Macro Photography: Would it be better to purchase a set of "auto-focus" metal tubes or just the plain jane?

snooper Loc: Alberta, Canada

Would it be better to purchase a set of "auto-focus" metal tubes or just the plain jane?

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

You want tubes that will allow communication between the camera and lens. On lenses that don't have aperture rings, the automatic set will allow you to control the aperture. A wide open aperture (default on Canon lenses) will give incredibly small depth of field and cause frustration. Autofocus, you won't need it in macro, but you do need adjustable aperture.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Auto focus in macro is not that reliable, in my experience.
Have you seen the macro section?

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

IMHO manual focus and exposure is required to acquire the depth of field necessary for a good macro image.
You might visit the macro page on UHH for more detailed information from advanced macro shooters

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

FAQ: Extension Tubes vs Bellows vs Tele-Extenders vs Thread-on "Close-Up" lenses
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-26496-1.html

You will find auto-extension tubes much preferable to manual extension tubes.

farmerjim Loc: Rugby, England

I wouldn't use auto focus in macro mode, prefer to make my own decisions. For that reason and on the cost basis, I'm happy with my 30 year old Pentax tubes and an adapter. 10mm + 16mm M4/3 auto tubes, £120. Cost of my set-up £0. :)

snooper Loc: Alberta, Canada

Dah! Never thought to look at the macro section. This is what I was considering getting:
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/FOTGA-Macro-Automatic-Extension-Tube-Set-DG-for-CANON-EF-EFS-Lens-13mm-20mm-36mm/602511_718789667.html

newryqs

Auto focus is probably OK for a single exposure macro shot. If you intend to use image stacking to increase depth of field, you do not need autofocus. If you have auto-focusing extension tubes, you will need to turn off auto-focus, otherwise, you will have nightmares about trying to focus where you "have" to. The difference in price between a set of autofocus extension tubes and a set of " manual" extension tubes is considerable. A set of manual focus extension tubes generally run about $8 delivered to your door from an eBay seller. A set of off-brand auto-focus tubes will usually be $60-70 plus shipping, while brand name tubes are frequently over $100. The difference in price is due to the electronic connections in the tubes that let your camera select the area of focus and engage the lens motor accordingly. I have about 6 sets of manual extension tubes and frequently combine several sets into one long tube.

houdel Loc: Chase, Michigan USA

Here is another set from Amazon, a little cheaper and you avoid the China Post:
http://www.amazon.com/Xit-XTETC-Focus-Extension-Cameras/dp/B00ALNA09W/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3DQXEM7UXD6HN&coliid=IV81CP8YQSVOR

nitrophil Loc: Dayton, Ohio

Try this, it's great!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/82191-REG/General_Brand_AV49PS_Reverse_Adapter_Pentax_Universal.html

farmerjim wrote:

I wouldn't use auto focus in macro mode, prefer to make my own decisions. For that reason and on the cost basis, I'm happy with my 30 year old Pentax tubes and an adapter. 10mm + 16mm M4/3 auto tubes, £120. Cost of my set-up £0. :)

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

I jumped into this macro photography doing so as inexpensively as I could - SS $ only go so far - I bought the revers ring and used it on 2 prime FD lens 24 mm and 50 mm along with a $40 - 4 direction macro slide and got very good results but not the DOF I want then I bought a set of tubes 7 mm-14 mm - 28 mm and have been pretty happy with the results on a 75-150 mm set at 100 mm - All my macro is in manual mode. I have not ventured out on a serious macro shoot yet.

I notice that some tube sets have 1/2 again the length as mine - why is that - what advantage is it.

Harvey

nitrophil wrote:

Try this, it's great!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/82191-REG/General_Brand_AV49PS_Reverse_Adapter_Pentax_Universal.html

houdel Loc: Chase, Michigan USA

Harvey wrote:

I notice that some tube sets have 1/2 again the length as mine - why is that - what advantage is it.

Harvey

The longer the tubes, the greater the extension and the higher magnification of the image you are trying to capture. The down side is that light intensity reaching your sensor or film and depth of field decrease as well.

snooper Loc: Alberta, Canada

I thank you all for info and replies. I bit the bullet and ordered the following: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Macro-Extension-Tube-Ring-For-CANON-EOS-EF-DSLR-SLR/291107894.html

If I dont like them or find them hard to use I wont be out that much $$
Thanks again
Chuck

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

I personaly think you will be very happy with this set - mine is a little shorter 7-14-28 mm - but produces good macro shots so far - I am new at this macro also.
Harvey

snooper wrote:

I thank you all for info and replies. I bit the bullet and ordered the following: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Macro-Extension-Tube-Ring-For-CANON-EOS-EF-DSLR-SLR/291107894.html

If I dont like them or find them hard to use I wont be out that much $$
Thanks again
Chuck

snooper Loc: Alberta, Canada

Thanks Harvey. Looking forward to getting into macro as there are some fantastic images in the macro forum although being retired due to back problems and on a small pension I will find photography a challenge.