Macro tubes.....what do you recomend

rgregory1965 · Oct 8, 2011

Im looking for a set of macro tubes....AF for my D7000....any suggestions for me.....brand wise

Overread · Oct 8, 2011

Kenko are pretty much the most popular extension tubes on the market for performance against price; the US market has a one or two other brand options which are not bad/equally as good though I can never remember their names. Kenko (make sure you get the proper Nikon fit) would be the best option I can recommend.

480sparky · Oct 8, 2011

I bought a set of tubes from LinkDelight, one of the TPF sponsors. $90 or so, and they still maintain all auto functions. I'm sure they're not as good as Kenkos, but for the money, they work just fine for me.

Derrel · Oct 8, 2011

Kenko are the best. Adorama sells some lower-cost ones. You really do want to buy ones that have electronic contacts, to keep the lens aperture wide-open until you press the shutter release, so that eliminates the $12 Chinese cheapies from consideration.

My experience is that a 12 or 13mm tube, and a 20mm to 24mm tube are the two single most-useful lengths. The 36mm tube is often too much in my experience,and just is not all that useful.

Edsport · Oct 9, 2011

Lots of deals here. extension tubes | eBay

Overread · Oct 9, 2011

Many of those cheap extension tubes are the kind without contacts inside them; as such you'll have no aperture control over the lens and no AF control either. The lack of AF isn't a problem as most macro is done manually; but the lack of aperture control is very limiting indeed both exposure wise and creatively. They are ok for a test, but honestly if you want to use them get a proper set with the metal communication contacts

TheFantasticG · Oct 9, 2011

I agree with Overread's recommendation and Derrel's findings. I'll add that I've had my Kenko AF tubes over a year, and without the Sigma 150mm being supported off my D7k, the Kenko tube will flex too much and lose contact with the body.

Overread · Oct 9, 2011

Interesting finding since I've never really used the tubes with my 150mm, though I'm surprised to hear that they flex that much. Then again the 150mm should strictly speaking, be used with its tripod collar rather than the tripod mount on the camera body (with the lens supported by your hand if hand holding). I know several photographers who even use them on the big 500mm f4 lenses for closer work and provided that the lens and camera are properly supported then you shouldn't get any problems with the kenko tubes.

rgregory1965 · Oct 9, 2011

how would the tubes work with a 50mm f:1.5

TheFantasticG · Oct 9, 2011

They work fine with my 50mm 1.4G lens. Not much in the way of working distance, even with the 12mm tube.

Overread said:
Interesting finding since I've never really used the tubes with my 150mm, though I'm surprised to hear that they flex that much. Then again the 150mm should strictly speaking, be used with its tripod collar rather than the tripod mount on the camera body (with the lens supported by your hand if hand holding). I know several photographers who even use them on the big 500mm f4 lenses for closer work and provided that the lens and camera are properly supported then you shouldn't get any problems with the kenko tubes.

Aye. I only have the problem when I'm hand holding. Usually it'll happen when I'm trekking between bugs, which is when I have it hanging, not properly supported. Recently (the last three months) I've been using a tripod so I haven't had the problem since.