Nikon Extension Tubes for macro

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Rogereh

Rogereh

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I have a Kenko 3-piece DG extension tube set for a long time but just never got around to using them. This morning I was looking for something to do and decided to try for a macro shot of a snowflake. I also have a never used iShoot focusing rail that seems decently made. I'm disappointed with the Kenko extension tubes because they have some slack when stacked together with my Nikon 105 macro lens and my D850. So that creates some shake when trying to manual focus. I searched for a Nikon set and could only find (used) the non-auto odd pieces and they were primarily in Japan. I was using the setup in manual so I guess the Auto-AF is not that important but I know that someday I would want to shoot something in AF and then would be back shopping again. has anyone found a good extension tube set that will do the AF. The Kenko set was recommended to me by several people when I was fist shopping for macro equipment.
 
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Like you, I found the Kenko's aren't really very tight and it seems that after a few uses, they loosen up further to the point the electrical contacts fail. A few years back I tried the Vello set, similar to the Kenko's but a little more primative/utilitarian looking. Vello is a B&H Photo house brand. They seem to have noticably tighter mounts and for the little use I give them have held up better than the Kenko's. They support AF and VR functions. If you stack all 3 together, you've got 4 mount surfaces and I don't think any 4 mounts together are going to be sturdy.
 
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Never had an issue with the cheap extension tubes with my Nikon kit, but they were all manual ones with no electrical contacts. Used them with a focus rail and yes, it is laborious and time consuming.

Then I bought a cheap set with electrical contacts for my Fuji system and they worked OK.
 
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I've been thinking about maybe picking up some of the older Nikon ext tubes, but without the contacts they won't be able to pass trough the other things like f/ stops of the newer lens, where you can't manually change them on the lens like the original manual lenses?? I can live with the manual focus for macro.
 
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JDG Photo said:
Nikon has been making autofocus extension tubes for years. They put glass in them and call them teleconverters. I broke the glass in my TC-14E III. I removed the glass and use it a 36mm extension tube.
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This is not a bad idea! In fact, if you got an older Kenko, Sigma, Tamron, some of those had both electrical and screw-drive AF connections. You'd have one "extension tube" that would support both AF-S and AF-D! All with negligible loss of light! And I believe they also have the aperture indexing tabs to support changing f-stops?

That said, I wish Nikon would update the old PN-11 with electronics. I had an article from years back where someone "electrified" their PN-11 (added the contacts and ribbon cable from a donor, off-brand TC). Seemed like a lot of work, but a very cool and usable end product.
 
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I use extension tubes a lot with my Nikon cameras (all DSLrs and no Mirrirless) and lenses. Since 99% of my macro work is done with manual focus and not AF, I much prefer the Nikon all metal extension tubes. They are much stronger than the Kenko and other third party tubes. And they have a wider diameter that reduces the risk of vignetting that can occur with Kenko tubes on certain lenses. If you want to use kenko tubes, try and limit your use to just one tube. Adding a second tubes introduces all sorts of issues already mentioned. My most used Nikon extension tube is the PN-11 tube , 52mm in extension, that comes with a built in tripod collar mount. I use this tube to convert a Nikon 105mm macro into a macro lens with a tripod collar mount. I believe the only way to buy a metal Nikon tube is to et a used one. I got my PN-11 tube on eBay. My other three Nikon tubes I got from a Nikon retailer.

If you shoot with Nikon mirrorless bodies, I am not sure what extension tube works best and whether tubes for DSLRs work. Most of my friends with Z bodies use these extension tubes:

www.bhphotovideo.com

Meike MK-Z-AF1 11mm and 18mm Extension Tubes for Nikon Z

Buy Meike MK-Z-AF1 11mm and 18mm Extension Tubes for Nikon Z featuring For Nikon Z-Mount Cameras and Lenses, 11mm and 18mm Tubes, Shortens Minimum Focus Distance of Lens, Copper Contacts Maintain AF and AE, Aluminum Alloy Bayonet Mounts. Review Meike MK-AF1
www.bhphotovideo.com www.bhphotovideo.com

I would like to know what tubes can work with Z bodies even if AF is lost.
 
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I have a PN-11 and 105mm macro lens, both of which are somewhat old. So, no autofocus. Everything is manual but the combination gives me sharply focused photos at 1:1.
 
MorganP said:
Anyone know why Nikon doesn't make Ex-Tubes with AF? Dose anyone have a theory?
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I'm a canon shooter so I'll answer your question with a question. Where is the focusing motor in Nikons? In canon they are in the lens body, so all you need is electrical contacts.
 
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Rogereh said:
I've been thinking about maybe picking up some of the older Nikon ext tubes, but without the contacts they won't be able to pass trough the other things like f/ stops of the newer lens, where you can't manually change them on the lens like the original manual lenses?? I can live with the manual focus for macro.
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My macro lens had an aperture ring and I can live without EXIF data for those shots. I say had because although I loved it (a Tokina 100mm f2.8) for its small size and weight, because it was a screw drive focus lens, when I got my D850 it would not do the auto focus stacking. I replaced it with a Sigma 105mm f2.8 which works well on the D850, but it is bigger and much heavier than the Tokina and I often regret selling it. I've bought a set of cheap extension tubes with electrical contacts for my Fuji and they work fine so if I want to use extension tubes I just use the Fuji.
 
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I have a set of kenko tubes and they support autofocus and vr. One of them is loser than the other two so I made a gasket out of a thin piece of card stock. Works great. I have no problems with the other two.
 
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Promaster sells an Extension Tube Set with 12, 25, and 35 mm tubes that can be used singly or any combination and keep the cameras auto focus if you want to use it. Good results w/ my Nikon 105 2.8, on a D850 and a Z6ii
 
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FWIW I've had great luck with the Kenko AF extension tubes for my Nikon lenses. It sounds like production quality varies but I've had the same set for nearly a decade and have never had any issues with them, they're not loose nor do they have any electrical connection issues as some report. YMMV...
 
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I’ve become increasingly wary of anything Kenko in recent times. Way to much product variation for my liking. I have come across these JJC auto AF extension tubes. Price looks pretty good too.
 
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Steve W said:
I’ve become increasingly wary of anything Kenko in recent times. Way to much product variation for my liking. I have come across these JJC auto AF extension tubes. Price looks pretty good too.
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The ones I got for my Fuji system are Meike and they too have the contacts for AF and auto stacking.
 
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Like DR, I've been using Kenko tubes on my DSLR cameras for a decade without issue. On my Z cameras I'm using a set of Meike tubes.

For me, the contacts for aperture and focus are more important than build quality. I don't just use tubes for macro. I use tubes with my 600mm f/4 and other long lenses to reduce minimum focus distance for small birds on perches near a feeder or similar images. I use tubes with my 300 f/4 for insect photography.
 
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