Photography Products: Macro Extension Tubes... Worth the Purchase?

Extension tubes are a useful accessory for newer users of DSLR and SLR cameras. They provide a cheap way of getting macro shots while providing very impressive results considering how little they cost compared to a true macro lens. They work by simply moving the lens forward so you can focus on a smaller subject. Of course you will never get as good of a result using the tubes as you would with a "true" macro lens, but for a first time macro photographer the results are more than adequate.

Unfortunately, extension tubes without electrical contacts, which the majority of them don't have, will force you to use manual focus alone, and in some cases force you to shoot "wide open", i.e the largest aperture, that your lens can achieve. This will mean in most cases a very shallow depth of field. Another issue with them, is that as the lens is pushed further away from the body, the longer the exposure must be to gather enough light to take the shot correctly. This means a tripod is nearly always necessary, and makes shooting moving objects quite hard.

There are many places you can buy extension tubes, and they shouldn't cost you more than 10 dollars/6 pounds, since there are no electronics in most basic models, and no optics whatsoever. Search flickr or DeviantART for a few examples of what you can do with extension tubes. I included a shot of my own for you to take a look at and see what you think.

To summarize, cheap and useful way of attaining macro results, not as good as the real thing, but very impressive for the price, and something I'd consider a great introduction to macro photography.