extension tubes for macro

Hello all you good people.

having lurked and then dived into this forum i ended up buying Chris's extension tubes on ebay and getting a 50mm 1.7 lens for macro work.

being a bit of a novice and just taking pictures for fun and my own enjoyment i thought i'd share some thoughts and my top 10 tips on this route...

1) it's like the old days... all manual. this means that the exposure is tricky to get right... however i have developed a system based on the f stop, the length of extension tubes and the light conditions. i add and multiply things and then just take a guess at what the shutter speed should be. i've yet to lick my finger to establish wind direction, but, as i said, i'm still learning. that 'preview' setting on the power button on the k100d is now finding a use and could be worn out soon. this is ok with flowers, etc, but a tad tricky on things that are likely to move away.

2) attempting close-up and macro shots whilst outdoors and in high winds doesn't produce such good results as indoor test shots.

3) 50% of lizards tested ran away when a 50mm lens was prodded into their face. the one that didn't scarper almost climbed onto the lens.

4)i have developed a new focus technique for all this high tech equipment. i move forward until it's in focus, or move back if i'm too close. you may have to read this bit several times as it is quite revolutionary.

5) it is important to remember that you are using a small lens very close, as opposed to a long lens from far away. you will be made very aware of this when attempting the 'bee on a flower' shot.

6) do not swat the bee. also do not prod an living creatures with the lens... they don't like it.

7) panning a moving caterpillar whilst about an inch away on uneven ground is not a good idea.

in case you get used to the system the sudden realisation that you have changed a lot of settings will become evident when you take a shot with a standard lens on.

9) remember where you put the extension tube(s) that you haven't used. this might explain why the lens you have swapped is taking really rubbish shots now!

10) it's fun. as in point 1, it's like the old days of playing with settings. i think it's very easy to get used to fully auto dslrs, but the extension tubes have given me a chance to play and experiment, rather than just stop, point and shoot. it can be frustrating, especially when the cloud covers the sun just as you have got the exposure right, but it's all part of lifes (sic) rich pageant.

cheers for all the tips and help either personally or in posted threads.

So when will you progress to a 'proper' macro lens and do away with those extension tubes?

Oi!

Them were damn fine extension tubes, them were. Nothing improper about them at all.

As any fule kno, Molesworth, that's what a reversing ring is for. You attach the tubes with it to the front of the lens, and presto, a handy lens hood which doubles as a insect-contact early warning device.

ahhh... but lizards are reptiles. their cold blood wouldn't set off the alarm. i quite liked the idea of it climbing on the lens, but not as i was trying to get its picture. if i had a reversing ring the lizard would be able to look at me and that might scare it.

don't need a macro lens now... i have extension tubes!

You say that now, but wait til you've actually tried a macro lens. No more swapping tubes about, just focus from infinity all the way down to lifesize. Then, you pop the tubes on the macro lens...

Tubes are a great way to get into macro, and have their place for getting unusual perspectives (one short tube on my 16-45 gives really weird shots when the lens is set to 16mm. Granted the subject's actually touching the front element when it's in focus, but it's still a cool view), but if you find you're seriously getting into macro, you can't go wrong with a 'proper' macro lens.

Dan