Extention tubes - worth considering?

I'm trying to find some info on extension tubes, so any advice will be gratefully received.

Having spent a small fortune on a couple of new lenses I can't afford to buy a decent macro lens yet.
So..... until I can afford a macro lens I was wondering what your thoughts are on extension tubes.
I have done a 'search' on YOP but still not come up with the info that I was looking for.

I think the majority of close up shots I'd take will be flowers and insects.

I took this yesterday, with my canon ef-s 18-200 IS, but couldn't get a close as I wanted....would it be possible to get closer with extension tubes?



The item in the link below is the only one that I can find that says it is compatible with my lenses (even the Kenko ones that I've looked for do not say they are fully compatible)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AF-Extension-T...A1%7C294%3A200

Or how about this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=260421541050

Think with some extension tubes you will have to manual focus where as others are linked to the cameras electrical system and the AF will still work. The later are usually more expensive and you would expect. Think Zoundz has some tubes why not PM her and ask she answers you question.

Most true macro lens will take a 1:1 shots where as most tubes will take shots at higher magnification. Believe Z

You've two options:

1. Extenstion tubes have no glass but allow you to use same lens to focus closer.

2. A Teleconverter contains glass elements and will multiply the focal length of a lens.

If it is macro work you're interested in get some extension tubes. cheap, non brand is fine as they are essentially empty rings.....which allow you to get much closer with the same lens.

If you want to make your 200mm a 400mm (for example) then get a 2X teleconverter so you dont have to physically get as close.

It's worth remembering an f2.8 lens with a 2X teleconverter will become effectively an f5.6 lens (two stops lost). Shutter speed will be slower, obviously, which may affect your photography if the light isn’t good.

Hope that makes sense.

I just got a set of them, havnt really played with it much, but they area quite a handful.
higher magnification accentuates minute hand movements a lot!
you can also consider reverse mounting a lens. I also have that set up..

Here's one I did some time ago.
this is not as cropped as that other bug shot I did w/ the Micro Nikkor

shot w/ a pentax k10d and some old lens reverse mounted, 540 fgz fired off remotely




and my extension tubes, i just got from ebay, 10 USD, not contacts, so no AF and no metering..(same goes for reverse mounting)...it's a good way to flex those photo skills in reading light...

I dont have any shot w/ the extension tubes worth posting, maybe this weekend, i'll play with it some

/just had to say - what an unusual bug that is!!! nice shot!/

I would give them a go OB - you could always sell em if you didn't like them

quite was...dead bug....i had it in a film canister for about a week, and those weird things were growing out of it. My GF then told me it could be fungus, and to use gloves....

They're not the easiest things in the world to use, but they're not the hardest either - they are harder when attached to a dedicated macro lens, but having said that, the pictures you get are much more rewarding. I have to say, when I use them without my macro lens, the difference isn't great, and not really worht bothering with.

You could try a reversing ring until you can afford to splash out on a macro? There was some info on here about them, but I can't find it now, though I'm sure google will help.

Equally, a good set of tubes costs around £100.

xx