Extension tubes and 100-400mmL zoom.

[RJL2005]

With it being quite quiet on the birding front I was thinking about trying to photograph Dragonflies/Butterflies. Can you good folk explain extension tubes to a dummy like me. I gather they allow for closer focus so may save me buying the 100mm macro which I can't really afford at the present.

Thanks

Rhod

[Sandpiper]

Hi Rhod,

In a nutshell, an extension tube fits between the camera body and lens and allows you to focus nearer than the minimum distance marked on your lens. The bigger the extension tube (in mm.) the closer you can focus.

Without knowing which lens you have I cannot be very specific. If you use a lens between 50mm and 100mm, or a small zoom, the benefit of using a tube will be greater than if you use a longer lens; i.e. you will be able to focus much closer. Using a tube on a lens above 300mm will have a lesser effect; i.e. allow you to focus a little closer than normal.

Extension tubes can be purchased in a set. Jessops sell a set of three for around £80, which includes 13mm, 21mm and 31mm tubes. These can be used individually or connected together.

The two main disadvantages of using tubes are shallower depth of field and the need to increase exposure (which your camera should do automatically) to allow for the extra distance the light has to travel to reach your camera's film or sensor.

Hope this has been some help.

Sandpiper.

[Roy C]

Just to add to Sandpiper good answer, you also lose the ability to focus to infinity. Everytime I put a tube(s) on my 400mm lens a nice bird comes along but is always just outside of the maximum focus distance :C

[IanF]

On the other hand I strongly advocate the use of extension tubes with the Canon 100-400mm. They turn the lens into a first rate IS macro lens.

I bought mine on Ebay. It's auto extension tubes you need - one piece ones. They're basically short metal tubes with electrical contacts for your brand of camera mount with no glass at all - so the quality of the lens isn't affected - a big plus over using close-up lenses/filters.

Most come in sets of three, through Canon sell them at exhorbitant prices singly. If buying singly to use with this lens something around 20-25mm is the most useful.

With this size fitted 30-40 yds is about the max focus distance if a bird pops up - but macro can be taken at c.30" filling the frame for butterflies - though you don't need to get that close.

[RJL2005]

Thanks - I think I might give them a go. I use a 30d and have 17-85mm, 70-300mm, 100-400mm L and the 400mm L Canon lenses. Which would be the best approach for large insects?

Thanks

Rhod

[IanF]

I find the 100-400mm to be ideal for use with converters as being an L series lens the image quality is excellent and you also have the versatility of the zoom to help with framing and IS if it's not such a bright day. I use it for dragonflies and damselflies as well as butterflies and moths.

The 400mm f5,6 will give decent results but the minumum focus distance is much much greater so frame fill shots aren't easy to take.

[IanF]

A couple of impromtu photos from this evening with a 23mm tube.

[David Smith]

A couple of impromtu photos from this evening with a 23mm tube.

As this is a new subject to me (I'm only thinking of what to get) can you tell me:-
1) How far away for these shots ?
2) Was there much cropping ?

You mentioned getting yours on ebay-were they 2nd hand or from a dealer & which make did you settle for/why?
Thanks
David

[mjmw]

I have the "Kenko Teleplus DG Extension Tube Set" which are £110 at Warehouse Express - they work very well and I have yet to have any issues - having no glass, the only difference to the much more expensive Canon tubes seems to be available lengths and build quality. As Ian said, make sure that any you buy have the electrical contacts to allow the lens to autofocus, IS and report aperture correctly. I have seen several cheap sets on ebay that do not have the contacts.

Another use for tubes is to allow closer focusing with the longer telephotos, allowing more frame filling images of smaller birds. This is a slightly extreme example in my gallery - it is very nearly full-frame of this 8cm bird.

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/145005/ppuser/28077

As Sandpiper mentioned, notice the extremely shallow depth of field due to the 1000mm focal length and very close subject - opening the aperture beyond f16 would haven given a few millimeters more DOF but the loss in image quality due to defraction would have significantly increased.

Hope this helps.

[Roy C]

Jessops do a set of tubes for £74.99 (Canon AF). I have a set and they work fine.

[IanF]

As this is a new subject to me (I'm only thinking of what to get) can you tell me:-
1) How far away for these shots ?
2) Was there much cropping ?

You mentioned getting yours on ebay-were they 2nd hand or from a dealer & which make did you settle for/why?
Thanks
David

They were second hand for around £40 - unbranded but they look like Kenko Teleplus.

The brand doesn't really matter as there's no glass involved. Kenko and Jessops are just as good as any others. Just ensure they're auto-extension tubes - with the electrical contacts and each tube in one peice in the correct fitting for your camera.

These are all around 60% crops taken from c.3'. You can fill the frame easily with butterflies as the lens would have focussed closer, else you can use a wider extension tube or double them up or use all three - but obviosuly the greater length of tubes used the less light and slower shutter speed and narrower depth of field.

You could get away with using something like 17-19mm as standard, but I found the 12mm didn't give enough magnification when used with the 100-400mm.

[RJL2005]

Thanks again for the replies, especially to Ian - great examples. Going to get a set asap!

Thanks again

Rhod

[Wildman]

Hi Chaps
I have a canon 100mm macro lens,do any of you use this with extension tubes?
I am thinking of buying a 25mm tube for this lens, to do butterflies and dragonflies.
So can anyone tell me how close can you get with this set up.
Cheers.

[RJL2005]

A 25mm tube will give 1.39 - 0.26x with the 100mm macro according to Canon see:

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Macro_Lenses/EF_100mm_f28_Macro_USM/index.asp?specs=1

I was about to get a set of tubes and now the 100mm macro raises its head again :-)

Wildman, how do you find the 100mm performs without tubes (for Dragonflies etc.)?

[Wildman]

A 25mm tube will give 1.39 - 0.26x with the 100mm macro according to Canon see:

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Macro_Lenses/EF_100mm_f28_Macro_USM/index.asp?specs=1

I was about to get a set of tubes and now the 100mm macro raises its head again :-)

Wildman, how do you find the 100mm performs without tubes (for Dragonflies etc.)?

Hi RJL
This lens is a great lens for Hawkers,Darters, and Chasers ect.
But i can get even closer with a tube on the lens for damselflies and small insects.
Head shots of Damselflies is what i would like.
Image stabiliser is the only thing i would like on this lens.
Cheers

[sidwemn]

Hi guys.
Just to point out, you don't always have to get in close to get decent shots of insects. The attached Broad Bodied Chaser was on a small pond locally at the weekend, but was mostly using a perch out in the middle. The attached shot was taken using a 400mm L prime lens with Kenko Pro 300 1.4x TC taken at about 4 metres range. I didn't have the reach with my macro lens!

Cheers
Martyn

[Roy C]

I agree with Martyn. Here is one that I took with my 400mm f5.6 prime from around 3.5 metres with no tubes.

[RJL2005]

Thanks for the info Wildman and excellent pics Martyn & Roy.

Rhod

[tdodd]

Jessops do a set of tubes for £74.99 (Canon AF). I have a set and they work fine.
You can get a set for around £55 delivered on eBay. There is a risk of VAT to be added but the potential for a nice saving. I just placed an order with UR-Galaxy this morning (I've used them before with no problems) for extension tubes, a Kenko 1.4X telecon and Canon 10-22mm lens.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/kenko-canon-extension_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQfromZR40QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ 3QQsbrsrtZl