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Due to a distinct lack of web info, here's a mini review...
I'm guessing plenty of you don't know this unsung bit of kit. It's Nikon's own 14mm extension tube, still available for an eye-watering £95, and completely manual. It's one of those Nikon lens accessories that harks back to the AI and AI-S days, and offers no electrical or mechanical connections to the body.
If you have a D200/300 or higher, then using the lens data function you can meter through the lens, but if you want AF then it's the Kenko set for you.
However, what this offers is the same tank-like build that you'll find on the AF line of lenses. Metal through and through, strong enough to hold a 600/4 if you needed to [and were crazy enough to..]
Any of you who own older lenses like the 85/1.4 or last-generation 60mm macro - aperture rings and metal barrels - will be familiar with the build quality. You can't use it with 'g' type lenses with this - although I've never tried, the problem will be that the lens can't be manually stopped down.
One advantage of this tube is the ability to use pre-AI lenses for macro work. This could in theory open up a whole world of cheap kit that otherwise wouldn't mount on your D80/90 etc.
I'm using mine with the nifty fifty AF, and using manual focus with such a bright lens isn't hard. Metering can be a little hit and miss, but that's hardly a problem with macro - often it's meticulously set up, and with a DSLR you can't take too many shots. I often bracket at stop intervals, and guess the optimum exposure - and it works pretty well.
Here's a few examples using the fifty and the PK-12..
I quite like the dreamy look this gives. It seems the bokeh of the nifty wide open is improved aswell.
Anyway, no real purpose to this post except to highlight a bit of kit some of you may have seen and wondered about, but never thought about due to the high price. At least it beats another "which lens?" thread..
Is it worth it? No. Not at £95 unless you're a Nikon through and through, or you value the improved quality of the OEM fitment; or alternatively you have a pre-AI 55mm macro [superb lens] or similar vintage pre-AI and you need a mounting solution onto your D40/60/80/90/200/300.
Thoughts?
I'm guessing plenty of you don't know this unsung bit of kit. It's Nikon's own 14mm extension tube, still available for an eye-watering £95, and completely manual. It's one of those Nikon lens accessories that harks back to the AI and AI-S days, and offers no electrical or mechanical connections to the body.
If you have a D200/300 or higher, then using the lens data function you can meter through the lens, but if you want AF then it's the Kenko set for you.
However, what this offers is the same tank-like build that you'll find on the AF line of lenses. Metal through and through, strong enough to hold a 600/4 if you needed to [and were crazy enough to..]
Any of you who own older lenses like the 85/1.4 or last-generation 60mm macro - aperture rings and metal barrels - will be familiar with the build quality. You can't use it with 'g' type lenses with this - although I've never tried, the problem will be that the lens can't be manually stopped down.
One advantage of this tube is the ability to use pre-AI lenses for macro work. This could in theory open up a whole world of cheap kit that otherwise wouldn't mount on your D80/90 etc.
I'm using mine with the nifty fifty AF, and using manual focus with such a bright lens isn't hard. Metering can be a little hit and miss, but that's hardly a problem with macro - often it's meticulously set up, and with a DSLR you can't take too many shots. I often bracket at stop intervals, and guess the optimum exposure - and it works pretty well.
Here's a few examples using the fifty and the PK-12..
I quite like the dreamy look this gives. It seems the bokeh of the nifty wide open is improved aswell.
Anyway, no real purpose to this post except to highlight a bit of kit some of you may have seen and wondered about, but never thought about due to the high price. At least it beats another "which lens?" thread..
Is it worth it? No. Not at £95 unless you're a Nikon through and through, or you value the improved quality of the OEM fitment; or alternatively you have a pre-AI 55mm macro [superb lens] or similar vintage pre-AI and you need a mounting solution onto your D40/60/80/90/200/300.
Thoughts?