extension tube brands for Olympus E-M1: I'm wondering how many Olympus users or other 4/3 camera users have used extension tubes on their lenses. I'm still trying to master macro...

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

I'm wondering how many Olympus users or other 4/3 camera users have used extension tubes on their lenses. I'm still trying to master macro photography but am still not getting the results that I am looking for. I have a 60mm macro 4/3 Zuiko lens and a 35mm micro DSLR Zuiko with adapter ring plus a couple of zooms. Have tripod, cable release, (not sure I still have my ring flash). Hand holding in natural light with macros isn't working so well for me so far. The view finder shows a perfectly sharp image with good contrast but photos are mushy looking and dull and subjects not magnified enough. Want to see bugs eyes filling the frame. Saw one youtube video where this guy had spectacular photos hand holding his camera with a hand made diffuser flash. Sharp as a razor. Certainly the Olympus should be able to match this.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

The only thing that I have that is remotely close (and I just go it last week), is a helicoid m42 adaptor. I'm able to take the focusing distance of my 135mm down from 5.5 ft to about 1.5-2 ft, by extending it out like an extension tube. Gives me a razor thin dof too with that lens that is easy to "focus" in/out.

I've only used it with a tripod.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I'll try and post some examples this weekend when I get back home.

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

If you check ebay, you can find plenty of extension tubes for Olympus cameras.
I just got a set for my M4/3 cameras that have the contacts for auto focusing and metering.
True macro lenses have an extremely shallow DOF, like millimeters, so not a lot in the frame is going to be in focus.

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Cdouthitt wrote:

I'll try and post some examples this weekend when I get back home.

I'd love to see your photos. Here is as magnified as I could get of aphids on flower stems.....ever so slightly cropped. It was taken with my 60mm Zuiko macro which has several distance settings. I increased the ISO up to 500 in order to get the shutter speed up to 1/160s because of a soft breeze, and aperture at f8.0. I didn't use a flash but had the camera on a tripod. From what I've seen on youtube f16 seems to be a recommended aperture because of macro's shallow depth of field.

This photo was horizontal but shows up vertical. Don't know why.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I shoot a lot of macro with my Nikon DSLR's & macro lenses. I went & picked up a refurbished Olympus Pen E-P3.... I have tried some of my macro lenses with adapters & was looking at tubes as well (only have the kit 14-42mm lens though)... I too wound up getting a M42-M43 focusing helicoid but have yet to really try it out yet. Biggest problem I see is getting enough light on my subject (insects).... I have ring lights for my DSLRs... I didn't like the looks of most of the tubes (all from China) as most of them are plastic/resin. A few have metal mounts though.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

As an example, I shot the 135 the other day of some soaps...this was wide open @ f2.5 or at f/4...I can't remember.

http://douthittfamily.smugmug.com/Projects/AntoinettesBathandBody/i-kZk5qPN/0/X2/EM142118-20140314-X2.jpg

without the helicoid (and a regular adaptor) it would have appeared about 3 times smaller since I would have had to step back about 4 more feet.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

For my test, I'll shoot from 2 vantage points, both at the minimum focus distances with 4 shots, each at various f stops (f2.5, f5.6, f11, f16). Would that be helpful...if not, it might just be an interesting study to see the affects of the helicoid on a lens.

This is the adaptor that I'm using.
http://www.amazon.com/Rainbowimaging-Adapter-Focusing-Helicoid-Panasonic/dp/B00E7HRGCC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395404459&sr=8-1&keywords=m42+to+m43+helicoid

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Ha, that's the same one I got...

Cdouthitt wrote:

For my test, I'll shoot from 2 vantage points, both at the minimum focus distances with 4 shots, each at various f stops (f2.5, f5.6, f11, f16). Would that be helpful...if not, it might just be an interesting study to see the affects of the helicoid on a lens.

This is the adaptor that I'm using.
http://www.amazon.com/Rainbowimaging-Adapter-Focusing-Helicoid-Panasonic/dp/B00E7HRGCC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395404459&sr=8-1&keywords=m42+to+m43+helicoid

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Screamin Scott wrote:

Ha, that's the same one I got...

I stumbled upon it when looking for one that didn't have a ledge for the second aperture pin for my 135 to get stuck on...it works great for it. with my other adaptor the second pin would get suck on the inside ledge, and wouldn't let me adjust the aperture with out first loosening the lens.

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Cdouthitt wrote:

For my test, I'll shoot from 2 vantage points, both at the minimum focus distances with 4 shots, each at various f stops (f2.5, f5.6, f11, f16). Would that be helpful...if not, it might just be an interesting study to see the affects of the helicoid on a lens.

This is the adaptor that I'm using.
http://www.amazon.com/Rainbowimaging-Adapter-Focusing-Helicoid-Panasonic/dp/B00E7HRGCC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395404459&sr=8-1&keywords=m42+to+m43+helicoid

Give it a try. I'm all for interesting studies. Is that extension tube strictly manual?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

All manual.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

I bought the cheap chinese set of extension tubes for my sony. - they took ages to arrive 'as a gift' via europe.

The threads are quite sharp and very fine to put together. the catch to open the lens shutter is manual so needs to be connected right first. No electrodes so everything is done in manual. they cost about £4 from ebay

They work great..I only use them on a tripod but have used my 70 - 300 on them too.

Yes you do have to watch the light and DOF is a bit tricky to tell 'in camera'. KENKO equivalent are way more expensive so to dabble I recomennd buy cheap and learn how to use them.

Alternative is a reversing ring to attatch two lenses face to face....also a cheaper alternative about £6

good luck

George

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Thanks to Screamin Scott and G Brown for your input, too. I was back to the Desert Botanical Garden again but this time using my tripod and shutter release cable. Took photos at various f stops....came home and made more detailed notes. I brought my 60mm Zuiko macro and my Panasonic 40-200mm zoom. The zoom took tighter shots than the macro lens. I'm wondering if I am using that macro properly. I would have thought it would have magnified more than it did. As far as image quality went, there was no winner....the image quality was the same from both lenses....not as sharp as I was hoping....soft focused edges.....passable but not crisp. I have added a photo of a portion of one image to show the noise in it. I took all photos at ISO 250 to increase shutter speed a little. I will have to add the rest of the photos in another post because I messed up my attempt in this one.

enlarged portion of image to show noise

mossgate Loc: Phoenix, AZ

New post with photos.......

cactus flower at f/5.6, @200mm with zoom lens..straight OOC

cactus flower at f/8 @200mm with zoom lens....straight OOC

minor Photoshop levels adjustments to f5.6 image