Re: Do any of your extension tubes mate with the Oly teleconverters?
WileEC_ID wrote:
Coming from Nikon FF land, one of the ways I got more from my 105mm macro lens was to add the 1.4x teleconverter to it.
I noticed that the Oly 60mm macro has no room to accommodate the lens of the Oly 1.4x TC, but wondered if my extension tube might accommodate that, and allow me to add it in - but the inner circle of my extension tubes (Movo brand, Amazon US) were too narrow.
So, if you have the Oly 60mm macro lens AND extension tubes AND the Oly 1.4x TC - will the TC fit inside your extension tubes? If so, would love to know the brand and where you got them. Bonus for if they were a set of three. Double bonus if AF works with all three. TIA.
I have Fotga, Kenko, and Pixco extension tube sets (10mm and 16mm), Olympus MC-14 and MC-20 teleconverters, and Olympus 30mm and 60mm macro lenses.
Kenko tubes are solid, but do not work on the TCs because they are not compatible with the tab that restricts mounting of most lenses. Making them work would require more modification than simply enlarging the diameter. I also don't like them because they use a slider instead of a push button to release, which is not as convenient. I plan to sell them.
Pixco tubes are mostly plastic, but they work in all configurations if the 16mm diameter is enlarged enough to fit the TC protrusion.
I tried two sets of the Fotga extension tubes, and they partially worked. Oddly, they did not work as extension tubes on the E-M1 mk III, and they did not work when attached to the MC-20. They did work when attached to the MC-14, and they did work when attached to the Pixco extension tubes. I'm not sure what the problem was; I did try enlarging the lock pin hole but that had no effect. I have a second set of Pixco tubes coming (I like backup on items like that) so I'll just toss them out.
The 30mm macro lens will work with the TCs and a single 10mm extension tube, because the rear element is recessed in that lens. Working distance on that lens is so short, however, that these enhancements make the lens practically unusable. Not to mention that I really like the display on the 60mm; I can see where I am in the focus range and can set it to the closest focus distance.
Based on my experience, the Pixco tubes are the best solution.