Stacked TCs - 1.4x III + 12mm Extension Tube + 2x III

[Jack Douglas]

Thanks AlanF, in other words a 7DII could prove to be a nice addition to the 6D, having both handy. I'm really pleased with my new 70-200 F2.8 and I'm guessing that with a 7DII (+_ extender) that might work for BIF??

Plus I have concerns about what I'd be willing to travel with. South American is in the not too distant future and I worry about the 300.

Jack

 

[scyrene]

Just to say, I received my 2x III today, and had to try stacking. I've always used stacked teleconverters (as long as I've had them), and have had some good results with the 2x II + 1.4x III (+500 f/4 II). I used them plus a Kenko 2x recently again to photograph distant offshore birds (eiders and scoters, common here but they almost never come within half a mile of shore).

These are not good shots but they prove it is possible. The gull washing and man are at 5600mm (500+1.4+2+2+2), and in poor light, manually focused. So sharpness and focus are out of the window - also I had to shoot at ISO 10000 to correctly expose. Still, it proves it's possible. The order was lens-2x II-2xIII-12mm extension tube-1.4x III (I think!). I don't know if order matters with regard to image quality. For scale, the man was nearly 1/4 mile away, on the other side of the lake. Both shots are uncropped, on a 5D3.

 

[mackguyver]

I might have to give my set a shot tomorrow - I've had them for a while but a scenario to use them hasn't presented itself yet...

 

[scyrene]

A little update - and a warning! I had the 500 f/4 II with 2x III tc attached, with a Kenko 12mm extension tube behind that, and the 2x II and 1.4x III extenders behind that. I stood the camera upright, lens down (as I often do) on a bench while I fiddled with my bag. The camera fell over (which it sometimes does, and comes to no harm), but it hit the back of the bench and the lens combination just clean sheared in half! Thankfully, the strap stopped the camera falling onto the ground. Predictably, it was the extension tube that had failed - the front part had simply detached. Could have been costly! So be extra careful when mounting big lenses on teleconverters with extension tubes

 

[Jack Douglas]

Very good advice. Obviously the Kenko had me a little worried just balancing on the gimbal and there is detectable "slop". :-\

Jack

 

[mackguyver]

A little update - and a warning! I had the 500 f/4 II with 2x III tc attached, with a Kenko 12mm extension tube behind that, and the 2x II and 1.4x III extenders behind that. I stood the camera upright, lens down (as I often do) on a bench while I fiddled with my bag. The camera fell over (which it sometimes does, and comes to no harm), but it hit the back of the bench and the lens combination just clean sheared in half! Thankfully, the strap stopped the camera falling onto the ground. Predictably, it was the extension tube that had failed - the front part had simply detached. Could have been costly! So be extra careful when mounting big lenses on teleconverters with extension tubes

Yikes!!! All I can say is Yikes!!! I'm glad it didn't turn into a disaster and thanks for the warning.

 

[scyrene]

A little update - and a warning! I had the 500 f/4 II with 2x III tc attached, with a Kenko 12mm extension tube behind that, and the 2x II and 1.4x III extenders behind that. I stood the camera upright, lens down (as I often do) on a bench while I fiddled with my bag. The camera fell over (which it sometimes does, and comes to no harm), but it hit the back of the bench and the lens combination just clean sheared in half! Thankfully, the strap stopped the camera falling onto the ground. Predictably, it was the extension tube that had failed - the front part had simply detached. Could have been costly! So be extra careful when mounting big lenses on teleconverters with extension tubes

Yikes!!! All I can say is Yikes!!! I'm glad it didn't turn into a disaster and thanks for the warning.

Well it turns out the screws (that on the outer surfaces are in metal) are only mounted into flimsy plastic sockets. I thought it was fixable, but the sockets had disintegrated. The whole extension tube is a writeoff. I wonder if (hope that!) the Canon extension tubes are more sturdily constructed?

 

[mackguyver]

A little update - and a warning! I had the 500 f/4 II with 2x III tc attached, with a Kenko 12mm extension tube behind that, and the 2x II and 1.4x III extenders behind that. I stood the camera upright, lens down (as I often do) on a bench while I fiddled with my bag. The camera fell over (which it sometimes does, and comes to no harm), but it hit the back of the bench and the lens combination just clean sheared in half! Thankfully, the strap stopped the camera falling onto the ground. Predictably, it was the extension tube that had failed - the front part had simply detached. Could have been costly! So be extra careful when mounting big lenses on teleconverters with extension tubes

Yikes!!! All I can say is Yikes!!! I'm glad it didn't turn into a disaster and thanks for the warning.

Well it turns out the screws (that on the outer surfaces are in metal) are only mounted into flimsy plastic sockets. I thought it was fixable, but the sockets had disintegrated. The whole extension tube is a writeoff. I wonder if (hope that!) the Canon extension tubes are more sturdily constructed?

The Canon tubes are constructed similarly to the Mk II Extenders, but don't have the extra screws of the Mk III extenders. They are all metal from what I can tell, and I guess that's why they cost so much compared to the 3rd party tubes. All the same, I'm treating your post as a cautionary tale!

 

[ahab1372]

A little update - and a warning! I had the 500 f/4 II with 2x III tc attached, with a Kenko 12mm extension tube behind that, and the 2x II and 1.4x III extenders behind that. I stood the camera upright, lens down (as I often do) on a bench while I fiddled with my bag. The camera fell over (which it sometimes does, and comes to no harm), but it hit the back of the bench and the lens combination just clean sheared in half! Thankfully, the strap stopped the camera falling onto the ground. Predictably, it was the extension tube that had failed - the front part had simply detached. Could have been costly! So be extra careful when mounting big lenses on teleconverters with extension tubes

Yikes!!! All I can say is Yikes!!! I'm glad it didn't turn into a disaster and thanks for the warning.

Well it turns out the screws (that on the outer surfaces are in metal) are only mounted into flimsy plastic sockets. I thought it was fixable, but the sockets had disintegrated. The whole extension tube is a writeoff. I wonder if (hope that!) the Canon extension tubes are more sturdily constructed?

Maybe it was a good thing that the extension tube caved in - otherwise the lens or extender mounts might have been bent. The Kenko acted as what I believe is called a predetermined breaking point

 

[scyrene]

The Canon tubes are constructed similarly to the Mk II Extenders, but don't have the extra screws of the Mk III extenders. They are all metal from what I can tell, and I guess that's why they cost so much compared to the 3rd party tubes. All the same, I'm treating your post as a cautionary tale!

That's good to know, thanks. I'll get one of those for this use next time!

 

[scyrene]

Maybe it was a good thing that the extension tube caved in - otherwise the lens or extender mounts might have been bent. The Kenko acted as what I believe is called a predetermined breaking point

Oh absolutely. Just lucky nothing fell onto the ground

 

[Loswr]

A little update - and a warning! I had the 500 f/4 II with 2x III tc attached, with a Kenko 12mm extension tube behind that, and the 2x II and 1.4x III extenders behind that. I stood the camera upright, lens down (as I often do) on a bench while I fiddled with my bag. The camera fell over (which it sometimes does, and comes to no harm), but it hit the back of the bench and the lens combination just clean sheared in half! Thankfully, the strap stopped the camera falling onto the ground. Predictably, it was the extension tube that had failed - the front part had simply detached. Could have been costly! So be extra careful when mounting big lenses on teleconverters with extension tubes

Yikes!!! All I can say is Yikes!!! I'm glad it didn't turn into a disaster and thanks for the warning.

Well it turns out the screws (that on the outer surfaces are in metal) are only mounted into flimsy plastic sockets. I thought it was fixable, but the sockets had disintegrated. The whole extension tube is a writeoff. I wonder if (hope that!) the Canon extension tubes are more sturdily constructed?

The Canon tubes are constructed similarly to the Mk II Extenders, but don't have the extra screws of the Mk III extenders. They are all metal from what I can tell, and I guess that's why they cost so much compared to the 3rd party tubes. All the same, I'm treating your post as a cautionary tale!

In general, I'm quite comfortable recommending the Kenko tubes for macro use - why pay for Canon's costly air? But since one of my primary uses of the tubes is to shorten the MFD of my 600/4L IS II, I bought the Canon EF 12 II and EF 25 II extension tubes rather than the more economical Kenko tubes. Scyrene's example supports that as a wise decision.

 

[scyrene]

In general, I'm quite comfortable recommending the Kenko tubes for macro use - why pay for Canon's costly air? But since one of my primary uses of the tubes is to shorten the MFD of my 600/4L IS II, I bought the Canon EF 12 II and EF 25 II extension tubes rather than the more economical Kenko tubes. Scyrene's example supports that as a wise decision.

Oh sure, I'll continue using cheaper tubes for macro work, where there's much less weight put on them.

 

[Halfrack]

I'm still trying to understand where the mounting point and weight are at. I'd think the 500mm is on a gimbal, with a 2x directly attached, but does the mk3 not have the ability to directly stack like the mk2's? At some point it might be better to do either a Metabones/A7r method, or a 70D to get crop in space or a crop factor.

 

[mackguyver]

I'm still trying to understand where the mounting point and weight are at. I'd think the 500mm is on a gimbal, with a 2x directly attached, but does the mk3 not have the ability to directly stack like the mk2's? At some point it might be better to do either a Metabones/A7r method, or a 70D to get crop in space or a crop factor.

The Mk IIIs were designed NOT to mount to each other. This was intentional but the 12mm extension tube gets around it.

 

[surapon]

I thought all the extenders would do is allow you to focus closer up, but you lose infinity focus. Is there some other magic that happens when you put an extension tube between a 1.4x and a 2x magnifier?

The MkIII extenders cannot be physically stacked - putting the extension tube between them gets around that limitation.

WOW, WOW, WOW----THANKSSSSS, Dear Teacher, Mr. neuroanatomist.
Wow, that is a great Idea to us the Tub as the spacer between the back of the shallow lens and the 2X Extender----Wow, That make the Usage of EF 85 MM F/ 1.2 L MK II with 2X extender-----Wow, I will try.
Thanks again, Sir.
Surapon

 

[mackguyver]

Surapon, that's an interesting combination and several years ago I saw Art Wolfe (one of my favorite photographers) using the 1.4x II, 12mm extension tube, and 24-70 f/2.8 (I) to take macro photos of a tree frog in the jungle. I had forgotten about that until this post, but I might have to give that a try now that I have the 12mm tube. It won't replace a true macro, but might be okay if you need a close up shot and don't have a macro lens.

 

[surapon]

Surapon, that's an interesting combination and several years ago I saw Art Wolfe (one of my favorite photographers) using the 1.4x II, 12mm extension tube, and 24-70 f/2.8 (I) to take macro photos of a tree frog in the jungle. I had forgotten about that until this post, but I might have to give that a try now that I have the 12mm tube. It won't replace a true macro, but might be okay if you need a close up shot and don't have a macro lens.

Thanks you, Sir, Dear Friend mackguyver.
Only disadvantage thing for use the tube = We lose 2 stop of exposure(??), And That mean the Photographer must be the Young and Strong Hands Plus Handsome , like you--------Ha, Ha, Ha, Old man like me, I must use the Tripods to shoot at slow shutter speed, If Not will get the Blur Picture, Like when I shoot at the Bigini at the pin point of beautiful Lady on the Beach.
Nice to talk to you again, Have a great Weekend.
Surapon

 

[scyrene]

Surapon, that's an interesting combination and several years ago I saw Art Wolfe (one of my favorite photographers) using the 1.4x II, 12mm extension tube, and 24-70 f/2.8 (I) to take macro photos of a tree frog in the jungle. I had forgotten about that until this post, but I might have to give that a try now that I have the 12mm tube. It won't replace a true macro, but might be okay if you need a close up shot and don't have a macro lens.

Thanks you, Sir, Dear Friend mackguyver.
Only disadvantage thing for use the tube = We lose 2 stop of exposure(??), And That mean the Photographer must be the Young and Strong Hands Plus Handsome , like you--------Ha, Ha, Ha, Old man like me, I must use the Tripods to shoot at slow shutter speed, If Not will get the Blur Picture, Like when I shoot at the Bigini at the pin point of beautiful Lady on the Beach.
Nice to talk to you again, Have a great Weekend.
Surapon

Guys, I've used the 85mm f/1.2 II with a 12mm extension tube a lot, and it's a sweet combination. Wide open it's rather soft, with what I would describe as ghosting, but stopped down to f/2 it works fine, and is great for food photography.

 

[mackguyver]

Surapon, that's an interesting combination and several years ago I saw Art Wolfe (one of my favorite photographers) using the 1.4x II, 12mm extension tube, and 24-70 f/2.8 (I) to take macro photos of a tree frog in the jungle. I had forgotten about that until this post, but I might have to give that a try now that I have the 12mm tube. It won't replace a true macro, but might be okay if you need a close up shot and don't have a macro lens.

Thanks you, Sir, Dear Friend mackguyver.
Only disadvantage thing for use the tube = We lose 2 stop of exposure(??), And That mean the Photographer must be the Young and Strong Hands Plus Handsome , like you--------Ha, Ha, Ha, Old man like me, I must use the Tripods to shoot at slow shutter speed, If Not will get the Blur Picture, Like when I shoot at the Bigini at the pin point of beautiful Lady on the Beach.
Nice to talk to you again, Have a great Weekend.
Surapon

You're too kind and too funny. I would certainly need a tripod as well. The only macro I do handheld is butterflies and bees and the 180L gets heavy pretty quickly. Also, I think we might need to plan a CR trip to the beach - maybe a "Big White Convention" Nice talking with you, too, one more workday to go...

Guys, I've used the 85mm f/1.2 II with a 12mm extension tube a lot, and it's a sweet combination. Wide open it's rather soft, with what I would describe as ghosting, but stopped down to f/2 it works fine, and is great for food photography.

scyrene, I think Surapon meant the 85 + 12mm + 2x extender, but that's cool to hear that the tube works really well with the 85.