Tuesday 10 July 2012

Macro Photography using Extension Tubes - What are Extension Tubes?

There is something magic about Macro photography that we all love doing and using the right equipment delivers amazing results that can take your breath away. 

A Macro Lens can start at about $500 up to $1500 or even more, and this is where I discovered Macro Extension Tubes, they turn any lens into a macro lens for life size photography. Macro Extension Tubes have very exciting results for half the cost of a new lens.
Auto Extension Tubes
You can get Manual Focus or Auto Focus Extension tubes, for most subject you shoot Manual Focus is easier because in Auto the camera might have trouble finding focus so close.

Each Tube has a multiplier effect on the minimum focusing distance.

For Example the Canon EF-S18-55mm IS Lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.25m you can get:
1.5x = 0.16m
2x = 0.125m
3x = 0.083m.
1.5+2+3x = 0.027m




So you get get so close to anything at all. This is how close you can get without the tubes:

This is how much closer you get using the tubes:

1.5x Tube

2x Tube

3x Tube
1.5x + 2x + 3x Tubes

I would love to give you a demonstration so come in and see me at Macarthur Camera House.