MFT Extension Tube Compactible with Olympus Teleconverter

number_5 wrote:

I picked up a generic MFT auto extension tube, and the hole is too small for a Olympus teleconverter. I can't recall, but I think I read it somewhere that there are MFT extension tube that can be used with Olympus TC. Is there a such thing?

Take this with a grain of sand, because it's me saying what someone said someone else said...

But oneofone25 (our resident master of photographing especially pretty grains of sand) tried a bunch and found that only Pixco tubes were close enough to fitting that you could get the last little bit by carving out the inner core of the Pixco tube with a #11 hobby knife.

Addendum:

One thread led to another led to another led to the thread where talks about the technique.

From the beginning, with insect eyes and grains of sand: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/63989150

The actual modification of the Pixco tube: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/64837656

And in their words: "It must be the Pixco brand."

Oh, and the tread talks about his whole stack: Raynox achromat closeup lens, Oly 60mm macro, Pixco extension tubes, Oly 2x TC getting somewhere in the 8x range.

Have fun!

Addendum and warning:

A #11 hobby knife produced "shavings" that are relatively safe. Others in that thread suggested Dremel tools, files, and sandpaper. Keep in mind that when you grind plastic, you produce dangerous dust. You're breaking lots of chemical bonds that make the dust "eager" to form new bonds, and dust grains will form bonds with the tissue inside your lungs, leading to all sorts of health problems. Always wear a proper respirator when using something like a Dremel (I use a Fordom: think "Dremel on steroids") or if filing or sanding dry. You can wet sandpaper with water or oil, or a file with oil to keep it from throwing dust around. Then wipe the work and your tools down afterwards.

Addendum and warning:

Do keep in mind that a #11 hobby knife goes through flesh like a scalpel. You may not realize you've been cut until you find yourself going "where is all this blood coming from?" Also, Xacto, the original #11 hobby knife blade has had a massive dropoff in quality since Elmer's Glue bought the company. The best quality #11 blades I've ever used are "American Line Hobby Blades". The Fiskar Heavy Duty handle is far better than the classic Xacto #1 handle.

Addendum:

Keep in mind that "Pixco" may not be a "brand" in the conventional sense. They may order from a variety of Chinese sources so what fit (or came close enough to mod with a hobby knife) for someone who ordered it last week may not fit if you order it this week.

number_5 wrote:

Thanks!

You're welcome.

oneofone25 mentioned that the TC+10mm+16mm should work. Kind of wondering why the 10mm has a bigger hole.

I have no idea. Generally, there are parts that are standardized between the converters, like my Meike 11mm and 16mm set have the same front and rear mounts and contact bridges. The only differences are the plastic body and (I believe) the ribbon cable between the contact bridges.

Now, back in "thee goode olde dayes" things were a lot different. My Kenko set for Nikon F is 20+ years old, and the internal structures of the 12, 20, and 36mm tubes are all very different, because the 20 and 36 were built to house teleconverters, but were (not tele) converted by Kenko to be extension tubes, while the 12mm is a purpose-built extension tube. None of them, however, solve the problem of getting a Nikon 200mm f/4 micro-Nikkor to work with my Nikon 1.4x and 2x teleconverters. That lens does work with  Kenko 1.4x and 2x converters, however. The Kenkos don't have protruding front elements.

Unfortunately, at this moment no third party makes teleconverters like that for mirrorless systems. The way mirrorless optics work, those would end up being largish, expensive converters.