I'm getting some Kenko extension tubes and I've been told it is important to fit them correctly, so does anyone know if I should fit them to the camera then attach the lens, or fit them to lens then attach them to the camera? Or does it not matter. Thanks in advance.
It's always seemed pretty straight forward to me. I just pop them on the camera then attach the lens. Can't see how it would make much difference which way round you do it really.
You are right, the Kenko's don't have any threaded parts (looking at the Amazon Pix), it shouldnt matter which order you attach them. I thought you were refering to the extension tube sets that attach to the filter rings.
I own the kenko's and I don't really understand how you could mess it up. They couple like a standard lens mount does, for every single tube. If you can safely attach/detach your lens from your body, you should be fine. Just depress the little tabs on each tube when you do it. Also, even though the description for mine said they won't work with AFS, they do, as well as with Sigma's HSM.
I also have a set of Kenkos. No problems attaching them, but you may want to check that your lenses are optically compatible with extension tubes. For my part, any combination of tubes works great with the 55-200, but on the 18-70 even the smallest one seems to be "too much".
I wonder if they meant you should have your camera off when connecting them so that none of the connections are "live"? I usually turn my camera off before changing lenses but have in a pinch left it turned on and haven't had any problems.
Now I have them, the instructions say...'With the Canon type of tube, be sure to attach master lens only after tube has been properly attached to the camera body. Take care not to mistake this order lest it fails to couple with the TTL meter or the AE mechanism. This, however, does not apply to other types of tube.'
So there obviously is an issue but only with the Canon fit.
I wonder if they meant you should have your camera off when connecting them so that none of the connections are "live"? I usually turn my camera off before changing lenses but have in a pinch left it turned on and haven't had any problems.
that's the only logical reason I've ever seen posted for attaching the tube(s) to the lens first, then the combination to the body. In effect, if you mount the tube(s) to the body first, the camera will think a lens is there but not be able to communicate.
I'm not familiar enough with the Nikon system to know whether this could make any difference; my suspicion is not. I know that there is no effect on Canon systems, as I've often used extension tubes with old manual (sometimes non-Canon) glass. Camera just assumes no communication and works as if with a manual lens (Manual and Av modes only).
Now I have them, the instructions say...'With the Canon type of tube, be sure to attach master lens only after tube has been properly attached to the camera body. Take care not to mistake this order lest it fails to couple with the TTL meter or the AE mechanism. This, however, does not apply to other types of tube.'
So there obviously is an issue but only with the Canon fit.
This is correct. I have some extension tubes for my 50D. If I attach to the lens first, then the body, my aperture reading will be 0.0. However, if I attach to body first, then everything works as expected.
Interesting. I've always attached tubes to lens first then attached the whole mess, but only because that was easier and made sense to me.
ETA: I decided to mess with things... mounting the tubes before the lens afforded no difference. If I mounted the tubes, with the camera on, and then mounted the lens, it still accepted the proper aperture (though, the initial reading without lens was 1.8 and swapped to 2.8 upon mouting).
