I am looking for a 25mm extension tube to use on the Zuiko 50mm f3.5 (wouldn't mind having the 3 piece ste). I have found a few different sets on ebay and other places. My question is, do I need to stay away from the 4/3 tubes? Are they different from what I need?

Also, where else can I find these tubes? The best price I have found is $50!

Thanks

The 4/3 tubes are for the newer, smaller Oly 4/3 mount, which is not the same as the Olympus OM mount of Zuiko lenses. You don't want those.

Your profile says you have the Kenko extension tube set --- why not just use these (using the same Oly->EOS adapter that you use to attach the lens directly to the camera)? They should work just as well.

Thanks for confirming on the 4/3!

I read in a thread here that a Canon mount tube between the adapter and the camera would not work. That is why I was looking for an Oly tube to go between the lens and the adapter. I don't know. Maybe I should just wait until I get the lens and try my tubes?

I have a set of those. What camera do you intend to use it on? If Canon then I can assure you that a Canon mount tube would work flawlessly

Hi Biotar. I will be using the Zuiko with an adapter on the Canon 5D2. Interesting!

This is the thread that says a Canon tube will not work between the adapter and body(6th post down by helimat):
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/780374/0?keyword=extension,tube#7162519

At least if I understand the post correctly.

Also, I was not able to locate the less expensive tubes on ebay.

Hi Rachel,

I just checked my Oly OM 24mm f/2.8 with a 25mm Kenko extension tube and it works fine--well you have to get just a couple of centimeters away with this combo, but it works. I don't see any reason you have to have Oly tubes. I am pretty sure you won't need to. I hope this helps.

rachp wrote:
This is the thread that says a Canon tube will not work between the adapter and body(6th post down by helimat):
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/780374/0?keyword=extension,tube#7162519

At least if I understand the post correctly.

I just tried out my Kenko tubes on my Oly 50/3.5, and they work fine. Indeed, it's hard to imagine how the Kenko tubes could fail to work with any lens --- it's the same physical mount as on the camera body, and a straight pass-through for the electrical contacts (which don't exist on my non-chipped Oly adapter anyway). Just try out the combination for yourself. The Canon tubes may cause problems because they have a bit of extra "smarts" in them that reports the tube back to the camera for the EXIF data, thus they may not play well with lenses without real Canon electronics; just another reason why the cheaper Kenko tubes are a much better buy!

Thanks Steve and Michael! You guys just saved me some money

I will try it for myself once the lens arrives. Thanks again for all the help with this one!

I can't use my Kenko tubes with a non-chipped adapter on either my 5D or 1Ds2. Not exactly sure why the addition of the tube matters, but it does.

The test cases: a 50mm Summicron with chipped HappyPage adapter and tube (fine); a 50mm Nikon f/1.2 AIS with unchipped Fotodiox adapter and tube (no go).

Hmmm, my adapter is not chipped I didn't want to buy another adapter - I was going to use one for two lenses. Switching the adapter off and on would be a pain and if the tubes work with a chipped adapter then this may be the excuse I need to buy a new adapter.

Hey Greg - what is the MFD on the Summicron?

I don't remember, but pretty much every standard 50mm has the same MFD, give or take.

My Oly 28/2 and 50/1.4 work fine with Kenko tubes on my 1D3 (very basic unchipped adapter). I'll try my 5D later.

If for some reason you do have issues when adding the Kenko tube, I would imagine that taping over the electrical contacts would solve the problem.

Greg Feldman wrote:
I don't remember, but pretty much every standard 50mm has the same MFD, give or take.

Yeah, I am finding mostly 18" to 2'. That ZF makro 50/2 would be great at about 9" but I don't think I will splurge for it

bpark42 wrote:
My Oly 28/2 and 50/1.4 work fine with Kenko tubes on my 1D3 (very basic unchipped adapter). I'll try my 5D later.

If for some reason you do have issues when adding the Kenko tube, I would imagine that taping over the electrical contacts would solve the problem.

Thanks for the info! I wanted to get away from taping pins but I will try that before I make a decision to buy anything else.

I thought I would add an update; I have a chipped adapter for my 24mm f/2.8 that works with my Kenko 25mm tube. Perhaps you do need a chipped adapter.

Thanks, Steve. I hope the adapter doesn't need to be chipped but that may be the best option for me. I don't want to use one adapter for two lenses so I could just buy a chipped adapter for the new lens.... This beats buying more tubes.

I think I see what the issue is (Though maybe I don't). The tubes (I believe) just have a passthrough of the pins. So, you won't get focus confirm unless you have a chipped adapter on the tubes. The tubes have no electronics.
Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

I just got home and tried my tubes with my zeiss 50/1.7.
It worked fine! I don't have a chipped adapter on this lens.
Thanks for all the suggestions! Now if it wii just work on
the zuiko

Ok, I just got my Zuiko 55/3.5. I tried it with my cheap, nonchipped adapter and kenko ext tubes and it works fine. I did not have to tape pins for either lens. This has been fun - and I saved some money

Anyone know why I can't use my Nikon 50mm f/1.2 AIS with a tube on my 1Ds2? I get Err 01 and the mirror just flips up and stays up.

That is odd, Greg. Maybe it is just that the Canon is refusing to play with Nikon

Only when Kenko is thrown into the mix.

I don't know how or why this would effect the lens/body/tube combo but didn't your Nikon have a little surgery to work on the Canon body? Just a thought - probably way off base, tho...

I just got a set of cheap tubes from Ebay (recommendation from this board) that came from China. Cost about $15 (if I remember correctly) ... took about three weeks to arrive. They work fine with my Oly's, Mamiya, Zeiss and all other alts ... as noted their is NO contacts, so no pins to tape.

My only regret is that I didn't order one in Nikon also. Since combining tubes is done via thread, I could easily let them double as an EOS - Nikon (or vice versa) adapter for tube work. As expected for little $$, they aren't a work of german engineering, but for an entry into the world of tubes to get a feel for whether or not they are your cup of tea ... it get the job done (even if a little 'thin' feeling, i.e. lightweight)