TC or ExtensionTube

[Timppa]

Thanks for your input, but I'm more lost now.
So ET will let me get a greater magnification, will not have any quality reduction , but I will have to get closer to the subject as well.
To get a 1.5:1 magnification on my 90mm tamron, I would need 45mm extension tubes. How close do I need to get then to focus? From my current 30cm to 15cm?
And TC seems to be up to debate. Does the focusing distance change, yes or no?
Has someone tested this?

 

[Original katomi]

Not tried TC but ET will allow for a increase of size of image and get closer.
The down side is that you will have a very shallow DOF
Depending what you want to photograph you may want to consider focus stacking
Hope this helps

 

[petrochemist]

Thanks for your input, but I'm more lost now.
So ET will let me get a greater magnification, will not have any quality reduction , but I will have to get closer to the subject as well.
To get a 1.5:1 magnification on my 90mm tamron, I would need 45mm extension tubes. How close do I need to get then to focus? From my current 30cm to 15cm?
And TC seems to be up to debate. Does the focusing distance change, yes or no?
Has someone tested this?

Yes many people myself included have tested TCs, and the focus scale remains correct (unlike my Samyang 14mm/2.8 which reads 0.7m when infinity is focused)

The object distance for 1.5x magnification can be estimated via the thin lens formula. 1/f= 1/s + 1/i (where f is focal length, s is subject distance & i is image distance) I think it works out about 3cm closer than without the tubes, with your lens.

One of my favourite macro references is www.extreme-macro.co.uk which seems to cover all the options

 

[Timppa]

Thanks for your input, but I'm more lost now.
So ET will let me get a greater magnification, will not have any quality reduction , but I will have to get closer to the subject as well.
To get a 1.5:1 magnification on my 90mm tamron, I would need 45mm extension tubes. How close do I need to get then to focus? From my current 30cm to 15cm?
And TC seems to be up to debate. Does the focusing distance change, yes or no?
Has someone tested this?

Yes many people myself included have tested TCs, and the focus scale remains correct (unlike my Samyang 14mm/2.8 which reads 0.7m when infinity is focused)

The object distance for 1.5x magnification can be estimated via the thin lens formula. 1/f= 1/s + 1/i (where f is focal length, s is subject distance & i is image distance) I think it works out about 3cm closer than without the tubes, with your lens.

One of my favourite macro references is www.extreme-macro.co.uk which seems to cover all the options

Very good website! Thanks!


I also found this on a other site:
Plonsky Photography - Using Teleconverters in Macro Photography
Teleconverters
Teleconverters (TCs) also fit in between the camera and lens. They are special lenses that multiply the focal length of the lens. They have an interesting effect on a macro lens. For example, consider a 2xTC. It would enable a macro lens that does 1x magnification the ability to do 2x at the same working distance or 1x at twice the working distance. An advantage is that you retain infinity focus. Some folks argue a disadvantage of TCs is that they degrade the image. While I tend to agree with this argument in other areas of photography, it seems to be much less of a problem with macro photography. Perhaps this is because macro lenses are designed to be sharp throughout the lens rather than just in the middle.

 

[Derrel]

If i recall correctly, my Tamron 90 AF-SP loses focal length as it is focused more closely, and is 73mm at 1 :1....my 90 is at least 20 years old.

 

[petrochemist]

If i recall correctly, my Tamron 90 AF-SP loses focal length as it is focused more closely, and is 73mm at 1 :1....my 90 is at least 20 years old.

My SP90 macro is a manual adaptall2 version & older still , only reaching 1:2, but I wouldn't be surprised if the focal length isn't around there at MFD.

 

[Derrel]

I used to use the Nikkor 300mm f/4 AF-S WITH THE Nikon Tc14e and either a Kenko 13mm or 20mm extension tube.

 

[Derrel]

Your 200-500 with VR might be usable

f/9.5 @ 1/125 second, 80-400 VR with Kenko 20mm extension tube, Fuji S2 Pro dslr.

with a 20mm Kenko extension tube for some types of "closeup" work. I used to use the 80 -400 VR with a Kenko 20 extension tube. It maintained VR and also autofocus.

 

[fmw]

Avoid teleconverters. Even the best of them degrade image quality visibly. You will get better results cropping an image than you will get from a TC. The extension tube will reduce the light reaching your sensor meaningfully. You will have a slower lens. Try using the lens you have and do some cropping to achieve the composition you want. If that doesn't work for you consider saving up for a longer macro lens.

 

[Space Face]

I have 1.4 TC which I have to say I never use it for any type of photography. I just wasn't happy with the loss of IQ. It's quite old so newer ones might be better.

That said, tubes were the way ahead for me for Macro. I never considered the TC for Macro work and until I got my two dedicated Macro lenses ( 60mm 2x mag and 65mm 5x mag) I no longer need the tubes but before that, yeah I used tubes a lot.