Extension Tube Fail: I received "Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG 12mm, 20mm, and 36mm Tubes for Nikon AF Digital and Film Cameras - AEXRUBEDGN" for Christmas and can't get focus on my...

francwoods

I received "Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG 12mm, 20mm, and 36mm Tubes for Nikon AF Digital and Film Cameras - AEXRUBEDGN" for Christmas and can't get focus on my D7200 with either kit lens: AF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 G II or the AF-S 55-300mm 1:4.5-5.6 G ED.
I had AF turned on and no luck. Manual focus didn't work either.
Should I return or is there a setting that I need to enable?

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

A friend I knew had those exact Kenko extension tubes before he bought a Tamron macro 90mm f2.8 lens. Kenko is among the best for third party extension tubes. I would suggest you use a prime lens, instead of a zoom lens. The results may be different. A 50mm f1.8 would be a start. And do manual focus. Turn off AF.

twowindsbear

Try this:

Install the 12mm extension ring and your 18-55mm lens. Set your lens to 55mm, minimum focus distance, wide open lens opening. Turn off any auto focus. Pick a reasonably sized object, perhaps about the size of the palm of your hand. Hold your camera at the distance set as your minimum focus distance on your lens. Move SLOWLY closer to the object. The object should come into focus. Try again with your lens set at maximum focus distance. Start with your camera fairly close to the object, perhaps about 1 foot, and move SLOWLY away from the object. Again, the object should come into focus. Let me know your results. ONLY move your camera, do NOT twist the focus ring on your lens.

Good luck!

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

francwoods wrote:

I received "Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG 12mm, 20mm, and 36mm Tubes for Nikon AF Digital and Film Cameras - AEXRUBEDGN" for Christmas and can't get focus on my D7200 with either kit lens: AF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 G II or the AF-S 55-300mm 1:4.5-5.6 G ED.
I had AF turned on and no luck. Manual focus didn't work either.
Should I return or is there a setting that I need to enable?

At what distance are you trying to focus? For example, with a 20mm extension, a 100mm lens focused at infinity will be about 12" from the subject. And the shorter the focal length, and the more extension, the closer you need to be.

francwoods

Hey @twowindsbear that did work! So these will work in manual only and will need to "move" to focus. I guess the AF in the marketing is a bit misleading. I notice that the tubes only have 7 contacts and my lenses and camera have 8. Would that make a difference?

twowindsbear

francwoods wrote:

Hey @twowindsbear that did work! So these will work in manual only and will need to "move" to focus. I guess the AF in the marketing is a bit misleading. I notice that the tubes only have 7 contacts and my lenses and camera have 8. Would that make a difference?

Glad I could help.

Can't answer about the 7 & 8 contacts, that does sound like not the right set.

In general, you choose the lens (or focal length of a zoom) and the extension tube based on the size of the object and the size image that you want. Then, set the lens at either minimum or maximum focus distance and move the camera toward or away from the subject until the image is in focus. At least that's the method that works for me. IF you're using a tripod or copy stand or some other way of holding your camera completely still, THEN you can fine-tune the focus by 'twisting the focus ring' after you've gotten 'close' by moving the camera.

Close up / macro photography can get really involved & technical. Image size & object size, reproduction ratios. . . then there's another entire 'can of worms' when you get into the effective f-stop given the marked f-stop on the lens with the addition of extension. Auto exposure is GREAT! as is the different varieties of auto ttl flash exposure.

Good luck as you explore macro photography.

Happy holidays to you & yours.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

francwoods wrote:

Hey @twowindsbear that did work! So these will work in manual only and will need to "move" to focus. I guess the AF in the marketing is a bit misleading. I notice that the tubes only have 7 contacts and my lenses and camera have 8. Would that make a difference?

Consider getting a focusing rail to mount your camera. After getting a general focus, you can use the rail to adjust focus +/- 1 to 1/1000”.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

twowindsbear wrote:

Try this: Install the 12mm extension ring and your... (show quote)

Once again, the Bear is spot on! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

francwoods wrote:

Hey @twowindsbear that did work! So these will work in manual only and will need to "move" to focus. I guess the AF in the marketing is a bit misleading. I notice that the tubes only have 7 contacts and my lenses and camera have 8. Would that make a difference?

And you will likely have trouble with the electrical connections when stacking all three tubes. That is why I went to Nikon tube at approx. three times the price, and full manual, the kenkos would auto focus if you were close enough to the subject when using only one tube, but I don't use A/F when shooting close up.

rstipe Loc: S. Florida

Manual focus works best for those. You need to get REAL close.

twowindsbear

rjaywallace wrote:

Once again, the Bear is spot on! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Thank you for your kind words! It seems I'm either totally ignored or told in no uncertain terms that I know nothing at all about what I post.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

twowindsbear wrote:

Thank you for your kind words! It seems I'm either totally ignored or told in no uncertain terms that I know nothing at all about what I post.

Do some studying, watch some YouTube videos, and practice. The first time I used my tele converter at a rodeo I hadn't mounted it securely on my D7000 and was getting some very strange results. Like others have posted, macro work gets really technical really fast. You might want to use Live View with one tube on and walk around looking at stuff while engaging auto focus versus manual to see how things work. Decades ago I had a set of tubes and quickly figured them out when only manual focusing was available. Most lenses focus down to about 11" from the sensor plane as marked on your camera body. Macro gets you closer than that, you can move closer than the limit.

twowindsbear

gvarner wrote:

Do some studying, watch some YouTube videos, and p... (show quote)

Why are you telling me this? I'm not the one having the questions.

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

The AF can be used on a telephoto or other lens that doesn't focus close as it will allow one to be able to use AF at closer distances (but not macro distances). I don't use any of my AF or MF tubes as you have to add/subtract the tubes in order to change composition and magnification. With a true macro lens, it's simply a matter of turning the focus ring.

rstipe Loc: S. Florida

Why would you stack all 3 ? I have the Kenko, but there's really not much difference between them & the Nikons. Why spend more than you have to?