extension tubes: Any recommendations regarding AF Extension Tubes for a Nikon d5000 with several lenses? What qualities should I be considering?

Tenwheels

Any recommendations regarding AF Extension Tubes for a Nikon d5000 with several lenses? What qualities should I be considering?

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

They are hollow tubes in various lengths. They fit between the camera and the lens. The only quality I can think of is metal fittings. Whether you buy Nikon ones or someone else's probably doesn't matter much except for cost and confidence.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

You will find extreme price differences in extension tubes.
I strongly recommend Auto-extension tubes, so that you can focus wide open, and have the camera close lens diaphragm (aperture) at instant of photograph. Auto-ETs will also allow Auto-Focusing, although many macro-photographers prefer to manual focus.

You will find that superior-made ETs have light-baffling black interior surfaces. Cheaply-made ETs have exposed rods & wires inside of tube, which can reflect light, flaring images.

I personally own a set of Kenko auto-tubes (12-mm, 20-mm, & 36-mm). Other macro-photographers successfully use premium Vello tubes (12-mm, 20-mm, & 36-mm). Avoid the cheap Vello tubes (below) I am sure there are other manufacturers. Canon & Nikon tubes are also excellent, but significantly more expensive.

Kenko DG auto-extension tube set

Vello premium auto-extension tubes2

Cheap auto-extension tubes (13-mm, 21-mm, & 31-mm) with exposed chrome rods.

Tenwheels

Thanks for the input.

jimoth001 Loc: Illinois

I have the Vello extension tubes used with a D5100 and I love them! Here's a link to some of my macros using these. All pics are handheld. Definitely very pleased with the results.

http://jim-shackett.artistwebsites.com/art/all/macro/all

georgeretired Loc: Manitoba Canada

Nikonian72 wrote:

You will find extreme price differences in extensi... (show quote)

I'm in that position of obtaining extension tubes. I have been looking at the Kenko DG Auto tube set for $199.00 Agreed the Canon line are expensive. I shoot with a canon 50D. Question ..... are the products "extension tubes" and "tele-converters" the same. I want to use these in Macro photograph and also to improve my reach with my 70-200 and 150-500 lens. Just a little confused with the labels. Thanks.

Clyde141

georgeretired wrote:

I'm in that position of obtaining extension tubes. I have been looking at the Kenko DG Auto tube set for $199.00 Agreed the Canon line are expensive. I shoot with a canon 50D. Question ..... are the products "extension tubes" and "tele-converters" the same. I want to use these in Macro photograph and also to improve my reach with my 70-200 and 150-500 lens. Just a little confused with the labels. Thanks.

Not the same in Nikon language and I'm sure not in Canonese either. Extension tubes are for close-ups, Tele-converts multiply the focal length of the lens they are used with. So a 2.0 teleconverter would make a 200 mm lens into a 400mm lens. Be sure whatever you get will work with the lens you are using. Example for Nikon - Tele-converters usually only work with a very few of their longer zoom and fixed focal length lenses and not all Nikon Lenses. Don't know if extension tubes are limited to certain lenses or not. You have me interested in checking them out now.

Clyde141

jimoth001 wrote:

Here's a link to some of my macros using these. All pics are handheld. Definitely very pleased with the results.

http://jim-shackett.artistwebsites.com/art/all/macro/all

Jim - I like your photos! This topic has me thinking about extension tubes too. I used to use them with a Minolta film camera I once had.

georgeretired Loc: Manitoba Canada

Clyde141 wrote:

Not the same in Nikon language and I'm sure not in... (show quote)

Clyde....I am doing the same. Off this pm to a well known camera store in the city. Will take my camera and a few lens to get them to give me the pro/cons on what I want to do as well as the difference between the two products.

jimoth001 Loc: Illinois

Clyde141 wrote:

Jim - I like your photos! This topic has me thinking about extension tubes too. I used to use them with a Minolta film camera I once had.

Thank you! I was wary at first that I was sacrificing the ability to get good pics by not splurging on a real macro lens, but have really been very happy with the results.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

georgeretired wrote:

Question ..... are the products "extension tubes" and "tele-converters" the same?

Extension tubes are hallow, and are used for macro-photography. Tele-Converters (TCs) contain optics, and are normally used with telephoto lenses.

No combination of extension tubes + standard lens will equal the IQ of a true macro lens.

georgeretired Loc: Manitoba Canada

Nikonian72 wrote:

Extension tubes are hallow, and are used for macro-photography. Tele-Converters (TCs) contain optics, and are normally used with telephoto lenses.

No combination of extension tubes + standard lens will equal the IQ of a true macro lens.

Thanks for that info on the two different pieces of gear. I do have a 50mm prime as well as a 10-22mm lens

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Nikonian72 wrote:

You will find extreme price differences in extensi... (show quote)

I've been considering ETs. Thanks for the info and images.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

georgeretired wrote:

Thanks for that info on the two different pieces of gear. I do have a 50mm prime as well as a 10-22mm lens

A true macro lens has a flat plane-of-focus, which permits carrying a flat subject completely within the DoF plane. Your 50-mm prime lens has a semi-spherical arc-of-focus, as do all standard and zoom lenses, at a given radius from lens front element. This is why extension tubes on a standard lens often have corners OoF at all but the smallest apertures.

artc4746 Loc: Des Moines, Iowa

The differences are extension tubes are just that, tubes. Teleconverters have optics i.e. lens in them.