Extension tubes

[ScarySquirrel]

I'm all confused by this. I think I might just get the Keno ones for about £85.

 

[beermonster]

Ebay is blocked for me at work (grrr) so can't see that item - although tbh I'm trying to figure out what does what myself. From my limited researching, you have to spend a reasonable amount to get tubes which allow for changing aperture as per normal on the camera.

I'm tempted to buy something like a 135mm M42 lens to get a bit of extra length, and whack some tubes on that. Could be fun!

I've just bought a helios 135 f2.8 manual lens and plan to do just this just got decide what tubes to get, this lens won't autoconfirm tho so some cheapy £5 tubes will do.

 

[Gnomey]

What is the difference between autofocus and autofocus confirm?

AF confirm only confirms focus by lighting up the AF point and beeping. AF retains all functionality of the lens as if it was mounted directly to the camera.

I'm all confused by this. I think I might just get the Keno ones for about £85.

I think this would be the best choice, the Kenko tubes are known to be good and you shouldn't have any problems with them coming apart and having your 24-70mm take a trip to the floor like I had with my Jessops tubes.

 

[Namistai]

I've just bought a helios 135 f2.8 manual lens and plan to do just this just got decide what tubes to get, this lens won't autoconfirm tho so some cheapy £5 tubes will do.

Excellent, you'll have to let me know how you get on with it! I saw a Helios 135 for sale on TP (probably the one you bought ) and it got me to thinking..... I really fancy seeing if something like that would be good for playing about with macro.

Would you mind messaging me (trust) when you've tried it out?

 

[ScarySquirrel]

AF confirm only confirms focus by lighting up the AF point and beeping. AF retains all functionality of the lens as if it was mounted directly to the camera.



I think this would be the best choice, the Kenko tubes are known to be good and you shouldn't have any problems with them coming apart and having your 24-70mm take a trip to the floor like I had with my Jessops tubes.

Oh I see, so I have to focus manually but it does still confirm when in focus?

I prefer to use MF with macro anyway

 

[Namistai]

Yea exactly mate, just like if you switch to MF on a normal EF lens you still get the beep and the red light in the viewfinder. Reasonably useful I guess, given that there are no other focus aids in the viewfinder in modern cameras!

I think I shall choose a bit of 10x zoom on Live View where possible once I invest in some tubes!

 

[Gnomey]

Oh I see, so I have to focus manually but it does still confirm when in focus?

I prefer to use MF with macro anyway

Yes, if you get extension tubes which are AF confirm only. If you get the Kenko set you will still have AF. I only mentioned AF confirm as there are some extension tubes listed as being AF confirm only, while the set you linked was listed as autofocus so they were probably ones with contacts so you would still have the full functionality.

Sorry if I caused confusion.

 

[beermonster]

cheapy £5 extension tubes turned up today 10 days from hong kong.

few shots shots with the helios 135mm f2.8 all 100% reduction no cropping.

these were handheld in the back garden unfortunately not much interesting to shoot this time of year. Focusing is tricky to say the least.

So with the tubes and lens a princely sum of £20 spent.

With a bit of patience and practice and sturdy tripod I think some good results could be had.

mobile cpu

 

[krisboats]

Yeah, cheapy extension tubes and some time and care with your manual focus can see some very good results.

This one was with the canon 55-250mm IS f.4-5.6 and soem £5 tubes from hong kong. Hand held, almost upside down at the side of the swimming pool in spain.