Re: Do any of your extension tubes mate with the Oly teleconverters?
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WileEC_ID wrote:
meow wrote:
WileEC_ID wrote:
john isaacs wrote:
WileEC_ID wrote:
Thanks all for your help on this. You have provided the help I was hoping for. I will invest in a "sacrificial" set of extension tubes that I will shave down. As a card carrying DIYer I have plenty of tools that will allow me to approach this carefully.
Great help - thank you!
I did not shave my Pixco 16mm because the pictures I saw looked like they had lost the black damping and could throw reflections and impact contrast.
I have a set of Pixco and a set of Kenko. I use the Pixco 10mm and Kenko 10mm or Pixco 16mm on either the MC-14 or MC-20. This gives me either 20mm or 26mm extension.
If you really want 16mm extension, then shave away.
The reason Pixco works is because they have a deeper recess on the contacts ring that does not contact the mount-prevention tab on the TCs. I don't know of any other tubes that will work.
Interesting - I didn't read anyone mentioning that tab, so I made the assumption the issue was with the lens element that sticks out from the EC-14. My mistake.
Live and learn.
So thought I. Maybe it's both? Why else would the plastic need shaving?
My Pixcos set still hasn't left China. Last tracking note is from jan 27.
Well - the shaving point completely makes sense - most of the sets seem to have their inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the teleconverter. Peter 1745 provided a lot of great and detailed info about that in the fifth reply in this thread.
I just wasn't aware of that tab - am now and may take a shot at trimming out some plastic to allow for that, too.
The tab isn't an issue with my Fotga extension tubes. The internal plastic ring of the Fotga tubes is recessed with the contacts mounted on a ramped portion (see picture below) . This recess is adequate to allow space for the tab.
Contacts mounted on ramped portion of recessed internal plastic
One the other point raised, that the filed down the plastic is slightly more reflective. This is true but not an issue when mounted on the MC14, as the filed surface is obscured by the MC14's protrusion.
Modified Fotga 16mm tube on MC14
When the MC14 isn't used the extra reflectivity isn't much and hasn't been an issue for me. If it is an issue for you, get another unmodified tube.
Modified Fotga 16mm tube sowing modified area of plastic at rear of internal baffle.
On a minor note, I filed down the 16mm tubes plastic baffle with a large, coarse, round hand file, which I used in a circular, stirring motion. This had the effect of leaving abrasion ridges in the plastic that are parallel to the original baffle ridges and have a similar effect.
I don't own Pixco tubes so can't personally verify the degree of modification they need, but OneOfOne gets superb results with his modified Pixco 16mm tube. Better results than me, but I think it is more to do with his talent than the brand of tube he uses.
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Regards,
Peter
'Keep taking the photos'