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How to use extension tubes
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Hi all
I was online oin ebay buying a new remote trigger and i came across a set of manual extension tubes at a cheap price
similar to theseso i bought them, they cam today. So few questions:
– Anyone used these with any decent success?
– Can they only be used in Manual mode and not A, S
– Is the shutter time always longI know i should not have bought them, but really only for flowers in the garden until i get a siggy 105 later in the summer
Cheers, DeeYeah, you shouldn’t have bought them. That £13 could have gone so far! :)
What lens were you trying them with? I’m pretty sure you need a lens with an aperture ring to use these
as the lens won’t hold the aperture to where you set it on the camera. That would explain the long shutter
speed as your lens will stop down to f/32 or f/22.I’ve never used a set myself, but I’ve been meaning to get a set.
Some extension tubes have electrical contacts so the camera can still control the aperature, some don’t. If yours have no contacts then the aperature will have to be set manually, thus requiring an aperature ring on the lens.
I’ve only ever used the ones with contacts and with them you lose a few stops but nothing too much.
Someone may correct me on this but I don’t think any lens will auto-focus with them, manual focus only.
Aedan
Cheers chaps, tried these with my 18-55, 55-200 but none have an aperture ring
I think my sigma 300 mm might have, so will try this tomorrow
These are the ones without the electical contacts so its MF all the way.
Thanks and anymore info the better
DeeDoh!!
The sigma lens does not have an aperture ring either, so I guess i am screwed now. Or need to buy a MF lens with an aperture ring or find another way to use existing 3 lensany thoughts?
Thanks, DeeYou can have some limited control over the aperture by attaching an ordinary lens, selecting the aperture you want, then press the aperture preview button and keep it pressed while you disconnect the lens. This should keep the aperture of the lens fixed. Then put on your extension tube and attach to the camera body. Of course if you want to change the aperture you’ll need to repeat.
Just use one to start with. Everything will look very dark so you might have to use a table lamp to get enough light to see what you’re focusing on. Use a tripod and get as close as you can. You may find focusing is easier by moving the camera rather than turning the focus ring. You’ll have to guess exposure to begin with. I’d suggest starting with a coin at the edge of a table. Give it maybe 1/2 a second exposure, take the pic and chimp it to see what you’ve got. Then just guesstimate everything from there on. Jot down your settings so you can get set up quick for the next session. I play about with my HongKong specials every now and again, but I’ve usually forgotten everything and have to start from scratch every time!
Here’s a pic of an aphid strolling along a nettle.
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