Meike extension tubes

[Samalamb]

I recently wrote a review of the relatively cheap Meike extension tubes. It can be found here: http://samgoldphotos.blogspot.com/2013/12/meike-extension-tubes.html I think they are a great alternative to a dedicated macro lens, especially when paired to the equally fabulous body cap lens. Here is an example.




JPEG converted RAW file taken with the body cap lens @ 0.3m setting and 16mm extension tube




100% center crop

To give this some perspective, this is a VERY small that was on a Hibiscus flower. There are a lot more examples on my blog... Hope this interests someone out there!

Sam D.

 

[CrisPhoto]

I found the Meike tubes being quite uselesss becsause with most lenses you get a huge amount of reflections at their inner surface.

Very bad design....
--
OM-D + Sam7.5, PL25, O60, O75
P12-35, O75-300

 

[MikeInRomsey]

I know nothing about macro photography so please excuse this dumb question. My wife is keen on taking photos of plants,spiders etc and has recently bought an Olympus EM-5 with the 12-50 lens. She does not need super hi definition photos at this stage but might consider a dedicated macro lens in the future such as the Olympus 60mm. Would these tubes be a useful introduction to macro photography or a waste of money?







Will these tubes work with this combination? Would they provide a significant increase in magnification in comparison to the macro setting of the 12-50 lens? Would internal reflections be a problem with such small sized tubes?



--
Mike Wenman

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www.flickr.com

Canon S40 -> Canon G9 -> Panasonic GX7

 

[Kuppenbender]

My wife is keen on taking photos of plants,spiders etc and has recently bought an Olympus EM-5 with the 12-50 lens.

The 12-50mm has a macro setting. See here for some examples of what can be done with this lens. It might be all your wife needs.

She does not need super hi definition photos at this stage but might consider a dedicated macro lens in the future such as the Olympus 60mm. Would these tubes be a useful introduction to macro photography or a waste of money?

See for yourself in the OP's review. Plenty of examples of how these extension tubes can get you closer still to the subject. They seem very good value for money, and a cost effective way of finding out whether it's worth spending more on a dedicated lens.

Other cheap ways of getting into macro are close-up lenses, reversal rings and legacy macro lenses.

Be aware, though that macro photography starts off cheap, but can get very expensive very quickly (tripods, sliding macro rails, ring lights, macro lenses etc...).

 

[CrisPhoto]

I know nothing about macro photography so please excuse this dumb question. My wife is keen on taking photos of plants,spiders etc and has recently bought an Olympus EM-5 with the 12-50 lens. She does not need super hi definition photos at this stage but might consider a dedicated macro lens in the future such as the Olympus 60mm. Would these tubes be a useful introduction to macro photography or a waste of money?



Will these tubes work with this combination? Would they provide a significant increase in magnification in comparison to the macro setting of the 12-50 lens? Would internal reflections be a problem with such small sized tubes?

--
Mike Wenman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeinromsey/?details=1
Canon S40 -> Canon G9 -> Panasonic GX7

Looks exactly like my cheapo Meike tubes, but branded differently.

You can actually see the reflection on the inner side on the product photo. If you can ignore 20% contrast loss and strange color cast all over your picture, then buy it.

See my post here:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3522091

If I would have buy again (I have the 60/f28 and MeikeRings and MarumiLens, so I have all I need):

• For shorter focal length: I would buy better extension rings with antireflective inner structure
• For medium to long focal lengths: the RayNox 150 or Marumi +3 achromat.

--
OM-D + Sam7.5, PL25, O60, O75
P12-35, O75-300

 

[Samalamb]

As you can see from the article on my blog this is not a problem when used with the body cap lens AND I have not experienced this with Olympus' 45mm portrait lens. It helps to stop down your aperture to at least f/8 and use a flash (this should be done for all macro photography).