Macro Tubes: Getting Close on the Cheap

February 9, 2012

in Gear,Lenses,Photography,Reviews

For only $10 you can get macro shots with almost any lens using these macro tubes (you can find the Nikon version here).

I found it didn’t work well with my wider primes but I got good results using a 50mm prime and my 28-70mm zoom.

There are 5 parts to this particular macro tube set. One piece attaches to the camera, then there are three sections in the middle for adjusting how close you can get, and finally the end that attaches to the lens. You can add or remove the middle rings to adjust how close you are able to get to the subject.

Keep in mind these tubes will narrow your lenses range. They are design only to get macro shots, so you won’t be able to turn around and shoot a wide shot without taking them off. For $10 this is fine. They are easy to remove and are a great addition to your lens bag.

The images below were shot with a 50mm lens. First without the tubes to show you how close the lens could get to the object on its own, then you will see the shot with the tubes on.

Macro Extension Tubes

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Tagged as: Lenses, Macro

  • Mark

    Hey Caleb – Do you have any advice for offsetting a camera on a tripod when using one of these?  I have the same extender but find it a little difficult to use because it throws the center of gravity so far towards the lens that my camera starts to tilt down if I don’t support it with my hand (which isn’t ideal for obvious reasons).  Thanks!

  • Matt B.

    Extension tubes are great. I have a set made by Zeikos that have contacts on them that allow you to AF (sort of) and use the in camera meter. They cost me $70 from B&H, but still a heck of a lot cheaper than a macro lens.

  • http://www.brobesfx.com/ Brennan Robideaux

    very nice!

  • http://dslrvideoshooter.com calebpike

    Nice.

  • http://dslrvideoshooter.com calebpike

    Well the manfrotto plates I use let me slide the camera back about an inch which helps. But my tripod is fairly heavy which helps. I guess you could build some sort of plate that gets the camera back farther.

  • Jigsr

    I’ve used these before…they’re much harder to focus with than a magnifier.
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AO2274/ref=oh_o06_s00_i00_details

    as for the quality of the image…for the price of the magnifier, i guess I can’t complain.

  • Andy

    how do these extension tubes compare to the close up fliters you wrote about in an old post?

  • Mikemercuri

    Hey Caleb,

    Big Fan!!! Im trying to get the macro tubes in Toronto and I cant find anyone who ships too Canada, do you know anybody who does?

  • http://dslrvideoshooter.com calebpike

    Well I think they are sharper and obviously work on more lenses because they fit all EOS mount lenses.

    But Lets say you just want to get a little closer to an object not super macro. That is where the Diopters shine as they have different levels that are wider than the tubes. I will do a comparison down the road.