Just got this press release from Kenko about brand new extension tubes. The cool thing is that these have electronic contacts for AF and Auto Exposure! There is an auction on [shoplink 37607 ebay]ebay UK (Click here)[/shoplink]. Here is the press release:
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Kenko Tokina USA, Inc. is proud to announce the availability of the new Kenko AF Extension Tube Set for Micro 4/3rds and Sony E mount. The tube set consists of a 10mm and 16mm extension tubes that can be used individually or together4.
The Kenko extension tubes have all the contacts and circuitry to maintain communication between the camera body and the lens. AF (within the limited macro range) and auto exposure are maintained with these extension tubes1.
Extension tubes are designed to enable a lens to focus closer than its normal set minimum focusing distance. Getting closer has the effect of magnifying your subject (making it appear larger in the viewfinder and in your pictures). They are exceptionally useful for macro photography, enabling you to convert almost any lens into a macro lens at a fraction of the cost while maintaining its original optical quality.
The DG extension tubes have no optics. They are mounted in between the camera body and lens to create more distance between the lens and film plane. By moving the lens father away from the sensor in the camera, the lens is forced to focus much closer than normal. The greater the length of the extension tube, the closer the lens can focus.
Specifications:
Aperture Coupling: Electronic
Included Sizes: 10MM and 16MM
Mount Availability: Micro 4/3rds mount for Olympus and Panasonic Sony E mount for NEX system
Warranty: 1 year limited warranty
Notes:
1. Depending on available light and due to a very shallow depth of field manual focusing may be required if the lens AF will not lock focus.
2. Focal length of the lens should be longer than the focal length of the tube for proper operation.
3. Also, Kenko recommends using a tripod for sharper results during macro photography.
4. Stacking is not possible with the Panasonic 45MM Macro and PZ 45-175MM lenses. However all Panasonic and Olympus lenses work with either the 10mm or 16mm separately. If an error message is displayed when trying to use the tubes together on one of these lenses or any other please use one or the other extension tube separately.
Kenko Tokina USA, Inc. is the exclusive U. S. distributor for Tokina lenses, Hoya filters, Kenko photo accessories and SLIK camera support systems. Kenko Tokina USA provides marketing, sales, distribution, and technical/consumer service and support. Kenko Tokina is located in the original Surf City USA, Huntington Beach, CA and on the Web at www.Kenkotokinausa.com.
41 Responses
About time!
Hmm, I’m interested depending on price.
Wait, I already have these… $179 at B&H. They are excellent; you get 1:1 equivalent, almost, with the 75/1.8.
J Shin, can you point me to your pictures with the Kenko and 75mm F1.8, I really want to see the result of that. Thank you.
Here are some test shots at f/8. (This is my first time with Flickr, so please let me know if these links don’t work.)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94547033@N03/8607951549/sizes/h/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94547033@N03/8609072182/sizes/h/in/photostream/
Someone requested photos of flowers, so I’ve posted those. More to come using different lenses.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94547033@N03
And today is the 1st of April too!
They are available here is Oz too.
http://www.cambuy.com.au/Kenko-DG-Extension-Tube-Set-for-Micro-Four-Thirds/
Oky we can wait to 2 April, but very nice.
I’m interested too .
Wonder how well it work with the summilux , 45mm & 75mm .
that’s what I wonder about the use of AF lenses in this regard. Is AF all that useful in a macro scenario? It seems to me to be a manual scenario to get the correct distance/layer of focus .. I’ve used simple tubes and legacy lenses to this point with good results. I can see the added attraction of using mFT lenses as well. I still expect they work best on manual settings, so the contact circuit aspect is going to give you aperture settings control more than AF features . . .
AF is always useful IMO. Usually it’s at least a fast and easy way to get focus almost right before a manual adjustment and it’s also correct for some subjects. A time saver used with caution.
AF may be not, but you can’t MF a focus by wire lens either, if you don’t have the electronical contacts.
I wonder, how I have managed to buy this tubes a year ago:
http://www.43rumors.com/supernews-kenko-extensions-tube-with-full-electronic-control/#comments
True… These extension tubes are on the market for ages…
I thought I saw these tubes on ebay a month ago, then I thought I was wrong, but now you confirm my first impression. Anyway, these look interesting.
Can someone tell if quality image drops somehow? And what about comparing pictures taken with these tubes to pictures taken with a “native” m43 macro lens (i.e. 60mm macro or 45mm macro?).
Sounds like an Aprile fool joke !
Clever for a rumor site : make as if old news is new news :-).
These have been available for a long time. Not new. I bought them and they are pretty useless, because they are too short and only two instead of the three which you get for other mounts. Just get a real macro lens instead, it is just so much better.
I do not think they are useless, you can even use them on a macro lens for higher magnification (about 1.5)
I do not think they are useless, even with the 60mm macro you can extend further for a higher magnification ( about 1.5x )
The EX25 worked OK with the Sigma 150mm macro lens but brought the focus point too close with the Oly ZD35mm macro lens, so these should be good with the 60mm macro lens with the ability to use either one or both.
I do not think they are useless, even with the 60mm macro you can extend further for higher magnification ( about 1.5 with 26mm )
Check out this link.
http://www.fotomundus24.de/shop/kenko-extension-tube-zwischenringe-micro-four-thirds-p-16153.html
I do not think this extension tubes are useless, even on the 60mm macro you can extend further for higher magnification ( about 1.5x )
Just to bring a smile to our faces, I’ve just found this ebay entry, please don’t choke on your Corn Flakes.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120939385536&clk_rvr_id=464080896259&item=120939385536&lgeo=1&vectorid=229508
the sold info says 4 sold at that price!
Maybe 4 sold to fake accounts or for dramatically reduced prices….
This is definitely a 1st of April price! 😉
Usually these prices are set to keep the item “alive” on the ebay store, when not available. I’ve seen Fuji leather camera case for 1500 $. 🙂
Lucky me picked an effectively new set on Ebay for UK£60 inc postage earlier in the year: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330863692005?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
I’m very pleased with them, they’re beautifully made and work perfectly. Being so small and light they are the ideal little extra to slip in the bag when travelling light – they can add an extra dimension to the capabilities of whatever other kit is in the bag.
Lucky me picked an effectively new set on Ebay for UK£60 inc postage earlier in the year: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330863692005?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
I’m very pleased with them, they’re beautifully made and work perfectly. Being so small and light they are the ideal little extra to slip in the bag when travelling light – they can add an extra dimension to the capabilities of whatever other kit is in the bag.
A revue on Phoblographer can be found here.
http://www.thephoblographer.com/2012/07/08/video-review-kenko-dg-extension-tubes-for-micro-four-thirds/
OMega
What is this??? April fool?
I have been using these for over a year now, and im pretty sure it came out before that. Sure i wanst the first one to get?
What new????
Anyway, best result is with 45mm oly
Other lens works well but you get ridiculous focusing distance. 1-2cm
I am also surprised they made an official announcement today. I am asking them to tell me if that is some sort of new version…
Yes, it is called the “1st of April” version. 😉
They are exceptionally useful for macro photography, enabling you to convert almost any lens into a macro lens at A FRACTION OF THE COST while maintaining its original optical quality.
A fraction of the cost? The set sells here for 1300€
1300€?? It’s $145 at the link provided by Ross
And that is a genuine (non-April Fools Day) price in Australia.
I think that they were available since quite a long time. I ordered them two weeks ago, but they were available since at least a year or more (at the time I preferred to order the dumb ones without the electronic controls)
The press release may be new, but th3e product hardly is — been out a long time. LOL, call this rumour an “FT6” 🙂
I just got this & it’s not working ( can’t focus ) with PanaLeica 25mm .
Even with 10mm alone or 16mm alone or both together , nothing is in focus .
Need verification from readers here .
Strangely the Pana 20mm works & the 45mm lens simply brilliant .