For casual macro on a Canon 40D, are extension tubes better than a close-up filter?
Asked 7/16/2010
1 views
2 answers
0
I’d like to try some macro photography for hobby use, mainly flowers, but I’m not ready to buy a dedicated macro lens yet. I shoot with a Canon 40D and already have a 24-70mm f/2.8L and a 50mm f/1.2L. For this kind of occasional close-up work, would extension tubes or a close-up filter be the better choice?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
10
I've used extension tubes in the past, with success, but what I did find was that you'll have to manual focus because the AF sensor gets really crazy with tubes. For most macro work you'll want to focus manually anyway, so use your camera's live view.
I would stay away from close up filters. They're bulky and the quality is very poor.
In general, if you don't already own a portrait lens, a macro lens with a short focal length (say, the EF-s 60 or EF 100 macro lenses) can double portrait lenses.
Originally by user92. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user92
16y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For image quality, extension tubes are generally the better choice.
They contain no glass, so they don’t add optical softness, color shifts, or other image-quality issues the way close-up filters can. They also can be stacked for more magnification. The tradeoff is convenience: tubes are less compact and less quick to use than a screw-on close-up filter.
A few practical points:
- Autofocus often becomes unreliable with tubes, so expect to focus manually.
- Live View can help a lot for precise manual focus.
- Your existing lenses may work, but their normal minimum focusing distance may still limit how close you can get compared with a true macro lens.
- For flowers and similar subjects, tubes are a good low-cost way to experiment before buying a macro lens.
So, for occasional hobby macro, extension tubes are the better investment if you care about quality. If you later decide macro is something you do often, a dedicated macro lens will be a big step up in working distance and ease of use.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI16y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Extension tubes vs. reverse adapter for macro: do autofocus and aperture control matter?
How can I photograph ants in macro with a Nikon D90 without buying a 105mm macro lens?
Can I combine extension tubes and a close-up filter on a macro-capable lens?
Can the Nikon D3200 with 18-105mm VR shoot insects and close-up macro photos?
How much better are Canon Mark II L lenses than the original versions?