extension tubes work best on which lens?

mushy

I'd really like to be able to do some macro photography, would any of the lenses I already own work well when accompanied with a number of tubes?
Any info would be greatly appreciated :thumb

David_S85

Interested in this also. The cicadas are coming up out of the ground, and I'd like to get macros of their eerie and creepy glowing red eyeballs.

gluwater

mushy wrote:

I'd really like to be able to do some macro photography, would any of the lenses I already own work well when accompanied with a number of tubes?
Any info would be greatly appreciated

You won't exactly be doing Macro (true 1:1) but the extension tubes help. I used the Kenko 36mm tube on the 300 f/4 IS to get this shot and your 70-300 has a slightly higher magnification ratio than my 300. That is a very small snake BTW.

mushy

gluwater wrote:

You won't exactly be doing Macro (true 1:1) but the extension tubes help. I used the Kenko 36mm tube on the 300 f/4 IS to get this shot and your 70-300 has a slightly higher magnification ratio than my 300. That is a very small snake BTW.

Cheers for the example shot Gluwater, nice picture

pathfinder

mushy wrote:

I'd really like to be able to do some macro photography, would any of the lenses I already own work well when accompanied with a number of tubes?
Any info would be greatly appreciated

Extension tubes work best on primes, because primes are usually better than zooms and USUALLY focus closer than zooms as well. I see you do not own any primes Don't you want any really good lenses??

You may get good results with your 17-85 IS though. And the 100-400 may give good results also.

For really great macro, try a macro lens like the Canon 100 macro with an extension tube.

You can see some previous threads on dgrin about extension tubes here...

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=2544

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=16632&highlight=macro+Greaper

http://digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=55916

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=45746

mushy

pathfinder wrote:

Extension tubes work best on primes, because primes are usually better than zooms and USUALLY focus closer than zooms as well. I see you do not own any primes Don't you want any really good lenses??

You may get good results with your 17-85 IS though. And the 100-400 may give good results also.

For really great macro, try a macro lens like the Canon 100 macro with an extension tube.

You can see some previous threads on dgrin about extension tubes here...

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=2544

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=16632&highlight=macro+Greaper

http://digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=55916

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=45746

Here I am trying to find a cheaper way to play around with macro's and wouldn't you now it someone tries to upsell me into a brand new lens . I do hear what you're saying Pathfinder and I'd say my next lens will most probably be a 50mm 1.8 which seems to get good reviews around here. But until the $160 AUD is pretty good value for 3 tubes and some experimenting in the garden.
Cheers for your input and the links

pathfinder

The Plastic Fantastic 50mm F1.8 is a great buy, AND will give very good results with extension tubes:D

You can have lots of fun with tubes and your 17-85 IS and the 100-400. Both should let you see and shoot things that you would not otherwise be seeing.

Have fun with extension tubes.

I have a set of tubes in my bag that I am schlepping to Utah this weekend, for just that reason. I do not want to carry a macro with me hiking this weekend, but I will almost certainly see decent small subjects that cry out for a macro lens, so I will use extension tubes on my 24-105 L or my 70-200 IS L. I also brought a 500D, which is a 2 element bifocal that mounts like a filter on the front of a lens and lets it focus closer also. A 500D is about the same price as a set of Kenko extension tubes.

No, I am not packing a lot of primes this weekend either, but if I could, I would