all equipments, it may be time to take a class or something to learn more.. such an addictive hobby lol

would love to see ure pics anytime

 

[iadubber]

What tubes do you have? I have the cheapo metal tubes from amazon and I need to set the aperture in my lens prior to attaching the tubes otherwise the lens is wide open. You need to stop it down quite a bit to get a deep enough DOF. Tripod, trigger, and pumps off will help alot.

 

[Allmost]

I got the kenko tubes, it was cheaper than the canon tube.

yea I need a better tripod ... the person was trying to sell me a "rock solid tripod" for like 200.

I tried to save money and got the cheap one(70 bucks) ... if that one was rock solid, this one is more on jelly side lol

 

[Misled]

Like I said before, learning to use tubes isn't easy. For shooting a stationary with the camera on a tripod it's easier, but I normally shoot free hand. You have to get fairly close to an object when using all three tubes on a macro lens. The front of my lens was about 2 inches from this blossom on my plum tree this morning when I took this.

 

[Allmost]

Wow Jesse U R The Man

Looks amazing, I'm really not used to tripods, but I guess I should learn, do you use a macro lens with auto stabilizer for the image above ?
I'll try tonight with manual focus. Thank you

 

[Misled]

If you try to shoot with AF, the lens will hunt quite a bit. I turn the VR off and always shoot with manual focus when using tubes. If you move the lens a sixteenth of an inch your focus will be way off. As you get used to shooting without a tripod, you'll set the focus and use your movement to know when to hit the shutter release. I also use flashes.

 

[Allmost]

If you try to shoot with AF, the lens will hunt quite a bit. I turn the VR off and always shoot with manual focus when using tubes. If you move the lens a sixteenth of an inch your focus will be way off. As you get used to shooting without a tripod, you'll set the focus and use your movement to know when to hit the shutter release. I also use flashes.

thanks, finally got it.

did you take those pics with lens with STABALIZER ? or no ?

I got the macro lens that doesnt have the image stabalizer .... but cant control the hand movement,... guess it takes practice ? or wont happen unless I upgrate to the L model lens with stabalizer ? just pressing the shutter release seems to give the camera a little shake ...

 

[Misled]

It takes practice. Mine has VR, (Nikon's stabilizer), but that creates more problems. You don't use it when shooting this close. You can get a remote shutter release to stop the movement.

 

[Allmost]

thank you again

 

[Allmost]

Guys, what's a Tele converter ?

is it same as the tubes ?
reading about it online, it seems like its a magnification for the central part of pic .... the part that is in focous ?

 

[Misled]

A tele extends the focal length of the existing lens. It also reduces the f stop. If you have a 2X tele on a 300mm f:2.8 lens it gives you a 600mm f5.6 lens. Some don't work with all lenses and can damage either the lens or tele if they aren't compatible.

 

[Hookup]

Hey Jesse, or others... opinions on the use of a teleconverter? i've considered one in the past... i'd like to get the 300mm F4 cannon prime and a 2x converter... to get way out there... but also considered the 100-400 zoom... of course my wife has me stalled on this financial decision until a yet to be determined date... but i figured i'd throw it out there...

 

[Misled]

I can't speak from my experiance, but from what I've heard it can work out pretty well. Louis, (IPT), has shown some pics he took a while with the Canon 300 f4 and one of Canon's tele's, I just don't remember which one. You can get cheeper teles from off brand, but as I said, they don't always work and can damage the lens or tele. It's best to speak to someone to see if the tele is compatible with the lens before buying a tele.
Tele's are different than tubes as they do have glass in them. If you think about putting a cheepie tele on a good piece of glass like a 300 f4, I personally don't think it's a great idea.