Great video Matt, finally someone actually showed the results at different combinations. I was getting sick of seeing people unboxing and screwing them together, without actually explaining or doing anything! :)
Mate, You know, they should call you "ASK ME". You have answers for almost everything related to photography. Every time I search for something on You Tube, I get at least one video from you explaining what I was looking for. HATS OFF TO YOU and a big CHEERS.
Hey Matt, kind of ironic I just put on my Kenko ext. tubes on my D4 with my Nikon 70-200 f 2.8.. Took a couple of quick shots and went to my computer to see this video qued up. I had noticed that focusing was easier using the zoom. With 70mm being closest and 200 being furthest. I apologize if this is already covered in the comments.
I have the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro, and it's very good. I got some completely manual (no electronics) extension tubes, the same mm as you got there, but I haven't used them much. But I often use a 2x teleconverter, also completely manual, no need really for AF (or aperture control) for macro really. The 2x on a macro is very nice, it of course doubles the focal length, but you keep the closest focus distance, so you get much larger magnification. So it's a 210mm with more than 1:1 magnification.
Extension tubes really expand the possibilities for interesting photos around the house and yard. I just got a set and I’m having fun photographing miniatures
Another huge part of Macro Photography is the flash. If your going to use extension tubes seeing you have to drop down the aperture a flash will freeze the subject and brighten things up. P.S. Make sure to also use a flash diffuser with your flash so the flash is not concentrated in one spot. You can make your own for pretty cheap. So basically don't go out and buy a bunch of extension tubes with nothing else for macro photography because you won't be particularly happy with the results.
the tubes will work absolutely fine, you could also use the tubes + a reverse ring to put your lense on the other way around. at 18mm you than can get really really close!
thanks Matt, I was planning on upgrading from an 18-55 kit lens to a 50mm 1.8g with smart extension tubes. This demonstration is exactly what I've been looking for!!
that Nikon guy is not only a Pro, but a nice guy and it translates well to communicating information with great Clarity and i'd have to say this was one of the most thorough and helpful reviews I have seen. Others try cover EVERYTHING and end up barely covering anything, he didn't detract from the point of focus ~ ! ^____^
Thanks Matt, I bought some Phottix Auto extension tubes and a bounce card for my SB-600. I was surprised at the amount of different types spiders that lived in my garden.
Thanks for such a great video. I really like watching your videos although I am a Canon user. I thought I would add something to this video from a Canon user perspective. Problem with cheap extension tubes and a Canon camera is Canon cameras cause the lens to open to it's widest aperture. If a canon user bought cheap extension tubes which don't allow aperture control they can use this little trick to keep correct aperture: Set your aperture while the lens is directly connected to the camera. Then press "dof" button which is usually on the side of the lens and while pressing the button take off your lens and connect it to the extension tubes and back onto the camera. This allows your lens to keep the aperture to stay it is. Using this method camera would have to stay powered on while changing the lens which can cause dust on the sensor but it's the only way I know. I hope it's helpful to some canon users.
Wonderful video! I've found myself in a fairly tight areas shooting portraits, I love the results of my 70-200mm F2.8 however I can't get a close as a want to my subject ... EXTENSION TUBES to the rescue! Well done!
lol, I got to say i've grown a greater appreciation for your channel. I mean you don't delete or block people who have a comment or arguably is pointing out a short coming in a review etc. :)
@QuarterCrawl sorry to say buddy - that IS the budget option - as opposed to buying a dedicated macro lens, this can turn all your lenses into macro... everything comes at a cost :)
My friends hate on my extension tubes because they don't know how to use them. But for the 15 bucks I paid on amazon for a small set, it gets the job done nicely. Far better than me having to spend money on new glass just to get some macro shots (which personally, isn't the type of photography I'm into)
With Kenko's (and some other more-upper-end tubes) AF is maintained. However, AF is slow and rather tricky with macro because your depth of field is razor thin. This means that your breathing could throw off the AF and just make it "swim" back and forth. It really just ends up being easier to go onto MF and then move around :)
Before I was thinking to buy a macro lens and it's too expensive after that I saw ur video and that's help me alot to think again about what I'm tried to buy .. so... thank u matt for that video
Great video, Matt. I just got the tamron 180mm macro for Sony A65, but I have not had any time to play with it. Maybe you can set your tamron to 90mm and 180mm to do a comparison video to the tamron 90 and 180 true maron.
Yesterday I did something ridiculous... on my D5100 I put on a set of F-mount extension tubes, then an M42 to F-mount adapter and then another set of M42 extension tubes. The lens I used was a Carl Zeiss 50mm F1.8 and it got amazingly close.
Wow! what else can I say Matt.. something else your chanel has shown me! Thanks alot bud, am loving this chanel chock-block full of awesome information
It is a good tutorial and I like the way how you used your fingers to protect lens touching the wall while taking close shots. I bought you a beer do not forget to download asap.
@timjonasd hmmm, if you start with a great prime, and add tubes, it could be very high quality - and maybe better than a cheap macro.. but generally speaking you may loose some quality - but I know pros who make large commercial prints using ext. tubes.
Thanks for that Demo..... I like the effects ! sure not as Good as a Super Lens could give us but... Fun to play and experience with !! once again.. thanks for taking the time to make this movie !
They would. But make sure to buy automatic ones. Not for the focus which you should not put on auto anyway if working with these. But for aperture and time automatics. The mechanical ones (the cheap ones) will only work with lenses that allow to manually change the aperture (which the kit lens does not do). Have fun!
Nice video. This was very useful in helping me figure out how to use my extension tubes. Granted, I just have an old m42 set from Vivitar (Picked them up today, along with a tele converter for $2.50 US), but they should offer some interesting photo opps I didn't have before. Thanks for the info!
Brilliant demo of extension tubes Matt. I wonder how these would compare to a Canon 500D macro lens which is a single glass element you screw on the front of the lens. They seem to get favourable reports. It would make an interesting comparison. Have ever tried one?
there is another strap called the C-loop that has the same kind of set up that is sold on amazon. If you are still interested in that type of strap i suggest to look that one up too :)
Hi Matt, my 120-300 lens for wildlife isn't a true 300 when close focusing. Would extension tubes magnify the image if I were to stay in the same spot?
Thanks Matt Granger good review. I have some jewellery to shoot with my Nikon 50mm 1:4 will the extension tubes give me a better image than say just cropping the image in 'post'. Plus is it possible to get a image without the shallow DOF.
It's better to take the image at a closer distance without cropping because the uncropped image will have a higher resolution when viewed at the same size. For a wider DOF just increase your aperture (F8, F11, etc)
Dear Mazzecake I bought the mechanical ones two weeks ago and my D5100 does not work with them. The camera tells me i got no lens on if I use these. This really only works if you can set the aperture on the lens - which does not work with the 18-55 kit lens - which is a guilded lens. And David's question was about this lens.
Hi Matt, Does the tubes that you used have electric contacts from the lens - through the tubes - to the camera? If none, how do you control the aperture as well as the metering from the camera? Hope you could help. Thank you!
Because the camera has electronic pins in it which the lens also has which talk to each-other when the lens is attached, the cheap extension tubes off ebay do not have the little pins so the camera can not talk to the lens. You will have to shoot in full manual mode with a lens that has a manual aperture.
Matt, your videos are a great source of help... i was occupied in the dilemma of extension tubes.. and your video just cleared my concepts. a BIG THANK YOU ! :) just one question, can i use the Nikkor Micro 40mm on an extension tube and get better results than the 50mm on ext tube ?
I'm amazed at how many are missing the point of the video. The cost of extension tubes vs the cost of a true quality macro/micro lens. Not to mention how versatile all of a person's lenses become.
Im glad you mentioned the sensor charge. I always try to turn it off because it just seems proper. I may have read it in the manual but i have forgotten a few time and been horrified with myself
Hello matt, i have a question, Do extension tube reduce the picture quality ? Can i use 36mm + 20mm extension with my 50mm F/1.8 Nikon Lens for using portrait shot ? Will it reduce picture quality or F number ?
Thanks! Good episode - interesting to see these and how they work. BTW - can you tell me please what type of strap that is that you are wearing too? :) Thank you!
Great video Matt, finally someone actually showed the results at different combinations. I was getting sick of seeing people unboxing and screwing them together, without actually explaining or doing anything! :)
Mate,
You know, they should call you "ASK ME". You have answers for almost everything related to photography. Every time I search for something on You Tube, I get at least one video from you explaining what I was looking for.
HATS OFF TO YOU and a big CHEERS.
Hey Matt, kind of ironic I just put on my Kenko ext. tubes on my D4 with my Nikon 70-200 f 2.8.. Took a couple of quick shots and went to my computer to see this video qued up. I had noticed that focusing was easier using the zoom. With 70mm being closest and 200 being furthest. I apologize if this is already covered in the comments.
I have the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro, and it's very good. I got some completely manual (no electronics) extension tubes, the same mm as you got there, but I haven't used them much. But I often use a 2x teleconverter, also completely manual, no need really for AF (or aperture control) for macro really. The 2x on a macro is very nice, it of course doubles the focal length, but you keep the closest focus distance, so you get much larger magnification. So it's a 210mm with more than 1:1 magnification.
Extension tubes really expand the possibilities for interesting photos around the house and yard. I just got a set and I’m having fun photographing miniatures
Another huge part of Macro Photography is the flash. If your going to use extension tubes seeing you have to drop down the aperture a flash will freeze the subject and brighten things up.
P.S. Make sure to also use a flash diffuser with your flash so the flash is not concentrated in one spot. You can make your own for pretty cheap.
So basically don't go out and buy a bunch of extension tubes with nothing else for macro photography because you won't be particularly happy with the results.
the tubes will work absolutely fine, you could also use the tubes + a reverse ring to put your lense on the other way around. at 18mm you than can get really really close!
thanks Matt, I was planning on upgrading from an 18-55 kit lens to a 50mm 1.8g with smart extension tubes. This demonstration is exactly what I've been looking for!!
I got me a cheap macro lens/wide lens for my Nikon D3100 and just took macro pics of a Mantis yesterday and they come out awesome. No tubes needed.
thanks for the tip about keeping the camera body facing you while changing lens, something simple that I had not thought of
Thanks - a great help to be able to see extension tubes in action and see actual image comparisons.
Thank you for answering the questions I had about extension tubes! Wow, you look young and holy cow, this was about when I started following you
that Nikon guy is not only a Pro, but a nice guy and it translates well to communicating information with great Clarity and i'd have to say this was one of the most thorough and helpful reviews I have seen. Others try cover EVERYTHING and end up barely covering anything, he didn't detract from the point of focus ~ ! ^____^
The best simple and understandable example I've seen .
Thanks Matt, I bought some Phottix Auto extension tubes and a bounce card for my SB-600. I was surprised at the amount of different types spiders that lived in my garden.
Thanks for such a great video. I really like watching your videos although I am a Canon user. I thought I would add something to this video from a Canon user perspective. Problem with cheap extension tubes and a Canon camera is Canon cameras cause the lens to open to it's widest aperture. If a canon user bought cheap extension tubes which don't allow aperture control they can use this little trick to keep correct aperture: Set your aperture while the lens is directly connected to the camera. Then press "dof" button which is usually on the side of the lens and while pressing the button take off your lens and connect it to the extension tubes and back onto the camera. This allows your lens to keep the aperture to stay it is. Using this method camera would have to stay powered on while changing the lens which can cause dust on the sensor but it's the only way I know. I hope it's helpful to some canon users.
Thanks a lot! I will try this on my Nikon as well and get back to you on how it went.
Wonderful video! I've found myself in a fairly tight areas shooting portraits, I love the results of my 70-200mm F2.8 however I can't get a close as a want to my subject ... EXTENSION TUBES to the rescue! Well done!
I was not familiar with extension tubes...found your video very helpful. Thanks!
Holy cow! I need them extension tubes *so* badly. Thank you - NIKON dude.
lol, I got to say i've grown a greater appreciation for your channel. I mean you don't delete or block people who have a comment or arguably is pointing out a short coming in a review etc. :)
Very interesting and useful video to see how these work, and the effect they have on photos. Thanks.
Very helpful demonstration.. I already have the tubes and lenses but this will save a lot of trial and error.. Thank you !!..
From Toronto , thank you , good video and I am now off to give my Kenko extension tubes a try out .
Excellent as always matt. Gotta get myself a set now.
the point of these tubes is they allow you to get macro - or close - with a standard lens. That is why. Few people would use tubes on a macro lens.
@QuarterCrawl sorry to say buddy - that IS the budget option - as opposed to buying a dedicated macro lens, this can turn all your lenses into macro... everything comes at a cost :)
Made up my mind to get some extension tubes. Thanks Matt for a job well done.
So difficult to find a guy with NIkon in TH-cam. I just subscribed.
Thanks Matt for the uploads. Top shelf video
@JohnnyVFFonseca I think you are looking at the wrong one mate, they are under $200 for a full set.
guy in car calling cops: " there's a pervert taking pictures behind the bushes"
lmfao
my pleasure
Matt I am just learning about extention tubes and found this most helpful.Amazing
Thanks for the Vid.
Very useful video with great comparison demo!!
Excellent video, Matt!
My friends hate on my extension tubes because they don't know how to use them. But for the 15 bucks I paid on amazon for a small set, it gets the job done nicely. Far better than me having to spend money on new glass just to get some macro shots (which personally, isn't the type of photography I'm into)
Great help. I think one of these tubes came with my fish eye lens. I am now excited to go give it a try to see if that is what it is .
With Kenko's (and some other more-upper-end tubes) AF is maintained. However, AF is slow and rather tricky with macro because your depth of field is razor thin. This means that your breathing could throw off the AF and just make it "swim" back and forth. It really just ends up being easier to go onto MF and then move around :)
Great video! REally simple explanation and example pictures.
Before I was thinking to buy a macro lens and it's too expensive after that I saw ur video and that's help me alot to think again about what I'm tried to buy .. so... thank u matt for that video
Informative demo Matt. Thanks, I've been considering the extension tubes or a teleconverter.
Great video, Matt. I just got the tamron 180mm macro for Sony A65, but I have not had any time to play with it. Maybe you can set your tamron to 90mm and 180mm to do a comparison video to the tamron 90 and 180 true maron.
Another super helpful video from that nikon guy, thanks a million !!!
Thank you for this. This has definately helped me decide on purchasing this set.
Yesterday I did something ridiculous... on my D5100 I put on a set of F-mount extension tubes, then an M42 to F-mount adapter and then another set of M42 extension tubes. The lens I used was a Carl Zeiss 50mm F1.8 and it got amazingly close.
Wow! what else can I say Matt.. something else your chanel has shown me!
Thanks alot bud, am loving this chanel chock-block full of awesome information
Awesome demonstration man..
It is a good tutorial and I like the way how you used your fingers to protect lens touching the wall while taking close shots.
I bought you a beer do not forget to download asap.
Excellent stuff, just a beautiful thorough instruction just the way I wanted! Thanks at ton, Matt.
Thanks for the well presented informative presentation
Thank you. You explained this topic very well.
Thanks. Very good demonstration.
@garrickTT yes
Very helpful. Extreme end needs tripod and longer exposure. Might be getting a set. Thanks
@timjonasd hmmm, if you start with a great prime, and add tubes, it could be very high quality - and maybe better than a cheap macro.. but generally speaking you may loose some quality - but I know pros who make large commercial prints using ext. tubes.
Your video has been a great help. I've just gone ahead and ordered one.
Thanks for that Demo..... I like the effects ! sure not as Good as a Super Lens could give us but... Fun to play and experience with !! once again.. thanks for taking the time to make this movie !
They would. But make sure to buy automatic ones. Not for the focus which you should not put on auto anyway if working with these. But for aperture and time automatics. The mechanical ones (the cheap ones) will only work with lenses that allow to manually change the aperture (which the kit lens does not do). Have fun!
great video Matt
Nice video. This was very useful in helping me figure out how to use my extension tubes. Granted, I just have an old m42 set from Vivitar (Picked them up today, along with a tele converter for $2.50 US), but they should offer some interesting photo opps I didn't have before. Thanks for the info!
just recently got the kenko extension tube set as well as a kenko 1.4 teleconverter, haven't used them much yet though.
Brilliant demo of extension tubes Matt. I wonder how these would compare to a Canon 500D macro lens which is a single glass element you screw on the front of the lens. They seem to get favourable reports. It would make an interesting comparison. Have ever tried one?
@ErezShory there are lots of options - I do find the kenko good, reliable and good value - check out the link :)
I like this, your old videos were more about information than nowadays sleezy photo shots and dirty jokes
there is another strap called the C-loop that has the same kind of set up that is sold on amazon. If you are still interested in that type of strap i suggest to look that one up too :)
Thanks for making things clear especially with using a zoom lens as well
@TheAutotoys yep, plannign to film that this weekend.
Puts a tear in my eyes.
nice video matt, with same lens & camera which is better result ? use reverse lens or extention tube for macro ?
Maybe few, but they are the best. Tubes + reverse 28mm manual lens = mega macro.
Really well done video!
Very useful. I've just ordered some! Thanks
@samwall1234 yes, sure can
that's how they work thanks for the demo
Hi Matt, my 120-300 lens for wildlife isn't a true 300 when close focusing. Would extension tubes magnify the image if I were to stay in the same spot?
That was insane ! I'm getting an extention tube
Thanks Matt Granger good review. I have some jewellery to shoot with my Nikon 50mm 1:4 will the extension tubes give me a better image than say just cropping the image in 'post'. Plus is it possible to get a image without the shallow DOF.
It's better to take the image at a closer distance without cropping because the uncropped image will have a higher resolution when viewed at the same size. For a wider DOF just increase your aperture (F8, F11, etc)
+erikirl01 hi I was using the 24-85 with these and using over f18 and still couldn't get more dof
Glad you found it useful. The link is back up fyi
Great example. It's much easier to understand when its demonstrated rather than read.
can you get same quality as a macro lens with extension tubes? great vid Matt
Can you do a video with extension tubes macro'd in vs a real macro lens? and show the pictures side by side.
Dear Mazzecake
I bought the mechanical ones two weeks ago and my D5100 does not work with them. The camera tells me i got no lens on if I use these. This really only works if you can set the aperture on the lens - which does not work with the 18-55 kit lens - which is a guilded lens. And David's question was about this lens.
Thanks for doing that exercise that was helpful.
Hi Matt,
Does the tubes that you used have electric contacts from the lens - through the tubes - to the camera?
If none, how do you control the aperture as well as the metering from the camera?
Hope you could help. Thank you!
Because the camera has electronic pins in it which the lens also has which talk to each-other when the lens is attached, the cheap extension tubes off ebay do not have the little pins so the camera can not talk to the lens. You will have to shoot in full manual mode with a lens that has a manual aperture.
Matt, your videos are a great source of help...
i was occupied in the dilemma of extension tubes.. and your video just cleared my concepts.
a BIG THANK YOU ! :)
just one question, can i use the Nikkor Micro 40mm on an extension tube and get better results than the 50mm on ext tube ?
Thanks Matt.
Good videos. keep them coming.
thanks matt that was very informative
Just recieved my Kenko Auto Tubes, enjoyed your video, I have a 50mm Nikon 1.8g and a 18-140mm nikon, which one would provide the best Macro shots?
I'm amazed at how many are missing the point of the video. The cost of extension tubes vs the cost of a true quality macro/micro lens. Not to mention how versatile all of a person's lenses become.
When I use a extension tube on my Fuji xc35mmf2, will I have a portraitlens 50mm with it, or can you only use it for macro photography?
When you use this extension tube with an antofocus lens, you can't change the aperture, right? So we can't adjust the DOF of our photo?
Thank u very much Mr. Granger!
I am a Big Fan from the USA
Im glad you mentioned the sensor charge. I always try to turn it off because it just seems proper. I may have read it in the manual but i have forgotten a few time and been horrified with myself
pleasure
Hello matt, i have a question,
Do extension tube reduce the picture quality ?
Can i use 36mm + 20mm extension with my 50mm F/1.8 Nikon Lens for using portrait shot ? Will it reduce picture quality or F number ?
No. You cannot focus far subjects when extension tube(s) are attached.
Thanks! Good episode - interesting to see these and how they work. BTW - can you tell me please what type of strap that is that you are wearing too? :) Thank you!
Can't wait to experiment with my extension tubes! High f stops with a tripod whenever possible.
Thanks I have been looking for a good video on the tubes thanks great video.