How to Use EXTENSION TUBES for Close Up & Macro Photography (With Canon EF f/1.8 STM Lens)

How to Use Extension Tubes for Close Up & Macro Photography. In this tutorial I show you how Extension tubes can be used as an alternative to the more expensive macro lens. I go all through the advantages and disadvantages whilst demonstrating techniques in the field and sharing images from my photo shoot. Tips include: focusing range and loss of infinity, reduction of light, vignetting and sharpness.
I'm using a cheap set of unbranded tubes and pairing up with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens on my Canon 1DX body. Personally, I think extension tubes can work well with a prime lens. In this video I'm using both a 13mm and 21mm tube. Do you use Extension Tubes for macro and close up photographs? Do they work well for you? Let me know in the Comments Box.
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This video was filmed with a Canon M50 and 15-45mm lens.
Equipment: Canon 1DX Mark i; Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens; Unbranded Extension Tubes - 13mm, 21mm and 31mm
Music:
Dusty Rhymes by Freedom Trail Studio
Eternal Garden by Dan Henig
Veracruz by Quincas Moreira

[@CZOV]

You get vignetting if your extension tubes are longer than your lens focal, i.e. adding 25mm extension on a 24mm lens.

[@LouisaLee63]

My first “macro” lens was an old Nikon 50mm manual lens (aperture set using a ring on the lens) and a single Nikon extension tube (something like 24mm) I bought together used for less than $100. It taught me patience and gave me some super sharp images. Highly recommend starting with that setup then moving to a dedicated macro lens. Great video!!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I definitely agree with you, a good place to start.

[@toms2145]

I really liked this episode. Thank you for all of the helpful information. ✌️❤️

[@bricoschmoo1897]

Hi! Thanks a lot for this video. It would have helped me a lot when I started looking into doing macro, so I trust it will help beginners ! Nowadays I use a dedicated macro lens (Olympus 60mm f2.8, I use a micro four thirds camera), with extension tubes (from Kenko, haven't had an issue yet), that I modified to be able to use the Olympus 2x teleconverter on the macro lens. To that, I sometimes add a Raynox macro lensto achieve tremendous magnification ratios. This setup is extremely light hungry and the depth of field almost always requires focus stacking. When combining all of this, I need to add an artificial source of light. Love the composition on the pics you showed here! Now I want to go out and try to get some pics in the same vein haha

[@victorreyna2787]

Good video!

[@nsbhagwat]

Thanks for the video.

[@asiablue195]

This is SO helpful.

[@haroldhobbs1184]

Great video Paul the plant with the big leaves is called a gunnera

[@susanfirth2279]

Good video Paul. You make it look so easy. I have both a dedicated 100mm Canon Macro Lens as well as a set of I think they are Kenko Extension tubes. This video has given me some inspiration to get out in my garden before everything goes to seed for the winter and try both my macro and extension tubes.

[@ianpawson1356]

Thanks Paul, off to Dumfries tomorrow for a much needed break and to try and get my mojo back for photography. My extension tubes were probably not much more and have two 36mm, a 20mm and two 12mm. I'll be going to a national trust garden to try this out

[@christopherberry8519]

You get less vignetting with tubes. You don't get better optical quality than air... over glass - the difference is the glass you're using isn't designed for as flat a plane as a macro lens. Back in 1994 I bought my first adapters from Jessops in London... the guy tried to persuade me that Nikon tubes had better optical quality over their own brand... Hysterical!!!

[@withvinayak]

I would like to see a macro session here with probably canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens. Tripod would be good I guess especially for insects and bugs. Nice video cheers!!

[@shelleynobleart]

Brilliant! Thank you!

[@tintin69rr]

I tried a set of these off eBay and ended up giving away as was going to bin them one of them wouldn’t lock the lens in place and the lens just spun 360 making a horrible scratchy noise and scraping the plastic inside the lens barrel I then tried a set of meike a and the fitted better but still not as good as the canon but ok for a mid price set I also tried the meike Af reversing ring where it’s like 2 spacer rings one fits on either end of the lens with a wire connecting both parts that way it allows full af while the lens is on the body back to front lol I’ll find you a link

[@messylaura]

i used to use regular extension tubes but since i discovered the bluetooth tubes no turning back you get two adapters, one for the camera, and one for the lens then they communicate with each other as you use the camera, you can place the lens anywhere doesn't have to be in a straight line, they say 10 meters but i found its more like 5 meter max working distance with close ups you can put the lens on a mini tripod and you don't have to be all in the weeds etc

[@bricoschmoo1897]

Didn't know those existed :o I'll look into that !

[@Fluffy-777]

Wow

[@braclo93]

That's not a good solution at all. Lenses work by focusing light directly on the sensor. A Bluetooth adaptor (if that even exists, tbh sounds like you're trolling), would have to redisplay what the lens is seeing on a screen to be captured by the sensor in the camera. Even a high resolution screen (e.g. 4K) is only around 9MP. Even the lowest resolution sensors are usually at least 24M, so you would be losing a lot of resolution. This just makes no sense what you're describing.

[@paulbaldwin2290]

Great advice Paul as usual love the droplets 👌I was right in guessing it was a leaf😉where were you with leafs this big?

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Temple Newsam.

[@alanrogers6885]

Great video, I recently bought a sigma 105 F2.8 macro lens but could not get on with it, so getting the 50mm F1.8 STM and the canon or kenko extension tubes might be the answer, how do you find the canon 25II extensions tube on the 50mm F1.8stm lens thanks.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

The 25mm tube works really well on that lens.

[@BillynBertie]

Just started with AF extension tubes and find some great effects with my Nikon D3500 camera with its kit lens. However I am trying to take sharp insect shots and as the subjects are not 'flat' I find it almost impossible to get a sharp focus on more than one particular point, such as eye or wing scale and so on. I am using single point focus, but perhaps I need something else to give me more general focus for the whole subject. What should I be doing to get a greater depth of field with my extension tube in terms of ISO setting or aperture setting. I tend to do my photos in aperture mode. Your advice would be very welcome.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

It is very difficult. I would try using a smaller aperture like f/11 but commonly you just can't get everything in focus, so you need to decide which bit to focus on. It can be possible also to back away a little, which will give more depth of field, then crop the photo down later on.

[@adude394]

What a great bit of information here! It's wonderful to know I can get an inexpensive set of tubes for my Canon ES lenses, and therefore I can experiment without a huge cost outlay!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you very much. Yes, absolutely - great way into macro without breaking the bank!

[@pauldlewis3138]

Your last images I think was with the 21mm tube, but the graphic says 13mm .... confused.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Yes, my mistake. It was indeed taken with the 21mm tube.

[@leighann5308]

Will this work on a Metabones adapter on a sony a6000 using a canon 10-18 stm lens. If so would I use canon or Sony tubes?

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I'm sorry, I'm not sure about that combination. It can be tricky so you do need to check compatibility as much as possible

[@matt1170]

Hi I am a novice photographer, would this work on my 58mm lens

[@junoelrosario]

Extension tubes will work on most lenses. As long as you have the correct mount you should have no problems.

[@FeatherzMcGraw]

Last image was 2xmm and not 13mm as stated or was extension tube swapped out after? On the video bit it's not the 13mm on there 😊. Good video!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I think it was with the 21mm tube, yes.

[@usernamemykel]

What are your thoughts about "back button focusing"? Thank you!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

If you search my name and back button you'll find 2 videos i made on this topic.

[@usernamemykel]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography Thank you

[@S4thyaprabhu]

How to get rid of the shadow while using extension tube

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Which shadow do you mean?

[@S4thyaprabhu]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography lens shadow

[@Ericbjohnston5150]

Would it not be better to use manual focus doing macro or closeup? A tripod woulda likely gave you sharper shots.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Yes for sure. I just wanted to show this in common real world situations.

[@sofievanherle4570]

As always: interesting, helpful, inspiring, and instantly making me reach for my camera. (but the sun is too low now here for my MFT camera, DAMMIT!) I've used my extension tubes quite often with my 60mm macro lens, and I like the results. Thanks, Paul.

[@sofievanherle4570]

YES, it's Hosta, and the ridiculously oversized one is Gunnera manicata.

[@sofievanherle4570]

YES for the macro lens shoot with tripod!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Many thanks for that info. Sofie!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Great. I'm going to make that video soon!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thanks so much Sofie. It's amazing to think I can help inspire people through these videos.

[@maxencelemoine4190]

people, correct me if i'm wrong. With a dedicated macro lens, if I use extension tubes, I can focus closer so I can have a ratio more than 1:1, that's right ?

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

That is correct. You can focus even closer.

[@danram69]

why do you not like zoom lenses ?

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I just don't like the feel and weight distribution. But they are often a great option

[@Rob.1340]

👍📷😎

[@silverclifflightshow]

extension tube are crap if you’re looking for low resolution blurry images. Well you’re on the right path use extension tube!

[@ExploringWithCam2018]

Sooo £17 for those unbranded ones and yet you list the expensive canon one...

[@MrDucksBill]

I think I have the same extension tubes he's using I'll link you. I'm in the usa I paid 20 dollars ish.

[@ExploringWithCam2018]

Ive found some thank you anyway @@MrDucksBill

[@nighwish77]

The Canon extender he has listed is different to extension tubes, it an extender for zoom/distance photography, not macro.

[@johnlocke7097]

Phishing Alert I had a KZbin message saying I have won a camera. To my knowledge you have not had a competition, this seems the same as Thomas Heaton landscape photographer had please warn people.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you John. I'm reporting and deleting. Thanks for alerting me. I will never ask anyone to contact me through Telegram.