Nikon extension tubes/Diopters/General macro questions.

Messiah Khan

Messiah Khan

Messiah Khan

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Im looking at getting a bit more kit for my new D40x to allow me to get some better(read closer) macro shots. Im on quite a tight budget here, so im investigating the option of extension tubes, diopters, lens reversal adapters etc etc. Has anyone got much experience with any of these? Any comments or tips?

I think ive ruled out the idea of reversal adapters, because as far as I can tell you have to really play around with setting the aperture before fixing the lens etc, and it would definately rule out AF, and possibly mess with metering etc.

The next option is extension tubes or teleconverters. Im thinking this is probably the best option. So far I have seen;

Nikon TC-20E II 2x AF-S, AF-I Teleconverter ~£230
Nikon TC-17E II (1.7x) AF-S, AF-I Teleconverter ~£260
Nikon TC-14E II 1.4x AF-S, AF-I Teleconverter ~£230

Sigma 1.4 X EX DG APO Tele-Converter AF for Nikon AF Cameras ~£140
Sigma 1.4X EX Apo Tele Converter For Nikon ~£100
Sigma 2X EX DG APO Tele Converter AF for Nikon AF Cameras ~£150
Sigma EX Apo Tele Converter X2 , 2X for Nikon ~£140

Kenko PRO 300 AF 1.4x Teleconverter for Nikon AF-S ~£100
Kenko PRO 300 AF 3x Teleconverter for Nikon AF ~£120
Kenko Teleplus DG 1.5X MC Teleconverter For Nikon ~£85
Kenko Teleplus DG 2X MC4 Teleconverter for Nikon Mount ~£85
Kenko Teleplus DG Extension Tube Set 12+20+36 for Nikon AF ~£100

Am i right in believing out of all that lot, only the Nikon ones will support AF on the AF-S lenses? If so, how do people find using manual focus in macro photography? What difference does a teleconverter make to a plain extension tube?

Diopters.. are they any good? What makes should I be looking at? How well do they combine with teleconverters/extension tubes.

And fianally, what lenses should i be looking at to use in combination with/instead of all this lot? How well would be current stock 18mm-55mm stand up to doing macro work with attachments? Also, if people see no problem with manual focusing(I don't think I would), should I be looking at older manual focus lenses rather than AF-s ones?
:)
 
As far as I know, you want extension tubes rather than teleconverters. Extension tubes allow much closer focusing but I think you sacrifice the ability to focus to infinity with them.

When I was looking at getting some a few people suggested the Kenko Pro range of extension tubes but I never bothered in the end as I have a friend that has all the Nikon ext tubes so I can just borrow those if I ever need to.
 
If you're on a budget, auction sites have manual extension tubes for £6ish. I think only the biggest aperture can be used and of course, focus is manual. Probably metering too though I'm not 100% sure.
 
Thanks guys. Im not too worried about having to use manual focus, but I really don't think i'd like to lose metering/auto exposure or anything else. Id rather pay a bit more and only lose the AF. Does the Kneko set allow auto metering etc
 
I believe that you need to be aware of some issues with some AF lenses locking the Aperture at it's minimum when removed from the camera. I have tried to trick mine into being open unsuccessfully.
 
Ok, thanks. What lens did you try it on? Is that using an extension tube? What make was it? Do you suggest using a cheapish prime lens instead of my stock 18mm-55mm?
 
Didn't realise they were quite that cheap (relatively anyway) How would such a lens work for more general shots, ie midrange landscapes, portraits etc. Also would they work with extension tubes as well to go beyong 1:1?
 
messiah khan said:
Didn't realise they were quite that cheap (relatively anyway) How would such a lens work for more general shots, ie midrange landscapes, portraits etc. Also would they work with extension tubes as well to go beyong 1:1?
Click to expand...

It'd be pretty awesome for portraits, I should think—perfect focal range for most portraits and pretty fast, too.
 
Doesn't seem like it would support auto focus though, which is a slight shame but not the end of the world. Lets look at this another way; What's the most cost effective way of achieving 2:1(Or even closer ;P) at 1cm-40cm minimum focal range? As mentioned im not overly concerned about manual focusing, but I really wouldn't like to loose automatic metering or have the lens stuck on the smallest aparture etc.
 
messiah khan said:
Np. As mentioned, AF is something im willing to sacrifice in order to get good maginification on the cheap.
Click to expand...

Well yeah, and you'd have manual focused for macros anyway, but for portraits it's going to be a bit of a bummer.
 
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