Extension tubes

[Rommel]

smc1377 - it was actually the same eBay vendor your link mentioned - goShotCamera. The tubes are Chinese and don't expect quality - the threads may make you wince, but they are cheap and functional.

I took another shot, this time with a Nikkor 50mm 1.8 - the glass "stones" are about 7mm tall (with this lens I was only using the smallest of the extension tubes - 9mm, but the adapters probably add 15mm as well):

[yokolok]

hi rommel, i purchased a reversing ring - you attach your lens to the body using this ring in reverse - thus you have to know the diameter...the ring cost around $10 (or less, i don't remember) but it's a cheap alternative. i tried my 50mm/1.8 on it and it worked okay. It's made in japan and feels sturdy...don't know if they sell it in the US though...you would need a tripod and everything becomes manual...

will try to post some pics of it and what it can do...

[yokolok]

not the best of images ---shot these the day i got the ring...
picture of the ring


picture of nokia n70 mobile phone keypad taken at a distance of approx 4 inches

[spazoid1965]

I've never owned any extension tubes. However, I do own a macro bellow with a focusing rail. I have had excellent results with the bellows. The extension tubes work on the same principle as the bellows. It extends the distance between the camera and the lens.

[Rommel]

I want to get a reversing ring myself too. I've seen some great shots with extremely high magnification ratios when a lens is reversed onto another lens (often on extension tubes as well). Yokolok (or anyone else with a reversing ring), have you tried reversing it onto a lens or just the body directly?

As for the bellows, yes they're pretty much the same except you can fine tune the distance of the lens. I suppose then you have a little bit more freedom in your working distance from the subject? With extension tubes, I put the tubes on first and then find where I need to be from the subject. Maybe you can setup your tripod first, and then adjust the bellows to what you want instead of all the tripod moving that I do?

[yokolok]

hi rommel,

only did it on the body directly...with a 50mm 1.8...

[yurik]

After seeing some incredible macro shots I'm contemplating buying something cheap so I can macro it up..

Do you guys think I'd be better off with a reversal ring or extension tubes?
The some disadvantages I see with the reversal ring is that it can only work with certain lenses (depending on what size you get the ring), and that it exposes the other end of your lens..

-edit-
or how about close-up lenses?