Bellows or tubes

[SevernBore]

Hi
I want to try more macro photography. I have Canon 7D and 400D plus 50mm prime and 108 Sigma macro lens in addition to various zooms. However, I would be grateful of advice on whether to go for bellows or extension tubes to extend the reach. Bellows sounds easier, but I would appreciate users' advice.
Thanks

 

[NikkiA]

Hi
I want to try more macro photography. I have Canon 7D and 400D plus 50mm prime and 108 Sigma macro lens in addition to various zooms. However, I would be grateful of advice on whether to go for bellows or extension tubes to extend the reach. Bellows sounds easier, but I would appreciate users' advice.
Thanks

I personally use both, I have a sigma 28mm 'macro' (1:4 natively) that works well for 1:1 on a 30mm tube, and use a 135mm praktika/paragon mostly on my 90mm-290mm soviet bellows.

The 28mm on the bellows starts at about 2:1 and goes up to about 8:1, but at the price of having ridiculously short working distance (literally mm at the far end).

A 50mm prime would fit equally on either bellows or tubes, although on bellows you likely won't get below 1:1 at minimum extension. Higher magnification isn't ALWAYS a good thing after all. I had a 50mm prime that came with the bellows, although the aperture was stuck (f1.8 for macro isn't too useful) and disintegrated on attempt to fix it. I'll probably end up buying another cheap 50mm prime, since 1:1 to 5:1 that I was getting is a useful range.

Of course if you're wanting to preserve AF/aperture-control then either way is going to get pricey, and going for 'both' may be out of the question. Personally I use manual focus, manual aperture and M42 lenses, bellows and tubes.

 

[craig.walton2]

Tuuuuuuuubbbbbbbbbeeeeesssssss...... Sorry, watching Soccer AM.

 

[arclight]

Bellows will give you greater magnification. If you can find a set that will allow full auto working I'd expect them to be very expensive.

Extn tubes are more durable and can easily slip into a pocket.
I had a set of bellows back in my film days, but found that tubes actually met my needs. Probably down to what subjects you want to photograph.

 

[NikkiA]

Should also have mentioned that since you're on Canon, if you have the money for it, many swear by a MP-E 65. Sure, it's ~ £700-800, but if you're looking at a AF retaining tubes + bellows, you'll be getting about half way there anyway (I don't know of any AF bellows for Canon, but I know that Nikon make one for about £300)

 

[SevernBore]

Thanks for all of your comments. I think a cheap set of manual tubes is probably the best way for me to go. If I can achieve any decent results I might then be able to fork out for something more expensive.

 

[Wail]

Should also have mentioned that since you're on Canon, if you have the money for it, many swear by a MP-E 65. Sure, it's ~ £700-800, but if you're looking at a AF retaining tubes + bellows, you'll be getting about half way there anyway (I don't know of any AF bellows for Canon, but I know that Nikon make one for about £300)

Your replies are very thought provoking. I've always wanted to have a go with bellows; but as I understand it, Nikon's no longer in production :shrug:

I've contemplated the Novoflex, but they're way too expensive.

Can you please explain your set-up with links ; and how you're able to get up to 8x magnification?

Thanks