You are here

This ATEM (mini) Tips” series of short video tutorials for your Blackmagic ATEM hardware includes tips for all users, from beginner to advanced. Scroll down to see more in the series!

This is a collection of all PhotoJoseph LIVE shows, from the PhotoJoseph YouTube channel. Additional episodes are listed below!

Macro Tube Magic! ► How Close Can You Get?

Photo Moment - April 06, 2018

How close can you get with macro extension tubes, and what lenses work best? In some cases, do you even need the macro tubes to get the shot you want? let's explore!

Products Mentioned In Today's Photo Moment

Videos Mentioned In Today's Photo Moment

 

 

Share
Was that a close enough look for you?

See something on the show that you want to buy?
Head on over to kit.com/PhotoJoseph

MEIKE MK-P-AF3A Automatic Extension Tube
https://amzn.to/2GB5X4N
I like the results of extension tube and will be given them a ride.
I was having trouble understanding how to focus with my new extension tubes until Isaw this video. Great example showing what it looks like in the view finder and then your set up. Helped me out a lot. Thanks!
Hi, new to photography. I see the depth of field is very small, but does it change it you set a closest aperture, or it is a fixed depth of field?
Just like any lens, the smaller the Aperture (which means the bigger the number, because an aperture is a fraction; eg f/22) the larger the depth of field. But in macro work, even a large depth of field can be extremely small. Search for “macro focus stacking” to learn ways around this!
Informative video, but one error in terminology throughout. When you bring out the tape measure and refer to "closest focusing distance" and "focusing distance", you are actually describing **closest working distance" and **working distance**.

Focusing distance is from the subject in focus to the camera's sensor.

Working distance is from the subject in focus to the camera's objective (outermost) lens.

So, if you put (say) 35 mm of extension tubes onto a camera with a 24 mm lens, it won't focus because the subject would need to be inside the lens; that is, the *working distance* is negative.

In that scenario, the focusing distance is still a positive number, but functionally meaningless, because it's now impossible to take a focused image.
Thanks for the info!
I shoot Olympus Micro 4/3rds and a concept was mentioned in one of the streams I follow (fellow Oly shooters) that we can use the extension tubes with the Olympus Teleconverters to be able to use the Teleconverters with MFT lenses other than the 3 pro lenses they are designed for. I even read a thread on DPReview on this topic.

My goal was to increase the reach of my telephoto with the teleconverter and using the extension tubes to get the clearance between the teleconverter and the back element of the lens. I have received conflicting answers on the compatibility between the teleconverter and the extension tubes though.

So I was actually thinking of going that route. However, this video brought some interesting factors into the mix that may be bringing this concept into question.

I was wondering if you had anyone has any insight regarding this concept. Does this sound feasible at all?

Thanks in advance
I’m not familiar with those teleconverters, but I would certainly question the validity of this idea. An extension tube is changing the distance between the lens and the sensor, which as you saw here changes a lot of things about how the lens works. The good news is you can order these things on Amazon for cheap and return them if they don’t work.
Great explination
Very nice video. It’s cool to see how close you can get with extension tubes. Thanks 😊
thanks for watching!
Hi, I'm a bit confused about zoom lenses. If I use a 16mm extension tube on say a 12-60mm lens, will it work OK once it's zoomed in to 16mm or closer, or is a tube of 12mm or lower the only option that would work with the lens full stop regardless of the focal length used? Hope that makes sense, thanks in advance for any insight.
That’s a great question. I’m quite sure your assumption is correct, and that it’ll work once you’re past 16mm zoom, but I haven’t tested it.
Great video and thank you! Does lens image stabilization work with these extensions? I might get a set for my pan 30mm macro just to allow increase distance between sensor and subject while retaining 1:1. However if no ois then that is a drawback...
Great question. If it’s an active tube, meaning it still has Aperture and AF control, then it should. If it’s passive then it definitely will not. But also remember that some cameras have IBIS in the body too, so that will always work.
good video man !! thanks for teaching how to use the macro tubes!!
best regards from spain!!
Muchas gracias! Y de nada ;-)
hi you are great can i use 12 60
Sure!
I probably still prefer focussing manually, but holding onto the metadata and having aperture control are the selling points for me.

I was viewing another cool YouTube video describing one man’s macro - or maybe even micro - videography for a client that wanted mould to look like fields or wheat or forests or alien landscapes. I’ll have to view it again.
Cool! Link it here please if you find it. That sounds neat.
I recommend buying any of the MK-P-AF3C models (not the cheaper MK-P-AF3A or MK-P-AF3B models) because it is "all metal" construction, and the price difference is ridiculous, like $5 or less.
You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address.
Passwords are case-sensitive - Forgot your password?