Can extension tubes or teleconverters make a 60mm macro lens behave like a 100mm macro?
Asked 3/18/2019
1 views
2 answers
0
I have a Canon EF-S 60mm macro lens and would like something closer to a 100mm macro setup, mainly for the longer working distance. Can an extension tube or teleconverter make a 60mm macro lens effectively act like a 100mm macro lens? If not, what is the practical alternative?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
4
No, an extension tube doesn't really increase the focal length of your lens, it just allows it to focus on closer subjects.
Assuming you want to shoot subjects farther away than with the 60mm, to turn your 60mm into a 100m, you would need either:
- a teleconverter/tele-extender) (a lens that that goes between the lens and the camera): extenders are rarely compatible with short focal lengths, the good ones are are pricey and are really designed for prime telephoto lenses. And these lenses are also designed to work with extenders...
- a teleside converter/telephoto conversion lens (a lens that mounts like a filter on the front element). Assuming you find one of decent quality, it could still produce very soft pictures when focusing in the "macro" range.
The real question is whether the resulting definition of your pictures is still the same. If you get a 2px blur/softness, you are better off cropping the picture from the plain 60mm.
The non-IS Canon 100mm is easily found on the second-hand market. Tamron and Sigma also have very good macro lenses in the 90-110mm range
Originally by user75947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75947
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No. An extension tube does not change a lens into a longer focal length; it only lets the lens focus closer. So it will not make a 60mm macro behave like a 100mm macro.
A teleconverter is the only accessory mentioned that could increase effective focal length, but in practice they are usually not suitable for short macro lenses. They’re typically designed for telephoto lenses, compatibility is limited, and image quality can suffer.
Front-mounted telephoto conversion adapters also exist, but the community notes that even if you find one, image quality may become quite soft, especially at macro distances.
If your goal is the working distance and perspective of a 100mm macro, the practical solution is to use a true 100mm lens and, if needed, add extension tubes to that lens for closer focusing. In short: extension tubes help a 100mm lens focus more like a macro, but they won’t turn a 60mm into a 100mm.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI7y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro vs 180mm Macro: which is better for macro and general use?
Can you use a teleconverter on a macro lens, and what are the limitations?
How does extension tube length affect magnification and focus distance on an 18–55mm lens?
Are third-party extension tubes a good alternative to Canon's for macro work?
How can I increase magnification when my camera-to-subject distance is fixed?