| Moderated by: chrisbet, | Page: 1 2   |
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| Meike MK-N-AF-B Auto Focus AF Macro Extension Tube Set - Page 1 | |
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| Posted: Wed Feb 12th, 2020 11:39 |
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1st Post |
chrisbet
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Are the Meike extension tubes any good? Worth adding to the camera bag?
____________________ If it is broken it was probably me .... |
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| Posted: Wed Feb 12th, 2020 12:03 |
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2nd Post |
Robert
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If you are doing close up's you need MF (manual focus). Using AF for closeups is tricky, getting the focus point in the right place it a lottery and you risk wasting half your (very shallow) depth of focus either inside the subject or in front ol the subject. Hence Graham's focus stacking methodology.
____________________ Robert. |
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| Posted: Wed Feb 12th, 2020 16:28 |
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3rd Post |
jk
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I use the AF to get the camera to set focus area that I want then I move to MF for fine control. You need to use MF to be able to really get absolute focus.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
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| Posted: Wed Feb 12th, 2020 16:48 |
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4th Post |
chrisbet
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Any views on the quality of the Meike tubes?
____________________ If it is broken it was probably me .... |
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| Posted: Wed Feb 12th, 2020 17:18 |
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5th Post |
jk
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Meike make well specified equipment. Obviously it is lighter made than the Nikon equivalent.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
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| Posted: Wed Feb 12th, 2020 17:24 |
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6th Post |
Robert
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They appear to be a basic 'cheap' extension tube set. Video - The *quality* of the tubes isn't particularly important in this case because beyond the obvious, like not falling apart too soon, there are no optical components, just empty spacer tubes, so the quality won't generally affect the image. You can get the same effect by using close up lenses, which are sometimes called filters because they screw onto the front of the lens, instead of spacing the lens off of the camera. I would prefer the close up lens in most cases because it doesn't affect the light, when you use extension tubes the light is reduced because the lens is further away from the sensor therefore the finite amount of light available has been reduced per pixel. With the optical close up lens that does not happen. If extention tubes are used with a zoom it may be detrimental to the image quality because zoom lenses can be affected by being spaced away from the sensor. It can get complicated. I have an old but wonderful 55mm f/2.8 MF Nikkor Micro lens which I use for flowers mostly, I had a Nikon 60mm AF lens which was pretty much rubbish in my opinion, partly due to the CRC (close range correction) which effectively turns the lens into a zoom to shorten the focal length, which is NOT what I wanted. I also have the 105mm f/4.0 MF Nikkor Micro which is an outstanding lens with beautiful bokeh. These can both be found for quite reasonable prices on eBay, I got the 55 from Eric a long while ago during one of his clear-outs and is one of my favourite lenses, the 105 came off eBay for a song, it seems nobody wants MF these days.   Perhaps for a brief foray into close up photography they might provide a cheap way of dabbling your toe in the water but there are much better approaches.
____________________ Robert. |
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| Posted: Thu Feb 13th, 2020 04:05 |
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7th Post |
chrisbet
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Hmmm... is that the 105 AI / AIS f4? They seem to be around £150 on fleabay atm. The AF-S VR are around £500 but as you say, no point in paying for the AF. There is however a AI f2.8 105 micro going for £80 - is that the best deal? It is well worn paint wise and the rubber is bad but that could be replaced. No fungus, scratches etc.
____________________ If it is broken it was probably me .... |
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| Posted: Thu Feb 13th, 2020 04:53 |
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8th Post |
jk
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The new 105mm f2.8 AFS VR is a great lens optically. It can be used as a portrait lens and the AF is useful but it can be switched to MF mode as well. My version is one of my sharpest lenses. The older prior version 105mm f2.8 AFD is also great. I use this underwater in my underwater housing. I have a non macro 105mm f2.5 AI that produces superb images. It is bashed and modified but still works well and produces sharp images and is about 50 years old and I have had it 44+years. My point is go for the older metal bodied lenses as they are beautifully crafted. The new plastic bodied lenses are less likely to last so long! One caveat as well is if you want AF then the AFS lenses work on ALL Nikon cameras unless it is a G series (most modern), AFD lenses are good but only work on cameras with the built (screwdriver) AF motors in bodies.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
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| Posted: Thu Feb 13th, 2020 04:56 |
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9th Post |
jk
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This lens is the one Robert is talking about. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-micro-Nikkor-105mm-1-4-AI-MF/333506568125?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item4da68a5fbd:
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
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| Posted: Thu Feb 13th, 2020 05:24 |
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10th Post |
chrisbet
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Well, for the extra cost of a lens over the tubes I decided to try this one - 105 f2.8 The rubber focusing ring is split and glued by the look of it but a genuine replacement is under £20, so I will tidy the lens up and if I don't get on with it I can always put it back on fleabay - I made profit on the last two lenses I did that with!
____________________ If it is broken it was probably me .... |
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| This is topic ID = 1792 Current time is 02:35 | Page: 1 2 | |
| Nikon DSLR Forums > Camera and Lens Forums > Specialised Photography - Macro, UV, IR, Underwater > Meike MK-N-AF-B Auto Focus AF Macro Extension Tube Set | Top | |
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