From the people who brought us the fun Toy Lens from SLR Magic , here comes another very handy and interesting accessory that Micro 4/3 users will love. This new extension tube from SLR Magic made me go ‘Huh? a lens mount adapter?’ when I first saw it. Unlike those extension tubes I used before (on DSLR), this one is compact and …. hey … why is there a ring (the one closest to the cam body) that you can turn? We’ll look at that later on in this ‘first look’ entry.
For those who has not used extension tubes before … or do not know what they are for … here are some info I plucked off the web …
An extension tube is an accessory for cameras with interchangeable lenses, used primarily for macro photography. The tube contains no optical elements; its sole purpose is to move the lens farther from the image plane. The farther away the lens is, the closer the focus, the greater the magnification, and also the greater the loss of light (requiring a longer exposure time). Lenses classically focus closer than infinity by moving all optical elements farther from the film or sensor; an extension tube simply imposes this movement.
The extension tube feels real solid! I was very excited because I love shooting closeups (though I’ve ‘retired’ from shooting insect macros for years already) and this one … coupled with the Toy Lens is going to bring me lots of joy!
Remember the ring on the extension tube I mentioned earlier? The extension tube extends (a little) when you turn it fully. When fully extended … you can focus closer to the subject and thus get a bigger magnification. Cool ain’t it?
Image below is when the tube is fully extended. In the past, the extension tubes I used came in different lengths and thus I had to switch between them to get the working distance I want. This one some how ‘automates’ it! Coolness! Do correct me if I am wrong … because I’ve only used a set of Kenko extension tubes in the past.
Enough of all that jazz. Let’s get to the exciting part … how close can you go? You can actually go as close as about 2cm from the subject. Sorry I didn’t really pay attention to the exact distance last night. Hahaha! Anyway … I’ll let the photos do the ‘explaination’ …
Image (above) taken with the extension tube fully extended.
Image (above) without the extension tube extended.
Image (above) taken with just the Toy Lens. That’s the closes you can get to the subject without the extension tube.
Pretty neat ain’t it? Now we can put the Toy Lens to more creative use … getting close to every single thing we see. I’m even considering trying to shoot some insect macros with it … but that will have to wait til I find the time to do so in the weekends.
Here are some test shots I took last night …
Looking thru Diana Multi Pinhole Operator’s viewfinder.
That’s all for the ‘first look’ entry. More photos coming up after the weekends. 😀 I’m sure some of you are wondering … ‘where can we get one?’, ‘how much is it?’, ‘does it work with other Micro 4/3 lenses?’ … right?
Well … you can get it from SLR Magic by emailing support@slrmagic.com because there are limited units available now. Price is US$99.
As for the last question … the answer is ‘yes’. The extension tube works with any other M4/3 lenses too.
P O I S O N !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I shall call the police……..
😉
@Ta : But weren’t you the one who started me with their product? >:D
Well……..Hee!
I sent them an email.
@Ta : Well … why am I not surprised at all? 😛
Wah! That is some serious super macro. Thumbs up!
@Doublechin : Stop pulling my leg. These are rubbish compared to your super magnified, super sharp and super everything insect macro. Oh … as for your super self portrait that day … hehehehe! :X Can I upload the video?
Mine’s on its way….
P O I S O N !!!!
😉
@Ta : Glad you drank the cup of poison! 😛
Just the let you know that the sweet poison has arrived. Now it’s time to find some creepie crawlies……YIKES
@Ta : Congrats on your newborn! Muwahahha! I was thinking of shooting some of them crawlies but I’ve yet to find time to go lurking in the parks without my boy. I’ve not touched insect macro for … maybe … ermm … 5 to 8 years? 😀
Been playing with the ToyLens and the Extension tube…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ta-king/sets/72157626441064642/
🙂
@Ta : Yeah I saw the photos. I bet you love this lens + tube combo. 😉
ํำํAndrew, Yes I do…but there must me more to macro than flowers….Let’s see what I can do.
@Ta : The flower stuffs are beautiful! Wish I have time to do more macro like you. Insects will be great fun subjects with this combo.
Andrew, Focusing is very hard I found but very challanging. Brilliant fun!
@Ta : That’s the fun of it. Struggling to focus, focus (or try to) … then get the photos we want. 😀
Great Photos, how did you take the clock shot with the moving second hand like that anyway.
@Krishda : Thank you. You mean the photo of my watch? Well I shot it indoors and thus the low light demanded a long exposure. During the long exposure (not too long though), the second hand was moving and thus the ‘movement’. 🙂 Hope that explains it.
Thank you for your tip,I’ll try with my watch 🙂
@Krishda : No problem at all. Have fun!
ohh my god you are killing me,. with your pic and review, by any chance this work with the 35mm lens for my olympus? many many thanks. and i can not find it in ebay what is the tag? thanks
@dion : Hahahaha! Yeah this should work with the 35mm as well. 😉
@dion : By the way … I think this extension tube should work for any other M43 lenses.
cool man, thanks alot….
this tube can be easily bought in singapore right?
you rock!!
@dion : I’m not sure if this tube is available here. I bought it from the same eBay seller (SLR Magic). 😀
its okay, thanks a lot my friend
cheers from indonesia
@dion : No worries. Have fun! 😉
If you use this extension tube with other m43 lenses (or even with this lens!), do you get the electronic aperture control? I was reading this was a concern with some other macro tube ideas, like using an adapter+legacy lens.
@Craig : Nope. The apertures are manually set on the lens.
Thanks! Downside is that my other lenses don’t have that manual setting :).
I’d reaaaally like to do some macro photography, but I’ve already spent enough on the camera this month. Trying to decide whether to spend the $220US+shipping on this lens+macro extension, or $650 on a Craigslisted Leica 45 :P.
@Craig : Hmm … tough choice eh? Close your eyes and try imagine them both. Which one makes you smile more? 😛
>.>
I found a $14 extension tube that will serve nicely until the money flows again.
Yours is good advice for life, however! 🙂
@Craig : That’s a great deal! I bet it works great as well.
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