Extension Tubes
5,046 posts
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Posted 17/08/2007 - 16:13
I would say too expensive.
I cannot be certain but they look very much like a set I bought years ago from Jessops. ie not Pentax brand. They did not fit very well and got stuck...i threw them away.
I recently bought a Pentax set on ebay....a manual exposure set for about £30. Much better quality and no nasty graunching noise when fitting them to the camera.
Working this close you dont need auto exposure.
Peter
My Flickr page
I cannot be certain but they look very much like a set I bought years ago from Jessops. ie not Pentax brand. They did not fit very well and got stuck...i threw them away.
I recently bought a Pentax set on ebay....a manual exposure set for about £30. Much better quality and no nasty graunching noise when fitting them to the camera.
Working this close you dont need auto exposure.
Peter
My Flickr page
Link
Posted 17/08/2007 - 16:30
pschlute wrote:
I would say too expensive.
I would say too expensive.
I'd agree with this, if it is manual focus only.
Quote:
I cannot be certain but they look very much like a set I bought years ago from Jessops. ie not Pentax brand. They did not fit very well and got stuck...i threw them away.
I cannot be certain but they look very much like a set I bought years ago from Jessops. ie not Pentax brand. They did not fit very well and got stuck...i threw them away.
My experience with a set of Jessops PK/A tubes has been excellent. They needed a little (simple) modification before they communicated aperture information between the lens and the camera, but they fit fine and I use them a lot.
Quote:
I recently bought a Pentax set on ebay....a manual exposure set for about £30. Much better quality and no nasty graunching noise when fitting them to the camera.
I recently bought a Pentax set on ebay....a manual exposure set for about £30. Much better quality and no nasty graunching noise when fitting them to the camera.
If I saw a Pentax PK/A or better still, AF, set, I'd probably try and get them.
Quote:
Working this close you dont need auto exposure.
Working this close you dont need auto exposure.
True, but it's still nice to be able to set the aperture from the body.
Link
Posted 17/08/2007 - 17:34
Thanks guys. The item description seems to contradict itself so i am not sure.
It is clearly shown on the item AF PK/A but no visible brand name.
Chris what sort of modification did you have to make.
Camera:|K-7|
Pentax Lenses:|DA12-24/f4 ED AL|DA35Ltd Macro|FA31Ltd|FA77Ltd|FA50/1.4|F70-210|FA20-35 f4/AL|A*200/f4 Macro ED|A50/1.7|A50 Macro f2.8|1.7xAF adapter|
Voigtlander|125/f2.5SL Macro APO Lanthar|
Sigma Lenses:|EX DG 100-300 f4|2X & 1.4X TC|
Flashes:|AF540FGZx2|RingFlash AF160FC|
It is clearly shown on the item AF PK/A but no visible brand name.
Chris what sort of modification did you have to make.
Camera:|K-7|
Pentax Lenses:|DA12-24/f4 ED AL|DA35Ltd Macro|FA31Ltd|FA77Ltd|FA50/1.4|F70-210|FA20-35 f4/AL|A*200/f4 Macro ED|A50/1.7|A50 Macro f2.8|1.7xAF adapter|
Voigtlander|125/f2.5SL Macro APO Lanthar|
Sigma Lenses:|EX DG 100-300 f4|2X & 1.4X TC|
Flashes:|AF540FGZx2|RingFlash AF160FC|
Link
Posted 17/08/2007 - 17:40
The 13mm tube says it is manual focus. I'm not sure this is a matching set.
I have a set of Soligor tubes, AF. I hardly ever use them and am considering selling them. I have only used them a couple of times, and decided they are not for me.
I have a set of Soligor tubes, AF. I hardly ever use them and am considering selling them. I have only used them a couple of times, and decided they are not for me.
Link
Posted 17/08/2007 - 17:49
Clarky wrote:
Chris what sort of modification did you have to make.
Chris what sort of modification did you have to make.
Basically, there are 7 contacts on the camera mount, but only 6 on the Jessops tubes.
But for the camera to swap aperture information with the lens, it seems that the 7th contact needs to be shorted through the metal of the tubes to the lens.
However the tubes are painted, so the 7th contact touches only an insulator.
The solution is to scrape a bit of paint off the tubes, where the 7th contact touches, thus:
Smoke and mirrors, but it works.
All credit to Mannesty for I got the idea for the fix from him. All I did was attack the tubes with a sharp instrument one night. They work fine now, and being able to set the aperture from the body is very handy.
Link
Posted 17/08/2007 - 17:53
Your right Gwyn, So its the tubes that are contradictory not the description. 
Would you be willing to sell off those tubes to a poor Aussie and if so how much. Thanks
Camera:|K-7|
Pentax Lenses:|DA12-24/f4 ED AL|DA35Ltd Macro|FA31Ltd|FA77Ltd|FA50/1.4|F70-210|FA20-35 f4/AL|A*200/f4 Macro ED|A50/1.7|A50 Macro f2.8|1.7xAF adapter|
Voigtlander|125/f2.5SL Macro APO Lanthar|
Sigma Lenses:|EX DG 100-300 f4|2X & 1.4X TC|
Flashes:|AF540FGZx2|RingFlash AF160FC|
Would you be willing to sell off those tubes to a poor Aussie and if so how much. Thanks
Camera:|K-7|
Pentax Lenses:|DA12-24/f4 ED AL|DA35Ltd Macro|FA31Ltd|FA77Ltd|FA50/1.4|F70-210|FA20-35 f4/AL|A*200/f4 Macro ED|A50/1.7|A50 Macro f2.8|1.7xAF adapter|
Voigtlander|125/f2.5SL Macro APO Lanthar|
Sigma Lenses:|EX DG 100-300 f4|2X & 1.4X TC|
Flashes:|AF540FGZx2|RingFlash AF160FC|
Link
Posted 17/08/2007 - 17:56
ChrisA wrote:
Basically, there are 7 contacts on the camera mount, but only 6 on the Jessops tubes.
But for the camera to swap aperture information with the lens, it seems that the 7th contact needs to be shorted through the metal of the tubes to the lens.
However the tubes are painted, so the 7th contact touches only an insulator.
The solution is to scrape a bit of paint off the tubes, where the 7th contact touches, thus:
Smoke and mirrors, but it works.
All credit to Mannesty for I got the idea for the fix from him. All I did was attack the tubes with a sharp instrument one night. They work fine now, and being able to set the aperture from the body is very handy.
Clarky wrote:
Chris what sort of modification did you have to make.
Chris what sort of modification did you have to make.
Basically, there are 7 contacts on the camera mount, but only 6 on the Jessops tubes.
But for the camera to swap aperture information with the lens, it seems that the 7th contact needs to be shorted through the metal of the tubes to the lens.
However the tubes are painted, so the 7th contact touches only an insulator.
The solution is to scrape a bit of paint off the tubes, where the 7th contact touches, thus:
Smoke and mirrors, but it works.
All credit to Mannesty for I got the idea for the fix from him. All I did was attack the tubes with a sharp instrument one night. They work fine now, and being able to set the aperture from the body is very handy.
I understand what you are saying Chris thanks.
Camera:|K-7|
Pentax Lenses:|DA12-24/f4 ED AL|DA35Ltd Macro|FA31Ltd|FA77Ltd|FA50/1.4|F70-210|FA20-35 f4/AL|A*200/f4 Macro ED|A50/1.7|A50 Macro f2.8|1.7xAF adapter|
Voigtlander|125/f2.5SL Macro APO Lanthar|
Sigma Lenses:|EX DG 100-300 f4|2X & 1.4X TC|
Flashes:|AF540FGZx2|RingFlash AF160FC|
Link
Posted 18/08/2007 - 15:28
I have a set of Kenko tubes. They have an AF suffix and claim to be AF tubes. This apparantly means that they can be used with MF & AF lenses, but in manual focus mode only.
Manual focus is no big deal when shooting macro, in fact, I and many others prefer it.
Peter E Smith
My flickr Photostream
Manual focus is no big deal when shooting macro, in fact, I and many others prefer it.
Peter E Smith
My flickr Photostream
Link
Posted 18/08/2007 - 15:40
Gwyn wrote:
You have a PM
You have a PM
Replied to your PM, I hope anyway i haven't used the PM before
Mannesty I am not to fussed about AF but still would like the metering from the body if possible. I know i can get those cheapy tubes from China for a couple of quid but prefer the better quality tubes.
Camera:|K-7|
Pentax Lenses:|DA12-24/f4 ED AL|DA35Ltd Macro|FA31Ltd|FA77Ltd|FA50/1.4|F70-210|FA20-35 f4/AL|A*200/f4 Macro ED|A50/1.7|A50 Macro f2.8|1.7xAF adapter|
Voigtlander|125/f2.5SL Macro APO Lanthar|
Sigma Lenses:|EX DG 100-300 f4|2X & 1.4X TC|
Flashes:|AF540FGZx2|RingFlash AF160FC|
Link
Posted 18/08/2007 - 15:51
Metering works fine on my Kenko tubes, and the Jessops set that ChrisA mentions. The Jessops tubes do need the mod for the 7th pin though.
Chris, thanks for the credit . . . again
I think any tubes will do as long as they have the requisite number of electrical pass-through contacts to convey lens info to camera and vice-versa. Some have even been known to use multiple sets to achieve astronomical magnification. Having ample light of course, is a must.
Peter E Smith
My flickr Photostream
Chris, thanks for the credit . . . again
I think any tubes will do as long as they have the requisite number of electrical pass-through contacts to convey lens info to camera and vice-versa. Some have even been known to use multiple sets to achieve astronomical magnification. Having ample light of course, is a must.
Peter E Smith
My flickr Photostream
Link
Posted 18/08/2007 - 16:30
Mannesty wrote:
Metering works fine on my Kenko tubes, and the Jessops set that ChrisA mentions. The Jessops tubes do need the mod for the 7th pin though.
Chris, thanks for the credit . . . again
I think any tubes will do as long as they have the requisite number of electrical pass-through contacts to convey lens info to camera and vice-versa. Some have even been known to use multiple sets to achieve astronomical magnification. Having ample light of course, is a must.
Metering works fine on my Kenko tubes, and the Jessops set that ChrisA mentions. The Jessops tubes do need the mod for the 7th pin though.
Chris, thanks for the credit . . . again
I think any tubes will do as long as they have the requisite number of electrical pass-through contacts to convey lens info to camera and vice-versa. Some have even been known to use multiple sets to achieve astronomical magnification. Having ample light of course, is a must.
Thanks guys i have never used them before and i have done a stack of reading up on them and would like to give them a go.
Camera:|K-7|
Pentax Lenses:|DA12-24/f4 ED AL|DA35Ltd Macro|FA31Ltd|FA77Ltd|FA50/1.4|F70-210|FA20-35 f4/AL|A*200/f4 Macro ED|A50/1.7|A50 Macro f2.8|1.7xAF adapter|
Voigtlander|125/f2.5SL Macro APO Lanthar|
Sigma Lenses:|EX DG 100-300 f4|2X & 1.4X TC|
Flashes:|AF540FGZx2|RingFlash AF160FC|
Link
Posted 28/08/2012 - 12:07
When you sand off the black paint on these for the extra contact
make sure you have sanded enough for the maximum available aperture
on the lens to be transmitted through all 3 tubes. Very often only
the aperture setting is going through.
You only sand the one spot... just make sure that you do a good job.
Strangely I've got a set of Triplus tubes marked Pz AF with 8
contacts on the body side?
Despite saying AF they aren't AF, but are the Rolls Royce
of extension tubes.... really well made
Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
make sure you have sanded enough for the maximum available aperture
on the lens to be transmitted through all 3 tubes. Very often only
the aperture setting is going through.
You only sand the one spot... just make sure that you do a good job.
Strangely I've got a set of Triplus tubes marked Pz AF with 8
contacts on the body side?
Despite saying AF they aren't AF, but are the Rolls Royce
of extension tubes.... really well made
Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
Link
Posted 28/08/2012 - 12:30
Let's hope Clarky hasn't really been waiting for the last five years for that excellent advice 
.
Pentax K-3, DA18-135, DA35 F2.4, DA17-70, DA55-300, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
.
.
Pentax K-3, DA18-135, DA35 F2.4, DA17-70, DA55-300, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
.
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Clarky
Member
Sydney Australia
Do you think this is a reasonable price for these extension tubes.
I maybe missing something here as the item description says manual focus only but i can clearly see AF on the 31mm tube
Camera:|K-7|
Pentax Lenses:|DA12-24/f4 ED AL|DA35Ltd Macro|FA31Ltd|FA77Ltd|FA50/1.4|F70-210|FA20-35 f4/AL|A*200/f4 Macro ED|A50/1.7|A50 Macro f2.8|1.7xAF adapter|
Voigtlander|125/f2.5SL Macro APO Lanthar|
Sigma Lenses:|EX DG 100-300 f4|2X & 1.4X TC|
Flashes:|AF540FGZx2|RingFlash AF160FC|